BOARD00664

• Board Meeting Date: 3/21/2006
• Description: Flood Section - CWCB Flood Response Program Update
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO

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Colorado Water Conservation Board

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

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

To:
From:
Date:
Re:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
Tom Browning, Chief, Flood Protection Program
March 13, 2006
Agenda Item 15 - March 21-22, 2006 CWCB Meeting
CWCB Flood Response Program Update

Russell George
Executive Director

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

Rick Brown
Acting Deputy Director

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Introduction
CWCB Flood Protection staff (Staft) have been actively involved with snowmelt flood preparation activities this
spring, spurred on by heavy mountain snowpack within certain portions of Colorado's high country, Beginning in
February, staff was well aware of higher than average snowpack in the central and northern mountain areas of the
state, In response to the potential for some level of flood threat, staff has engaged in proactive approaches to
developing snowpack, snowmelt, and flood-related information for communities and other interested parties. In
addition to the public information and coordination roles, Staff continues to chair the Colorado Flood Task Force
and exhibits leadership for local, state, and federal partnering functions.

Staff cooperates with the Colorado Division of Water Resources and the Department of Local Affairs in
implementing flood awareness and preparedness activities. The weather information provided by John Henz-
HDR Engineering, Inc., the National Weather Service, and NOAA has been very useful in assisting with
monitoring actions. Staff intends to provide an informational PowerPoint presentation to the Board for Ihis agenda
item.

Discussion
Staff plans to provide a brief presentation to the Board regarding the following main topics related to this Flood
Response Program Update:

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Summarv of CWCB Sprinl! Flood Preparedness Activities
. Chair the Colorado Flood Task Force Meetings to monitor and report on flood threats.
· Provide a press release reminding communities to be aware of potential flooding and to emphasize the need
for purchasing and updating flood insurance policies,
· Make available 100-year regulatory floodplain mapping and other technical assistance to the public
. Distribute snowmelt flood updates via email and the CWCB website
. Utilize the CWCB Flood Response Fund as needed
. Provide on-line services to the public
. Monitor snowpack conditions
· Develop SNODAS snowpack mapping project to develop early warnings for basin specific flood threat
potential (2006 will be the first opportunity to use SNODAS for flood threat potential).
. Post a daily statewide Flood Outlook
. Post statewide storm precipitation maps and rainfall reconstruction data
Colorado Watee Conservation Board
Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning