BOARD01909

• Board Meeting Date: 5/20/2002
• Description: Flood Section - Floodplain Designation Update
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

A concerted effort to eliminate the floodplain designation backlog began in December 1996
when former CWCB Director, Daries "Chuck" Lile, tasked the CWCB Flood Protection Section
with the challenge of aggressively reviewing studies and producing floodplain resolutions for
Board approval. In December of 1996, there were about 568 total floodplain studies in the
CWCB floodplain library, of which 437 were designated. Referring to the information in the
above paragraph (564 total studies designated to date), CWCB staff has eliminated virtually
all of the 1996 designation backlog at this time. The backlog elimination has been
accomplished in terms of sheer numbers, but not necessarily in terms of specific studies. In
other words, 51 new floodplain studies have been completed since 1996. Some of the new
studies have been designated while some of the old (prior to 1996) studies still have not.

It is interesting to note that CWCB staff at one point during 1999 had nearly eliminated the
backlog of un designated studies within the South Platte River basin. Since then, a large number
of new studies were produced and submitted to CWCB staff and therefore the total number of
undesignated studies in the South Platte River basin is now 15. The Denver Metropolitan area
and other Front Range communities have experienced unprecedented growth and development
during recent years that has precipitated the submittal of the new floodplain studies.

Over the past 9 Board meetings the consulting [urn of Montgomery Watson Harza (MWH),
under contract to the CWCB, has greatly assisted staff with eliminating the designation backlog.
The CWCB contract with MWH has been extremely effective to date. Approximately 85% of
the overall contract is expended at this time, leaving approximately $20,000 remaining in the
contract. That amount is not sufficient (and due to funding limitations was not originally
intended to be sufficient) to allow the CWCB to utilize MWH for the entire remainder of
undesignated studies. Staff has estimated that the remaining contract amount will allow MWH to
conduct technical reviews on about 5 more floodplain studies out of the 45 remaining.
Furthermore, there is not currently an identified source of funding to extend the contract with
MWH. As such, CWCB staff will resume all tasks associated with floodplain review and
designation once the MWH contract has been terminated. Staff estimates that the rate of
floodplain designations will be reduced by about 50% once the MWH contract has expired.

Informational Summary

Overall, staff believes that the reduction of the floodplain designation backlog is progressing
quite smoothly as indicated by Figure 1. Staff continues to produce and receive new floodplain
information on a regular basis, which means that designation and approval of floodplain studies
is an on-going program element. At this time, there are 45 undesignated floodplain studies that
are slated for review and approval over the next 10 to 12 Board meetings. Staff is currently
developing a revised floodplain designation work plan that will outline a list of proposed
tloodnlain desi2:nations for future Hoard meetin2:s.

L:\board meetingslmay 2002lagenda item 21.a - floodplain designation update.doc

Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning

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