BOARD01318

• Board Meeting Date: 9/13/2005
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Lastly, as a follow up to the information reported in the July 2005 Directors Report, the Corps has
provided drafting assistance at the request of the City and County of Denver to include language in the
federal Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) Bill that would authorize "environmental
restoration" studies that would quantify benefits of certain release patterns out of Chatfield Reservoir
intended for downstream water users. The addition of environmental restoration could significantly
reduce the cost to the water users of purchasing water supply storage space in Chatfield Reservoir.
However, the group as a whole will need to evaluate this option and coordinate closely so as not to delay
or cause problems for the original study intent. The Corps transmitted a letter to the CWCB outlining the
effects of having environmental restoration language in the WRDA Bill to clarify several important issues
related to authorization, funding, and obligations. There is no firm resolution from the water users at this
point in time regarding a strategy to address the environmental restoration add-on issue. However, the
group is working diligently to come to a decision point regarding a course of action for environmental
restoration.

Floodplain Management Workshops a Success: The CWCB Flood Protection Section hosted a series
of four workshops around the state. The workshops were held August 9-12 in Durango, Glenwood
Springs, Colorado Springs, and Greeley. Entitled Floodplain Management 20 I, these workshops were co-
sponsored by the Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers, which paid for the
workshop expenses and helped advertise the events. The workshops were a resounding success, with
almost 80 attendees from all corners of the state. Topics addressed during the workshops included the
Statewide Criteria Manual, the Map Modernization Program, the availability ofFEMA grants and post-
disaster assistance, flood insurance, and the Community Rating System (an insurance discount program
provided to communities who go above and beyond the minimum floodplain management requirements.
Presenters at the workshops included Kevin Houck and Karen Price of the Flood Protection Section,
Marilyn Gaily from the Colorado Division of Emergency Management, Norm Ashford from the National
Flood Insurance Program, and Kerry Redente from Insurance Services Office. Feedback to the CWCB
and CASFM following the workshops was very positive, and numerous requests for specific topics to be
presented at next years' workshops were made.

Cache La Poudre River Floodway Project: The City of Greeley suffered extensive flood damages in
1999 in a residential and industrial area in the community. CWCB staff met with officials from Greeley
on August 12 to tour the Cache La Poudre River in and around Greeley and become familiar with project
goals. The project will investigate structural and non-structural flood damage reduction and ecosystem
restoration measures along a 17-mile reach of the river. Flood damage reduction will focus on a 2-3 mile
reach largely east of 8th Ave and ecosystem restoration will encompass the whole 17 -mile reach. Some of
the interesting project study features include: (I) evaluating gravel pits for flood storage utility and
potential to improve the ecosystem of the river and its floodplain (2) exploring opportunities to lessen
steep slopes ofthe river channel and restore natural floodplain functions and (3) integrating the River
through improvements to the river channel, aesthetics, and access near Island Grove Park. Staff has
worked with Greeley and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the last five years to help bring this
project idea to fruition. As of August 2005 the City has a General Investigations Study and Project
Management Plan, and a letter of intent from the City Engineer to Colonel Jeffrey A. Bedey in with the
Omaha Corps. Greeley still needs City Council approval in late September in order to enter into the
Feasibility Cost Share Agreement with the Corps. All in all, progress is being made.

CWCB staff is working on an IGA between the CWCB and Greeley for the $150,000 that was earmarked
for this project in the 2003 Construction Fund Bill. The total project cost is estimated at $1.5 million and
will be completed in Federal FY 08. A Decision Point I has been built into the project that is designed to
collect base data and make a determination whether or not to continue the study. This decision Point I is
estimated about $484,000 over the next year and half, $242,000 (halt) of which is Greeley's share.
Greeley has $100,000 budgeted for the project and will match it with the CWCB $150,000. It should take

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