BOARD02552

• Board Meeting Date: 5/19/2003
• Description: Flood Section - Map Modernization Implementation Plan
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department ofN amral Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

Greg E. Waleher
Executive Director

To:

Colorado Local Floodplain Managers

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

From:

Brian Hyde & Tom Browning

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

Date: May 1,2003

Re: Agenda Item 23.c - May 19 20,2003 Meeting
Update on Colorado Map Modernization Implementation Plan (federal money
for floodplain mapping

Introduction
Last summer all of you received a series of memos and some questionnaires from the CWCB
regarding floodplain mapping in your communities. We told you that President Bush had proposed a
very large increase in FEMA's funding for floodplain maps (from about $35 million per year
nationwide to about $350 million per year). We also told you that there was a distinct possibility
that FEMA would substantially increase their floodplain mapping program beginning in fiscal year
2003, which began October of 2002. Clearly October 2002 came and went and there was no new
funding when the new Congress began its work in 2003. However, in February the new Congress
did act on the President's proposal. Although the amount approved, $150 million nationwide, was
approximately half of the President's original request, it still represents a major increase in FEMA
funding for floodplain mapping. We expect that this funding increase will be used to address the
original purpose, "to improve the accuracy and quality of floodplain maps throughout the country."
The purpose of this memo is to update you on the current status of Map Modernization in Colorado
and to remind you of the major role local officials will play in preparing new floodplain mapping.

Special Messaee
The CWCB staff has prepared this memo to provide you with information to help you with next
year's financial and programmatic planning. To make that planning easier, we have prepared a
"Summary of Critical Issues" (immediately below). Using that summary, you can quickly see
what the most important issues in this memorandum are and you can easily find the detailed
discussion of the issues you are most concerned about.

Summary of Critical Issues
The following issues are the most critical ones from the CWCB's perspective. We welcome your
comments abont these issues and your cooperation in addressing them.

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