BOARD01677

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

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The Yampa River Management Committee met in Lakewood on July 14 to discuss this strategic
opportunity. The Committee also discussed preparation for an August 5 conference in Craig that
has been scheduled to discuss a "synthesis report" that should bring all the research that has been
conducted about the Yampa River into one easily understandable presentation. The conference
may also serve as an important step toward expediting the completion of a Yampa river
Biological Opinion. Scientists who attend the conference may review and advise the USFWS
about the scientific data that has been collected and the USFWS could use this peer review as the
basis for recommendations it may make in the Biological Opinion. However, before work on a
Biological Opinion can begin in earnest, we will seek assurances that the affected water interests
understand the proposed process and are willing to help ensure its success. The July 26
Workshop that is planned prior to your meeting is our first step in the direction.

Elk River Ranch Flood Mitigation Update: The lower reaches of the Elk River Channel
Floodplain have experienced major flooding problems from 1995 through 1997 during the spring
snowmelt runoff season. The events have caused serious damages. On June 2 and 3 the
watershed experiences the "flood of record". This event caused many flood-related problems
throughout the channel and floodplain areas. A summery of the flood problems and issues are:

. Streambank erosion;
. Overbank flooding;
. Damage top flood protection structures;
· Re-alignment of the historic stream channel;
· Debris buildup in flow conveyance areas;
· . . Destruction of natural vegetation and habitat; and,
· Demonstration of proper floodplain management planning and illustration of undersized
culvert and bridge openings.

Elk River residents have requested technical and financial assistance. As a result, the CWCB
has:

· Prepared an inspection report entitled "Lower Elk River, Routt County, Colorado Field
Inspection Report" dated October 1997
.. Requested and received funding for the Lower Elk River Floodplain Management Plan
(Section 190. HB 98-1189).
· Recommended and received FEMA authorization to update the Routt County Flood
Insurance Study.

CWCB staffhas also conducted a number of workshops with local citizens. At a September
15,1998 meeting with the Routt County Commissioners, the.commissioners asked the CWCB to
table the river plan study until FEMA's contractors comple~e the hydrologic and hydraulic
determinations for the Lower Elk River. We project that this study will begin in 2000.

In the meantime, CWCB staff is planning a field inspection with local landowners on July 26
to assess flood losses experienced during the spring 1999 snowmelt runoff.

Stagecoach Reservoir and Stagecoach State Park Tour: If you have time before or
after the board meeting, I encourage you to visit Stagecoach Reservoir and Stagecoach State

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