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Water Project Construction Program- Project Data <br /> Non-Reimbursable Investment <br /> • Grantee: Colorado Water Conservation Board County: Statewide <br /> Project Name:NOAA Atlas 2 Precipitation Atlas Update <br /> Project Type: Update of Statewide Precipitation Atlas Providing Point Precipitation Values <br /> Statewide for Various Return Frequencies and Durations <br /> Drainage Basin: All River Basins in Colorado Water Source: N/A <br /> Total Project Cost: $900,000 Funding Source: CWCB Const. Fund <br /> Type of Grantee: State Government Median Household income:N/A <br /> CWCB Non-Reimbursable Inv.: $300,000 Interest Rate: N/A Tenn: N/A <br /> Floodplain delineations and design of hydraulic structures must use design point rainfall as a basic <br /> data input. Currently, the tool most commonly used is the Precipitation Atlas prepared in 1973 by <br /> the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), generally referred to as the NOAA <br /> Atlas 2. The NOAA Atlas 2 uses isohyetal figures to portray design rainfall depths for the entire <br /> State of Colorado for return frequencies ranging from 2-year to 100-year and for durations of 5 <br /> minutes to 24 hours. While this Atlas is very useful in obtaining the data needed for hydraulic <br /> designs and floodplain analyses, at 35 years old, it is widely regarded as being out of date. <br /> Accuracy is critical for this information, as it will help mitigate"overdesigns", which needlessly <br /> increase design costs, or"underdesigns",which increase the threat to public safety. It is also critical <br /> for the accurate portrayal of floodplain delineations, which are not only the most reliable risk <br /> identification tool for flood threats,but also have important ramifications for landuse decisions, <br /> • local regulations, and insurance costs and mandatory purchase requirements. <br /> This request is to provide funds for the purpose of updating the long out-of-date NOAA Atlas 2 for <br /> the State of Colorado. NOAA is currently performing work around the country in groups of states <br /> with the goal of updating design precipitation data throughout the nation. By grouping the states <br /> together in groups of projects,NOAA is able to attain benefits of scale and bring additional partners <br /> into the projects. Initially, NOAA proposed grouping Colorado with Wyoming and Montana. <br /> However, because Montana is unable to provide funding for their share of this grouping, this project <br /> could not move forward. As such, NOAA issued a new proposal with Colorado grouped with six <br /> Midwestern states that have funding available but are in need of a seventh state in order to move <br /> forward according to NOAA policy. As such, this project will be able to move forward at this time <br /> if Colorado can commit the funds. <br /> According to NOAA, the update process will take 2-3 years, at which point, updated design rainfall <br /> information will be available for use throughout the State of Colorado. NOAA states that due to the <br /> limited period of record used in the original Atlas, completion of this project will nearly triple the <br /> supporting data inherent in the results portrayed in the updated Atlas. <br /> This request represents the entire share needed for completion of this project. This is a one-time <br /> project request, and no further applications will be submitted in the future for additional funding. <br /> • <br />