Finance Committee Meeting 2008

• Board Meeting Date: 9/16/2008
• Description: Finance Sub-Committee Meeting September 16, 2008
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

STATE OF COLORADO
• Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street,Room 721
Denver,Colorado 80203 ` y^ '9 o
Phone:[phone]
Fax:[phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us . $76*.
TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board Members Bill Ritter,Jr.
Governor
FROM: Kevin Houck, Engineer Harris D.Sherman
Watershed Protection&Flood Mitigation Section DNR Executive Director
Jennifer L.Gimbel
DATE: July 29, 2008 CWCB Director
Dan McAuliffe
SUBJECT: Non-Reimbursable Investments CWCB Deputy Director
NOAA Atlas 2 Precipitation Atlas Update
Background
Floodplain delineations and design of hydraulic structures must use design point rainfall as a
basic data input. Currently, the tool most commonly used is the Precipitation Atlas prepared in
1973 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), generally referred to as
• the NOAA Atlas 2. The NOAA Atlas 2 uses isohyetal figures to portray design rainfall depths
for the entire State of Colorado for return frequencies ranging from 2-year to 100-year and for
durations of 5 minutes to 24 hours. While this Atlas is very useful in obtaining the data needed
for hydraulic designs and floodplain analyses, at 35 years old, it is regarded as being out of date.
Discussion
This request is to provide funds for the purpose of updating the long out-of-date NOAA Atlas 2
for the State of Colorado. NOAA is currently performing work around the country in groups of
states with the goal of updating design precipitation data throughout the nation. By grouping the
states together in groups of projects, NOAA is able to attain benefits of scale and bring
additional partners into the projects. NOAA issued a proposal with Colorado grouped with six
Midwestern states that have funding available but are in need of a seventh state in order to move
forward according to NOAA policy. As such, this project will be able to move forward at this
time if Colorado can commit the funds.
Staff Request
The CWCB Staff requests that the Board consider funding$300,000 for the purpose of
partnering with NOAA and other states to update the Atlas to current statistical standards and
accuracy. This is a one-time request.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board request the General Assembly to authroize up to $300,000 from
the Construction Fund to be appropriated to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for the
purpose of updating the Atlas to current statistical standards and accuracy.
Water Supply Protection•Watershed Protection and Flood Mitigation•Stream&Lake Protection•Water Supply Planning&Finance
Water Conservation&Drought Planning•Intrastate Water Management&Development