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<br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />An important objective of El Paso County is to promote <br />public health, safety and general welfare by minimizing <br />flobd losses and achieving an optimum drainage and flooQ <br />protection system for the County. <br /> <br />This is a long-range objective and many important stages <br />of development must be reached to achieve the ultimate <br />objective (Figure I). A basic tool for the implementation <br />of such a program is the Flood Plain Zone. This zone will <br />help achieve this objective. In the interim, however, <br />protection against floods is needed and the National Flood <br />Insurance Program serves that purpose in which El Paso <br />County (unincorporated areas) residents are eligible to <br />participate. <br /> <br />Before the Flood Plain Zone can be applied to a specific <br />area, flood plain hazard studies must be completed to pro- <br />vide the necessary data for flood plain zoning. Areas <br />that are subject to flood waters must be delineated in <br />order to know where the flood plain zone will be applied. <br />Once thi s data becomes available, flood plain zones, land <br />use regulations, building codes and regulations, as they <br />pertain to floods, etc., can be applied to the designated <br />flood plain area. <br /> <br />In conjunction with this, proper and necessary controls will <br />be needed to assure proper development in the drainage <br />basins of the County in order to convey water' safely and <br />efficiently. County design and engineering staRdards for <br />drainage and floodway facilities must'be met in the con- <br />struction of such facilities in order to assure the public <br />that sufficient flood control facilities are being provided. <br />County inspection of such floodways is an important part <br />of this procedure also. <br /> <br />As a result, El Paso County will have an effective program <br />whereby losses of life and property due to floods can be <br />eliminated by a complete and efficient drainage and flood <br />control system, including a functioning early flood warning <br />system. <br /> <br />- 1 - <br />