FLOOD01124

• County: Boulder
• Stream Name: South Boulder Creek
• Title: South Boulder Creek/ Flatirons
• Date: 12/5/1997
• Prepared For: Boulder
• Prepared By: Consultants
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Community File

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CITY
OF
BOULDER

RECENEO
st.? ,\) '991

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

September 4, 1997

coIOl~~on Board
con'."

Michael K. Buckley, P.E., Chief
Hazard Identification Branch
Mitigation Directorate
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Washington, D.C. 20472

Dear Mr. Buckley:

This letter is intended to place the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on notice of
City of Boulder concerns and requested FEMA actions with respect to South Boulder Creek in
Boulder County, Colorado, and the adopted 1986 Greenhorne & O'Mara (G&O) floodplain
mapping. During the last year, the City has been made aware of significant errors and omissions in
the G&O South Boulder Creek floodplain study incorporated into our local Flood Insurance Study
(FIS) and Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). City concerns with respect to the South Boulder
Creek floodplain are critical and require immediate attention. These concerns are based on the
discovery of significant changes in the floodplain identified by recent technical analyses and an
anticipated application to FEMA to approve a flood protection levee upstream of U.S. 36 which was
incorrectly represented in the G&O study. The City has written to you in the past regarding this
matter and a copy of the previous letter is attached (Attaclunent A).

The City of Boulder is requesting that FEMA take corrective actions and provide assurance to the
citizens of Boulder that local floodplain risks to our community associated with South Boulder
Creek will be appropriately addressed and managed. The nature of our request is urgent in light of
floodplain impacts and physical changes to create a flood protection levee upstream of developed
residential neighborhoods without due process involving local floodplain regulatory jurisdiction and
public review. The City of Boulder appreciates your attention in this matter. As an affected party
to the impacts of South Boulder Creek flooding, this community wants to ensure that we have an
adequate opportunity to participate in the determination of any outcomes involving local floodplain
Issues.

The major concern at issue is the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District (OOFCD), South
Boulder Creek. Flood Hazard Area Delineation (FHADt Greenhorne & O'Mara (G&O), July 1986
(Attaclunent B), study which FEMA adopted by reference in the "FIS for Boulder County, Colorado,
Unincorporated Areas," revised July 15, 1988 and the "FIS for City of Boulder, Colorado, in
Boulder County," revised August 4, 1988. The G&O floodplain delineation was originally reflected

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POST OFFICE BOX 791

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BOULDER, COLORADO 80306

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TELEPHONE (303) 441,3090

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