25d ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 11/18/2007
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

-13-
WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL CONFERENCE: The Western States Water Council held
a conference in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 12-14, 2007. `'eva McCaig and Ted Kowalski, of the
CWCB Staff represented the State of Colorado at the conference. The conference was a working
conference, such that after presentations on topics, such as watershed planning and climate change, there
would be breakout work sessions to develop strategies and positions on topics. The Western States Water
Council will be meeting in Phoenix, AZ, at the same time as the Board meeting.
GOVERNOR ADDRESSES WATER CONSERVATION SUMMIT: The CWCB's Office of Water
Conservation & Drought Planning staff participated in an all day meeting of municipal water conservation
experts at the Colorado Municipal League's (CML) Water Conservation Summit held October 19, 2007 at
CML. The Governor visited briefly after lunch to talk with attendees and encouraged cities and towns to
"be aggressive" on their water conservation efforts, given the scarcity of water in Colorado". Harris
Sherman, DNR Executive Director, was also in attendance. The purpose of the Summit was to guide
CML's process of creating the best ways to help members in learning and establishing water conservation
principles, plans and ordinances that best fit local circumstances.
COLORADO FOUNDATION FOR WATER EDUCATION INTERVIEWS DIRECTOR
CANDIDATES: On November 2, 2007 the Board of the Colorado Foundation for Water Education
(CFWE) conducted interviews of three final candidates for its vacant Executive Director position. The
three candidates were asked to prepare and deliver a presentation to Board members to demonstrate their
communications skills, as well as their ideas for future K-12 program areas. In addition, they were
interviewed by members about their budget and management and water education experience. The Board
unanimously selected an ideal candidate and is in the process of assembling a compensation package to
offer. Upon acceptance, the new Executive Director should start in December 2007.
FLOODPLAIN MAP MODERNIZATION PROGRAM: The CWCB, a Cooperating Technical
Partner with FEMA, received funding for this year's Map Modernization Program. Colorado typically
receives $1 - 1.5 million in grant money each year due to the State and local support that is put toward
both countywide digital conversion projects and new or revised detailed studies. Projects are chosen each
_year based on local interest, need and population basis. This _year, the following four counties will be
starting the digital conversion process: Delta, Summit, Park and El Paso. Currently, there are 21 counties
that have either been completed or are in progress. Some of the counties mapping projects have been
managed by the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District or FEMA with the CWCB acting in a support
role when necessary.
Since the start of the five year program the funding for this Statewide effort has been approximately $7.6
million which includes Federal, State and local funding and in-kind contributions. The goal of achieving
a Federal/State/Local cost share (80/10/10 split, respectively) has been generally maintained with an
acutal funding split resulting in a 74/11/15 contribution rate as a whole. So far this year FEMA has
contributed $1.3 million for Colorado studies, the State has contributed $178,000 and the local funding
and in-kind match has been $564,000.
This has been a very successful and much needed program for Colorado in the effort to update existing
floodplain maps throughout the State, many of which are 30 years old, and to depict the floodplain risk
for the communities of Colorado.
The next phase of the Map Modernization program is unknown as of yet, but it is expected that a new
maintenance phase will commence in Federal Fiscal year 2009. Related updates include:
Levees within Colorado: The Corps mentioned to the CWCB that they will be sending a letter to
both Colorado Springs and Pueblo as a follow up the August field visits of the Corps built levees
and meetings regarding those levees in each community. It is unknown as to whether the CWCB
will be copied on these letters.
Flood Protection • Water Project Planning and Finance • Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection • Conservation Plaiming