BOARD01807

• Board Meeting Date: 5/24/2004
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

FEMA Region VIII CAP Conference: The annual Community Assistance Program (CAP) Conference for
FEMA's Region VIII was held on April 20-22 in Lakewood. The annual conference is designed to be a
platform for interaction between the states in Region VIII (CO, WY, MT, UT, ND, SD) and FEMA.

Kevin Houck attended the entire conference with support from Larry Lang, Brian Hyde, Tom Browning, and
Joe Busto. Among the subjects discussed were map modernizations, insurance aspects of the National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP), a briefing from FEMA headquarters, and the Community Rating System. Kevin
summarized results from the Five-Year Plan Workshop, held in Madison, WI, on April 5-8.

In addition, the firm of Michael Baker, Jr., and its partners were introduced as FEMA's new National Service
Provider. Baker will support FEMA and the states nationwide in servicing all aspects of the National Flood
Insurance Program. The meeting featured successful interaction between the states and FEMA.

FEMA emphasized that they are in a dynamic period when changes are frequent, but it was agreed that the
programs in all of Region VIII, including Colorado, were running very well. Colorado has received a large
portion of map modernization funds in the region to date, and the efforts of the CWCB and the Urban Drainage
and Flood Control District were recognized during the meeting.

2004 Flood Task Force Meeting: The CWCB chairs the Colorado Flood Task Force (FTF) and held its flood
season kick off meeting on May 5 at the NRCS offices in Lakewood. The FTF meets during each flood season
to coordinate flood related activities, monitor extreme weather conditions and share program information. The
CWCB, DWR, FEMA, USGS, NRCS, Corps of Engineers, the Colorado Office of Emergency Management and
a number of local government representatives and other interested parties typically attend meetings. The CWCB
contracts with John Henz of HDR Engineering for flood outlooks and long-term weather forecasts. The CWCB
staff prepares meeting summary reports and press releases to increase general awareness of flooding potential in
Colorado. Meeting summaries are emailed to interested parties and posted on the CWCB website.

Colorado Business Case Plan for Floodplain Mapping: Our Floodplain Mapping Program has been steadily
addressing the state's mapping needs since the inception of the program. The need for upgrading floodplain
information has been recognized at the national level, and substantial financial help is now being provided to
expand Colorado's efforts. To address this nationwide need, Congress approved an FY '03 amount of $150
million. Similar or higher funding levels are proposed for subsequent fiscal years, including the appropriation of
$200 million for FY 2004 by Public Law (P.L.) 108-90. The Floodplain Mapping Program will incorporate
Map Modernization activities in Colorado, allowing a major increase in the resources we can devote to meeting
floodplain map update needs.

As a result of the large infusion of floodplain mapping dollars, Colorado's Business Case Plan (Plan) was
developed by our staff with substantial assistance from a contracted consulting firm, and was submitted to
FEMA in March 2004 for review and acceptance. This Plan was prepared to assist the CWCB with identifying
statewide floodplain map update goals and objectives and to assist FEMA in the development of regional and
national plans for implementing the Multi-Hazard Map Modernization Program. This Plan summarizes the
specific steps CWCB wishes to take to expand its existing Floodplain Mapping Program and outlines the role
that Colorado intends to play in completing the additional mapping activities and the ways that these activities
will be managed and performed. This plan also identifies mapping priorities and costs, and outlines an approach
for addressing these priorities.

Estimated funding levels and a projected program schedule are included in the Business Case Plan, and the
overall costs for enhancing and modernizing floodplain maps throughout the entire state range from $21 million
to $59 million. The estimated total costs vary depending on the level of service and the amount of new
engineering work to be done within each county. FEMA Region VIII has made it clear that funding levels
provided to Colorado will be high, but not likely not reach the amounts indicated above. A letter from the
FEMA Region VIII Director, David Maurstad, was transmitted to the CWCB Director, Rod Kuharich,
commending CWCB staff on Colorado's Business Case Plan. In his letter, Mr. Maurstad stated "I thank you for
your significant effort in the preparation of the Colorado... Business Case Plan. We have reviewed it in detail
and find that it conforms to the FEMA guidance provided to you for the Plan development." Colorado is grateful
for the significant funding received thus far and we look forward to continued success with floodplain map
modernization activities.

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