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• Board Meeting Date: 3/18/2008
• Description: WPFM Section - Flood Outlook Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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_ March 4, 2008
CWCB Snowmelt Flood Preparation
Status
The 2008 flood season is approaching Colorado, and much attention has been placed on the quantity of
snowpack within the state. Although floods can occur any time of the year in Colorado, the height of
flood season generally occurs from May 1St through September 30a'. Preparations have already been
started to address the high snowpack present in the Colorado mountains.
Since the beginning of the calendar year, the Colorado Water Conservation Board's Watershed
Protection and Flood Mitigation Section has been monitoring snowpack throughout the state. GIS-
based maps have been prepared showing the areal extent of the snowpack as well as percent of
historical averages at various points. These maps have been prepared for all major river basins and
have been posted to the CWCB website.
Tables have been prepared that summarize the areas of highest risk. As of Mazch 3rd, the watersheds
of largest concern aze in the Rio Grande Basin, the San Miguel/Dolores/Animas/San Juan River
Basins, the Arkansas River Basin, the Upper.Colorado River Basin, and the Gunnison River Basin. As
of March 3'~, each of these entire river basins show snowpack greater than 129% of average, with
individual readings as high as 225% at localized levels. Certain watersheds in the South Platte River
Basin, North Platte River Basin, and Yampa/White River Basins also exceed 130%, although these
watersheds as a whole are displaying values closer to historical averages.
The first meeting of the Colorado Flood Task Force has been scheduled for March 17, 2008. This
meeting, chaired by the Colorado Water Conservation Boazd, assembles engineers, meteorologists,
local officials, emergency management officials, and other interested parties to exchange data and
discuss plans for the upcoming flood season. It is anticipated that much attention at this meeting will
focus on what, if any, actions are needed to address the upcoming snowmelt season, which can run any
time from late April to late June, depending on weather conditions. Any interested parties are
encouraged to attend this meeting.
A Spring Flood News Release has been prepazed and distributed by the CWCB outlining the
availability of flood insurance. Special note should be made of the 30-day waiting period before the
insurance becomes effective.
A number of meetings and workshops have already been scheduled throughout the state, and more are
being considered at the request of local communities: These workshops will focus on emergency
prepazedness and flood insurance. As this calendar is continually being updated, any interested parties
should contact the CWCB at 303-866-3441 for a current list of scheduled meetings.
Four attachments are included to provide additional facts regarding background information, current
geographic areas of concern, actions being taken at all levels, and Colorado flood history.