BOARD02469

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

CWCB. The table below provides a representative summary of flood flows experienced
in Colorado during late May 2005.

Stream Location
Animas R. at Durango
Dolores River at Dolores
Vallecito Cr. Nr Bayfield
San Juan R. at Pagosa
Elk River @ Milner
Plateau Cr. Nr. Collbran
S. Fork Rio Grande at S.F.
Rio Grande @ Del Norte
Slate R. Nr. Crested Butte
N.F. Gunn Nr. Somerset
Surface Cr Nr. Cedaredge

2005 Flood Flow ( efs)
8,500
6,000
3,300
5,100
6,000
2,300
3,200
7,000
1,200
6,000
700

lO-vr Peak Flow (efs)
10,000
6,800
3,000
6,300
5,730
2,080
2,990
7,700
1,350
5,600
630

The CWCB Chairs the Colorado Flood Task Force which met on April 6 and May 5 this
year. In addition a joint meeting was held on June 8th with the Water Availability Task
Force. The purpose of the meetings was to present weather forecasts, flood outlooks,
streamflow data, and to share information related to relevant programs and opportunities.
Meetings were regularly attended by representatives from entities such as the CWCB,
DWR, USGS, NWS, USBR, US ACE, NRCS, CGS, HDR Engineering.

The May 1 statewide snowpack this year was 99% of average and 146% of last year. By
major river basin the snowpack as a percent of the 30-year average was: Yampa/White
76%, North Platte 82%, South Platte 93%, Arkansas 142%, Rio Grande 155%, San
Miguel/Dolores/Animas/San Juan 146%, Gunnison 136%, and Colorado 97%.

The DNR, through the CWCB, also engaged in preparatory activities in response to the
snowpack conditions that were prevalent within certain sectors of the state. On a regular
basis throughout the snowmelt flood season, the CWCB Flood Protection Program
disseminated pertinent and updated flood information to interested parties through email
and the CWCB web site.

The CWCB DSS Section has assisted greatly by producing color-coded snowpack maps
for the identified high snowpack areas in Colorado. This information has been developed
in cooperation with SNODAS efforts described later in this memo. All of the maps and
flood updates were posted to the CWCB website for public use.

The CWCB Flood Response Program was successfully utilized for flood documentation,
flood forecasting, and flood response activities this year. For example, emergency levee
repair was successfully conducted in Alamosa at the request of the City. The Flood
Response Program is put into action as necessary when flooding occurs and/or when the
need for studies or projects related to flooding is prudent and supported by local officials.

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