BOARD01677

• Board Meeting Date: 7/26/1999
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Flood Documentation Report: This report will sununarize the meteorological,
hydrologic, and hydraulic characteristics of the 1999 flood events within the 12 federally
declared counties. The report will describe flood losses and damages, erosion problems, flood
recovery and response efforts, and other key elements of the flooding. The report will be a
valuable planning tool and will meet FEMA requirements of the Stafford Act.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program: This program is a FEMA program that provides
mitigation money to local communities, through state government, to prevent future flood losses
and damages; it requires a 25% nonfederal cost-share.

La Junta, Colorado - Flood Recovery Plan: This community has suffered many adverse
flood-related disruptions and economic impacts. To assist this community, we support the
request presented by Otero County which includes three elements:

I) . A feasibility study to assist in making decisions for flood hazard mitigation in the North La
Junta vicinity. The study will:
i) Assess the community's concerns and needs;
ii) Evaluate all relevant assistance program opportunities and funding sources;
iii) Prepare a matrix of all flood mitigation measures and proposals;
iv) Foster community support for an improvement plan;
v) Provide the technical support for project funding requests and for implementation of
the improvements within a reasonable time frame;

2) Provide a flood mitigation officer to assist community leaders with theday-to-day
management and technical aspects of the feasibility study through a professional services
. ... contract; and

3) Install a reliable flood warning system upstream of La Junta. The warning system will
provide residents with assurance that they will receive adequate warning .in the event of a
future flood (the existing gauge failed during the flooding this year).

We have requested that the funds be made available through our office so that Larry and
his staff can coordinate the delivery of technical and fmancial assistance with the development of
flood documentation and related services. . This request is consistent with Executive Order D-
003-99 entitled "Declaring a Disaster Emergency due to Widespread Flooding in Certain Areas
of Colorado" and we have been informed that adequate funds are available from the State -
Disaster Emergency Fund. We have advised Otero County of this request and are waiting to
hear from the Governor.

De minimis Instream Flow Cases: Our staff has identified two cases that have the
potential to injure state instream flow rights. The attached table sununarizes the applications and
describes the potential injury to instream flow rights. In each of these cases, the cumulative
impact to the Board's rights is I % or less. Pursuant to the De minimis Rule, described in Section
9.3 of the ISF Rules, staff has not filed Statements of Opposition in these cases.

De minimis Instream Flow Cases Cumulative Impact to State Instream Flow Water Rights is One Percent or
Less

Case No. Applicant Stream / ISF Amount Percent Cumulative Previous
Case Number Injury % Injury Cases

12