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<br />- <br />'" I '~-.... <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Our consultant has concluded that the levee as it exists today reduces the amount <br />of overflow into what has come to be called the West Valley Overflow. Also, <br />because the area behind the levee has now been lowered through mining <br />activities, loss of the levee without a replacement strategy would definitely <br />increase the hazard to downstream developed areas. <br /> <br />3. You asked "Whether (we) support FEMA recognition of the dike for FEMA <br />mapping purposes. " <br /> <br />There are two related issues involved in your question which I would like to <br />expand upon. As far as FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Maps are concerned, their <br />policy (as I understand it) is that a levee must go through their 5-step <br />certification process before they will recognize it on their maps. However, in this <br />case, FEMA has already recognized the levee on their maps even though they <br />have not yet certified it according to their 5-step process. Therefore, I cannot, <br />and will not, guess at how FEMA might resolve this dilemma should Flatirons be <br />prevented from obtaining certification of the levee. It is my understanding that <br />the City of Boulder requested that FEMA amend their maps to show the pre- <br />levee floodplain, but that FEMA declined to do so because they recognized that <br />the topography behind the levee had changed. Seemingly the two options <br />remaining to FEMA if the levee is not certified are to either recognize the levee <br />anyway and keep the current maps, or redefine the floodplain based on the <br />current topography, which would impact a large number of structures in the West <br />Valley Overflow area as noted above. <br /> <br />My second point in response to your question is that we would support FEMA <br />levee certification regardless of the impact on the maps because it adds a level of <br />assurance of the present and future integrity of the structure. <br /> <br />As you know, I will be out of town on the date of the hearing. However if you or anyone <br />else reading this letter has any questions regarding any of the above, please feel free to <br />contact me at any time. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br /> <br />Bill DeGroot, .E. <br />Chief, Floodplain Management Program <br /> <br />WGD/gb <br />cc: Scott Tucker <br />Alan Taylor, City of Boulder <br />Curt Parker, Boulder County <br />Larry Lang, Colorado Water ConselVation Board <br />John Liou, FEMA <br /> <br />\fIood'bilNipaln <br /> <br />~ <br />