BOARD01652

• Board Meeting Date: 11/16/2004
• Description: CF Section - Non-Reimbursable Investments - Colorado Floodplain Map Modernization Program ‎(Refresh)‎
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

.

.

.

STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
PAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

MEMORANDUM

Bill Qwens
Governor

TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:

Colorado Water Conservation Board - Finance Committee
Larry Lang, Chief - Flood Protection Program
November 4, 2004
Agenda Item 15.e. Non-Reimbnrsable Investments
Colorado Floodplain Map Modernization Program (Refresh)

Russell George
Executive Director

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

Introdnction
In early 2003, Congress approved a substantial funding package ($150 million) to provide updated floodplain
mapping nationwide, This level of funding represents a five fold increase in amounts seen during previous funding
cycles, and has presented an outstanding opportunity for Colorado and other states to make a concerted effort to
update and revise aging floodplain maps. In preparation for increased floodplain mapping efforts and to provide a
source of non-federal matching dollars for the cost-share program, the CWCB approved and the General Assembly
authorized a non-reimbursable investment of $500,000 in the 2003 Construction Fund Bill. Staff is now requesting
to "refresh" that fund based on expenditures/obligations that are known at this time,

Discussion
Within a one-month timeframe beginning in August 2003, Colorado has received over $1 million in federal grant
dollars for floodplain mapping activities that are obligated in federal FY 2003, Since that time, Colorado has
received over $1 million additional FEMA grant dollars that are currently being spent on Map Modernization
studies, The FEMA funds are being matched by CWCB and local cost share dollars, The existing Map Mod
Program funds authorized in the 2003 Construction Fund Bill have provided the required non-federal matching
dollars (80120 cost share program), The State funds have also been instrumental in keeping Colorado as a lead state
within FEMA Region 8 and will continue to benefit a variety of Colorado communities in the months and years to
come, Without the State matching dollars, Colorado could miss out on millions of dollars in federal grants, It is
fully expected that high levels ofFEMA funding (millions of$) will stream into Colorado during the upcoming
fiscal year and future years as well,

Staff Request
The staff of the Flood Protection Section is requesting approval by the Board for a non-reimbursable
investment from the CWCB Construction Fund in the amount up to $500,000 in order to "refresh" the original
authorization in the 2003 Construction Fund bill. The actual amount of the refresh is likely to be on the order
of $250,000 in order to achieve the original $500,000 level of funding, The request is to provide matching
dollars and related study funds in order to take advantage of the federal funds available from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for updated and modernized floodplain mapping in Colorado, The
CWCB funds, if authorized by the Board and the General Assembly, would be available for all phases of the
technical needs for providing new digital floodplain maps to multiple counties and communities in the state.
Matching requirements (cash andlor in-kind services) will also be required from the local governments
receiving assistance from the Map Modernization Program,

Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning