BOARD01633

• Board Meeting Date: 11/19/2001
• Description: Flood Section - Non-Reimbursable Investments - Fountain Creek Watershed Project, US Army Corps of Engineers
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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watershed and its problems, specifically with regard to flooding and erosion, and to potential
mitigation strategies for those problems. Second, it will make it possible for Congress to
consider authorization for funding to implement the mitigation strategies that will be
recommended in the study. Given the magnitude of damages already experienced, and given the
possibility of substantial costs to local governments in the watershed and to the state as a whole
in future floods, the Feasibility Study would be a wise investment for the residents of the
watershed and for the state. The biggest question to the staff is not, "Should the state participate
in the funding of the GI Feasibility Study?" but rather, "How much of the $300,000 requested
should the state provide?"

The applicant has also spoken to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) regarding
potential funding. DOLA considers the CWCB to be the lead agency in this particular project.
Preliminary indications from DOLA are that they will consider seriously the possibility of
limited funding of the request, particularly if the CWCB also considers funding the request.
They are aware that there are three local/state installments for the GI Feasibility Study, over the
next three years, and they have said that they might look at DOLA funding in successively
smaller amounts for the second and third years. Therefore, it appears that there may be funding
available from DOLA that could complement funding from the CWCB.

The applicant has also discussed with all 11 local govemments the possibility of obtaining no
state funding. Therefore, the applicant is aware of the possibility of no state funding or partial
state funding of the requested amount.

Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board request the General Assembly to authorize an amount up to
$300,000 from the Construction Fund to be appropriated to the City of Colorado Springs for a
contribution to the state/local share for the first installment toward the cost of the Fountain Creek
Watershed Corps of Engineers General Investigation Feasibility Study. The staff also
recommends that the Board recommend to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs that it
authorize partial funding for the project.

L:\section folders\seca\board meetings\november 2001\agemda item 24c - fountain creek corps study.doc

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