BOARD02549

• Board Meeting Date: 11/19/2003
• Description: CF Section - En-Bloc Non-Reimbursable Investment Recommendations - CWCB Flood Hazard Mitigation Program
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Shennan 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, Chief - Flood Protection Program
Tom Browning, PE - Flood Protection Program
November 10, 2003
November 20-21, 2003 CWCB Meeting
Agenda Item 9f - Stream Restoration/Flood Mitigation Program

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

DATE:
RE:

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

Introduction
Stream restoration and flood mitigation projects in Colorado provide multiple benefits to a variety of
interested parties and to end users ofthe watersheds and stream courses to which these types of projects
have been applied. Past performances have indicated that successful completion of watershed-based
projects include a robust public process along with technical support and funding from multiple
stakeholders. The CWCB has been an active partner in this arena for many years and has managed to do so
on a limited budget. The CWCB has not had access to a regular and reliable source of funding for this
Program in past years, however special allocations on an annual basis from Severance Tax and
Construction Fund investments have aided in its livelihood. Staff is now requesting a non-reimbursable
investment of $75,000 for this Program.

Discussion
The Program objective is to provide planning and engineering services for stream restoration studies/projects
as well as matching dollars for partnering with federal agencies and local governments in the development of
Flood Mitigation studies/projects. Without the availability of investments from the CWCB Construction
Fund, there is not a reliable source of consistent funding for this program, which has been very successful for
recent projects in Colorado (i.e. Rio Grande headwaters restoration, Alamosa River restoration, Arkansas
River multi-objective study, Fountain Creek watershed study, and others). This fund can also work in
harmony with the newly created Watershed Protection Fund (State Tax checkoff item) as appropriate. Studies
and projects resulting from this program can have far reaching benefits for water supply, flood protection,
enhancement of aesthetic and environmental quality, recreation, and increased economic benefit.

Staff Request
The staff of the Flood Protection Section is requesting approval by the Board for a non-reimbursable
investment from the CWCB Construction Fund in the amount of $75,000. The request is to provide funds
for planning and engineering services as well as matching dollars for federal grant programs.
The CWCB funds, if authorized by the Board and the General Assembly, would be available for all
planning and engineering studies to address technical needs for stream restoration and flood mitigation
projects throughout the state. Matching requirements (cash and/or in-kind services) will also be required

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Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board request that the General assembly authorize $75,000 from the
Construction Fund to be appropriated to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for technical activities
related to the Stream Restoration and Flood Mitigation Program.

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