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. . . Floodplain Mapping Program: Flood Protection staff are investigating the feasibility and funding to develop a statewide, comprehensive floodplain mapping program. In Colorado, many areas of the state are using outdated maps and do not reflect current development, physical stream changes, roads and bridges, and other man-made and natural features that have altered stream corridors. North Carolina has a relatively new multi.million dollar mapping program that is being held as the nationwide model for other states to follow. Streamgaging Symposium: Along with the Division of Water Resources (DWR), the USGS, and the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute, we co-sponsored a Streamgaging SymposiUlll on May:.1 in Breckenridge. The symposium focused on major programs; the uses of streamflow data; historic and current coverage of streamflow gages; and opportunities that may be available to diversify and increase overall investments made to support the collection, dissemination, and archiving of streamflow information. . MEGA Board Meeting: The MEGA Board is meeting on May 14 in Breckenridge. I will update you about its activities at your meeting. - Education Initiative Update: A water education provider meeting was held on April 30 at the Division of Wildlife. Thirty-three water education providers from a variety of arenas attended the meeting. There were representatives from school districts, water utilities, Colorado Water Conservation Board, universities and colleges, the now, the Colorado Department of Education I wastewater districts, Ocean Journey, Project Learning Tree, Project Wet, Water's Ways, Colorado Watershed Network, water conservation imd conservancy districts, BPA, Colorado Foundation for Agriculture, and the USGS. Ed Geary from CSU described a Digital Library for Earth Science Education that is in the development process. Five hWldred exemplary water education projects will be identified through standards and criteria. Other participants gave short descriptions of water education projects that are currently occurring or will be available next year. The data about water education projects is being collected to be put into a database. Some of the water education programs target K-12 students and others address teachers through workshops or summer institutes. There seemed to be a gap to address adult water education. This sharing was very productive and gave participants an opportunity to network with each other about sharing resources. Based on feedback at the end of the meeting, the group saw a need for future meetings and more coordination of water education efforts in Colorado. There is a need to get others involved in water education to participate in future meetings and to make certain that all geographic areas of Colorado are represented. Future meetings might include sharing best practices (e.g. addressing K-12 content standards across various disciplines, strategies for professional development with teachers, exemplary hands-on materials that develop concepts over a long period of time). Information about the Colorado Science Convention to be held Oct. 4 - 5 in Denver at the Merchandise Mart was also shared. Other water education provider meetings will be held this summer or fall. Rita Crumpton, from the Ute Water Conservancy District will host a Grand Junction meeting on June 14 and will follow a fonnat similar to the fonnat used in April. No Adverse Impact Flood Policy: Arumal flood losses in the u.s. continue to grow despite 75 years offederaI flood control and 30 years of the National Flood Insurance Program. This trend is unnecessary and many feel is primarily due to federal policies that have encouraged at- risk development. justify flood control projects that favor an intensification ofland uses within the floodplain, and engendered an unhealthy reliance on federal resources by state and local governments. 5