FLOOD00067

• County: Alamosa
• Community: Alamosa
• Stream Name: Rio Grande River
• Title: Flood Control Status Report for Alamosa County and City
• Date: 7/1/1987
• Prepared For: Alamosa County
• Prepared By: CWCB
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Project

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During August of 1985, the Division of Housing (DOH) in a
letter to Alamosa County stated that CDBG funds would not be
permitted for projects within the East Alamosa floodplain
unless DOH determined no practical alternative to such
encroachment existed. This decision by DOH came as a result of
an on-site visit by DOH staff to the affected East Alamosa
County area during the high run-off period. It was during this
high run-off period that homes in the affected area suffered
subsurface water problems due to leakage of the existing levee
system. Federal Executive Order 11988 and similarly the
Governor's Executive Order require a flood hazard evaluation of
impact (8-step process) before any State or Federal funds can
be expended in the floodplain. The Division of Housing
suggested only relocation or demolition assistance was an
available option for the eligible householders in East Alamosa.

Housing rehabilitation in another area out of the floodplain
would be acceptable. The Colorado Division of Housing expressed
concern for reducing the risk of potential loss of life,
property and pUblic funds at stake.

The City and County began to examine their priorities at this
point and on August 23, 1985, a special meeting to discuss the
flood problems and housing problems at Alamosa was held.
Representatives from the Colorado Water Conservation Board
(CWCB), Colorado Division of Housing (DOH), and Colorado
Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) were in attendance to
discuss the release ~f CDBG funds granted in 1984. At issue was
whether or not Alamosa ci ty and County should be allowed to
pursue use of State and Federal funds in the 100 year
floodplain of the Rio Grande.

During this meeting, Alamosa County CDBG staff were prepared to
offer some alternatives for working in the floodplain as part
of their environmental review process. However, CWCB and DOH
felt that their review comments to the CDBG application and a
follow up on-site visit should be enough to shelf the housing
rehabilitation project in East Alamosa.

4.1. 3

Project Formulation

During the August 25, 1985 meeting, CWCB stated that the CWCB
damage assessment subsequent ,to the flood fight of 1985 pointed
to inadequacies in the levee system and poor channel capacity
that had not been addressed for a number of years. The
discussion of the meeting focused on the merits of the housing
project, versus the flooding potential. From the restriction
placed on Alamosa County by the President's Executive Order
11988, it was determined that it would not be feasible to
proceed with the housing project.

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