BOARD00608

• Board Meeting Date: 9/22/2003
• Description: Flood Section - Grand Valley Stormwater Unification Feasibility Final Report/Presentation
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Executive Summary

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For over 100 years the Grand Valley has been developing at the bottom of 28 separate
drainage basins traversed by 6 major irrigation supply ditches (see basin map on following page).
The cities, towns, county, and irrigation and drainage districts responsible for drainage services
have not been able to keep pace with development in terms of providing adequate drainage and
flood control systems. The services ~., ~''-
provided by the municipalities and districts .. ". "
have been provided as an "as needed" .~
response to sudden problems. As a result, <.,
the current drainage system is undersized,
has major gaps, and needs maintenance.
Because the system is inadequate, there are
many potential flood hazards to. the
residents and property in the Valley. Based
on studies completed on 8 of the 28
drainage basins, there are over $40 million
in capital project needs in those 8 basins
that have been deferred. In addition, there
are needs for maintenance, planning, and
meeting the new federal regulations for File Photograph
stormwater.

..On March 10, 2003, Palisade, Mesa County, Grand Junction, the Grand Junction
.. Drainage District, and the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District submitted permit applications
as required by the Federal Clean Water Act. These entities will soon begin compliance with long
term permits to manage the quality and quantity of stormwater as required by the Uriited States
Environmental Protection Agency and administered by the State of'Colorado. This mandate
from the federal government is an un-funded mandate; local municipalities are required to fund
the implementation and maintenance of
the permits. Fines of up to $25,000 per
day are possible for not meeting the
requirements of the new federal
stormwater regulation.

The new federal standards precipitated
the collaboration of the municipalities and
districts to jointly address the issues of
the federal regulations and the associated
problems of an inadequate stormwater

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Flooding on 25 Road in Grand Junction federal regulations and to plan, construct,
August 5, 1997 and maintain adequate drainage systems
A . as part of the services provided to the
.. community. Residential and commercial areas in all of the cornmunities of the valley are
dependent on adequate drainage systems that function properly,

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