BOARD02469

• Board Meeting Date: 7/18/2005
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

more accurate information related to regulatory floodplains, along with sound floodplain
management practices.

The CWCB established a Floodplain Rules Advisory Committee (Committee) to assist in
guiding the development of the Amended Floodplain Rules. Staff has met regularly with
the Committee for the purpose of drafting and reviewing language.

The Amended Floodplain Rules can reasonably increase flood protection in Colorado
through modernized technical standards and flood risk awareness. The CWCB will be
able to provide Colorado entities with updated and technically sound information that is
consistent with national standards and Colorado needs. Use of the Amended Floodplain
Rules can also lead to more accurate floodplain designations that will greatly assist
communities in maintaining their eligibility in the National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP), which can help to minimize damages caused by flood events.

Staff is also working closely with the Attorney General's Office to finalize the statement
of basis and purpose that will be filed with the Secretary of State as outlined in the table
below.

The Attorney General's Office has provided assistance to the CWCB and has established
a time line for the rulemaking process. The formal rulemaking hearing is now scheduled
for the September Board meeting to be held in Durango, Colorado.

Staff is providing an opportunity at this July 2005 Board meeting for comments that the
Public may have regarding the draft Amended Floodplain Rules. Formal action by the
Board is not required at this time.

2005 Snowmelt Flood Season in Review: CWCB staff from the Flood Protection
Program were actively involved with snowmelt flood preparation activities this spring,
spurred on by heavy mountain snowpack within certain portions of Colorado's high
country. Beginning in March, staff was well aware of higher than average snowpack in
the southwestern and south-central mountain areas of the state. In response to the
perceived flood threat, staff engaged in proactive approaches to develop snowpack,
snowmelt, and flood-related information for communities and other interested parties. In
addition to the information and coordination roles, the CWCB continued to chair the
Colorado Flood Task Force and exhibited leadership for local, state, and federal
partnering functions.

In March, April, and May the staff cooperated with the Colorado Division of Water
Resources and the Department of Local Affairs in implementing flood awareness and
preparedness activities. The weather information provided by John Henz - HDR
Engineering, Inc. and the National Weather Service was very beneficial this year.

Peak flood flows were obtained from available streamflow gage data courtesy of the
DWR and USGS, and those numbers were compared to published flood data held by the

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