BOARD00698

• Board Meeting Date: 3/26/2001
• Description: Flood Section - Flood and Drought Outlook 2001
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Colorado Watel' Conservation Board
Department ofNaturaI Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 72 I
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.statc.ao.us

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STATE OF COLORAD

(I)

Bill Owens
Governor

MEMORANDUM

Greg E. Walcher
Executive
Director

To:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Oan McAulilfu
Acting Director

From:

Larry Lang, P.E. Chief, Flood Protection Section

Date:

March 14, 2001

Re:

Agenda Item 16 - March 26-27, 2001, CWCB Meeting -- Flood and Drought Outlook 2001

Introduction
In 1995, the Board started providing infonnational messages and assistance to the Colorado citizenry
regarding the flood outlook, This activity was in response to the extremely high flood threat that existed
from a record snowpack in 1995. These outlook reports are prepared from the member technical
presentations of the Colorado Flood Task Force that is chaired by the CWCB. These outlook reports and
member presentations are also posted on the CWCB web page, During the flood season, the CWCB flood
watch web page will receive 1000 hits per month. These reports have proven to be of much interest to the
Colorado citizenry and government emergency response managers.

The Governor's Flood & Drought Conference that was conducted on December 2 &3, 1999 received a
nwnber of concerns regarding the annual drought outlook. The m)ar statewide drought of 2000 has raised
additional concerns for drought outlooks and forecasts.

The Colorado Office of Emergency Management (OEM) chairs the Colorado Drought Task Force, The tas
force has a membership that has an interest in the annual drought forecast and water supply for Colorado
water users,

DIscussion
John Henz with HDR Engineering has been an active member of the Colorado Flood Task Force. John's
long tenn flood forecasts over the past years have been of much value to the Colorado citizenry, John's has
been providing long tenn drought forecasts to a nwnber of western states.

Presentation
John Henz will present a preview of both spring and summer 2001 weather with specific forecasts and
outlooks for precipitation, temperatures, severe weather, drought and flooding opportunities for the state's
major drainage basins, Despite's 30+ years of weather forecasting in Colorado, he admits "at times the
crystal ball gets hazy (blowing dust or heavy rains) and will share with you the reasons why our "crystal
ball" will be hazy or clear this year,"

Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and Lake Procection
Water SUpply Protection. Conservation Plannin '