BOARD01965

• Board Meeting Date: 3/22/2005
• Description: Flood Section - Presentation of the CWCB's Draft Rules and Regulations for Regulatory Floodplains in Colorado
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

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

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

TO:
FROM:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
Larry Lang, P.E., Chief, Flood Protection Section
Tom Browning, P.E., Flood Protection Program
. March 9, 2005
Agenda Item 21, March 22-23, 2005 Board Meeting--
Presentation of the CWCB's Draft Ru1es and Regulations for Regulatory
Floodplains in Colorado.

Russell George
Executive Director

DATE:
SUBJECT:

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

Background
The CWCB received its flood protection responsibilities in 1937, and its initial authority to review, designate,
and approve floodplains in 1966. The Board approved the ftrst floodplain designation in Colorado during that
same year. To further the designation process, the CWCB conducted rulemaking during late 1987 and early
1988 in order to promulgate rules and regulations entitled "Rules and Regulations for the Designation and
Approval of Floodplains and of Storm and Floodwater Runoff Channels in Colorado." (1988 Rules and
Regulations) They offtcially became effective on January 30, 1988 and have served the Board very well since
that time. Colorado entities and their study contractors have understood the need to comply with these
. Floodplain Rules for use on floodplain studies in order to receive Board approval.

CWCB staff, consulting engineers, floodplain managers and other interested parties have realized the need to
revise the existing Rules and Regulations due to a number off actors that have matenalized since 1988. Those
factors include such things as changes in federal policies and mandates; technological advances in modeling
techniques, GIS, and digital mapping; and flood related issues such as debris flows, erosion hazards, alluvial fan
hazards, post-wildfrre hydrology, stormwater detention, and ice jam flooding that were previously not
addressed.

Discussion
The CWCB Operating Principles (presented to the Board at the July 2004 CWCB meeting in DciIta) served as
objectives and guiding language for the preparation of the revised rules and regulations, newly entitled "Ru1es
and Regulations for Regulatory Floodplains in Colorado" (Floodplain Rules). The new Floodplain Rules will
provide the necessary changes to keep them in line with the current industry standards and guidelines. This will
provide Colorado conununities with better and more accurate information related to regulatory floodplains,
along with sound floodplain management practices. Staff will make a formal presentation regarding the .
proposed rule changes.

Rnlemaking CoordinationfDevelopment
The CWCB established a Floodplain Rules Advisory Committee (Committee) composed of: the Deputy
Director of the CWCB (or his designee), all Flood Protection Section staff members, a representative from
. FEMA, a representative from the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, a representative from City
Govemment, a representative from County Govemment, and a representative ofFEMA's National Service
Provider. In addition, a representative of the AG's offtce attended the Conunittee meetings. Staff has met

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