BOARD00583

• Board Meeting Date: 3/21/2002
• Description: Flood Section - Proposed Floodplain Mapping Program
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Shennan Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

Bill Owens
Governor

MEMORANDUM

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director

TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:

Rod Knharich
CWCB Director

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
Larry Lang, P ,E., Chief, Flood Protection Section 1.., rt <..../
March 11,2002
Agenda Item 23. f, March 21 - 22 CWCB Meeting
Proposed Floodplain Mapping Program

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

Introduction
In 1966, the Board initiated a floodplain information mapping program. Over the years since
1966, the Board's program received funding from a number of federal and state programs. In
the 1980's, the Federal Insurance Administration, currently known as FEMA, provided
millions of dollars for the state's floodplain mapping program. In selected years, the CWCB
provided limited matching funds, which have been appropriated to complement the FEMA
funds.

In the past two years, the Board has received money from the Construction Fund for a more
ambitious floodplain mapping program in Colorado, For FY '00-01 the amount was $250,000
and for FY '01-02 the amount was $100,000. These non-reimbursable funds from FY '00-01
and '01-02 are currently being used to meet floodplain mapping needs for a limited number of
communities. Staff foresees a need for a long-term program to continue with much needed
mapping studies, Recent trends at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
indicate a strong likelihood of very large federal funding increases for floodplain mapping.
Should that increase come to pass, Colorado wil1 be in a stronger position to benefit from those
federal funds if it can provide significant state matchinglpartnering funds for floodplain maps.
Through the creation of an ongoing CWCB floodplain mapping program, the Board can better
match federal funding programs, modernize and update existing maps, and address 8000 miles
of unmapped floodplains.

Discussion

Background
The CWCB, in cooperation with many partners, has studied over 8,000 miles of the state's
estimated 16,000 stream miles, covering 90 percent of the developed floodplain areas in
Colorado. Despite that progress, several factors necessitate new mapping studies or revised
studies:

Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning