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• Board Meeting Date: 11/18/2007
• Description: CF Section - Changes to Existing Non-Reimbursable Projects - City of Florence - Oak Creek Reservoir Feasibility Study
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

During the initial geotechnical investigation of the reservoir site, it was determined that the
construction of a dam for flood control and/or water supply storage purposes was no longer a
feasible option. The COE and the City are planning to continue with the original study's scope of
work by evaluating all the feasible alternatives to reduce flooding impacts to the City.
The following is a breakdown of the funding to date for the Project:
Entity Budget Current
Expenditures
Co of En ineers $448,000 $151,783
Town of Florence $281,000 $91,070
CWCB $167,000 $60,713
Total $896,000 $303,566
Discussion
The City of Florence has been considered by many to be one of Colorado's larger flood threats
despite its small geographic size and population. The City currently ranks 21St in the State of
Colorado (out of 235 communities eligible to purchase flood insurance) in number of active flood
insurance policies through the National Flood Insurance Program. Even more relevant is the fact
that only one of the Top 20 communities above Florence (the Town of Telluride) has a smaller
population. In fact, with one policy per 20 residents, the City of Florence has the second highest
ratio in the state for medium or large communities. While this is only an indirect measurement of
actual flood risk, past experience has shown that the number of insurance policies held often
correlates very well to actual or perceived flood risk.
Because the scope of the COE's project has not changed from the initial flood control feasibility
study, this change only removes the water storage component but does not represent a change in the
study's intent. The flood control aspect of this study is well within the mission of the Colorado
Water Conservation Board. Because it is one of the more floodprone communities in the entire state,
any activity taken to reduce flood potential in this community will serve the goal of mitigating flood
risk to the State.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board approve the use of a previously approved Non-Reimbursable
Project Investment to the City of Florence for a Feasibility Study for the purposes of flood control
mitigation to be performed by the U.S. Corps of Engineers. The staff also recommends transferring
the appropriated funds remaining under Non-Reimbursable Contract number C150203 to a new
contract for the same.
The project title and description as shown in the original Non-Reimbursable Project investment,
SBOS-084, must be revised in the 2008 Projects Bill before a contract can be executed.
Staff recommends the use of the following language to be used in the Projects Bill.
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