BOARD01004

• Board Meeting Date: 9/24/2001
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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USACE Colorado Service Center

.In Apri12001 the US Army Corps of Engineers, in conjunction with the State of Colorado Department of
Natural Resources, developed the "USACE Colorado Service Center," and hired V an V. Shipley to staffit.
Van Shipley can be reached at Phone: [phone], email: van.shiplev(a)state.co.us, Fax: (303) 894-
2174.

Congress has provided the Corps of Engineers (Corps) with several legislative authorities under which the
Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, is authorized to plan, design, and construct
certain types of water resource and ecosystem restoration projects without additional, specific congressional
authorization. Collectively, these authorities are referred to as the Continuing Authorities Program (CAP).
Because no congressional authorization is needed, CAP projects can be done more quickly than those
pursued under the General Investigations program. The CAP authorities are for specific purposes, and each
program has specific Federal spending limits. The following paragraphs provide brief summaries of the
CAP authorities that are applicable to the State of Colorado. These programs pertain to streambank and
shoreline protection of public facilities, flood damage reduction, aquatic ecosystem restoration, and project
modifications for improvement of the environment.

SMALL FLOOD DAMAGE REDUCTION PROJECTS (Section 205)
Authority: Section 205, Flood Control Act of 1948 (public Law 80-858), as amended
Provisions: Under this authority, the Corps may study and construct structural or nonstructural projects to
reduce damages caused by overbank flooding-if the projects are determined to be economically feasible.
The Federal contribution for study, design, and construction of projects under this authority is limited to
$7,000,000 per project.

PROJECT MODIFICATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (Section 1135)
Authority: Section 1135, Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (pL 99-662) as amended
Provisions: This section provides authority to review and modify the structures and operations of water
resources projects constructed by the Corps for the purpose of improving the quality ofthe environment
when it is determined that such modifications are feasible, consistent with authorized project purposes, and
will improve the quality of the environment. Projects that address degradation of the quality of the
environment caused by a Corps project may also be undertaken. Not more than $5,000,000 Federal
contribution (study, design, construct) per modification.

AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION (Section 206)
Authority: Section 206, Water Resources Development Act of 1996 (public Law 104-303)
Provisions: This authority allows the Corps to undertake projects to restore or protect the aquatic
ecosystem for the purpose of improving environmental quality--ifthe projects are in the public interest and
cost-effective. The Federal contribution for study, design, and construction ofprojects under this authority is
limited to $5,000,000 per project.

PLANNING ASSISTANCE TO STATES (Section 22)
Authority: Section 22, Water Resources Development Act of 1974 (public Law 93-251), as amended
Provisions: This cost-shared program authorizes the Corps to provide technical planning and engineering
assistance to States, counties, local governments, and federally recognized Indian Tribes in preparing
comprehensive plans for the development, utilization, and conservation of water and related land resources.
Under this pro gram, the Corps can provide assistance in all areas related to water resources development in
which the Corps has expertise. Assistance is limited to $500,000 in Federal funds per State or Tribe per
year, based on available appropriations. The assistance (study) provided is reconnaissance level in scope.
Most studies are completed within 12 months.

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