FLOOD03522

• County: Garfield
• Community: Newcastle
• Stream Name: Colorado River
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Title: Floodplain Management Study
• Date: 7/1/1986
• Prepared For: Newcastle
• Prepared By: USDA Soil Conservation Service
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

f2..lorado Natur:.~LIi~zard J'.:.~.:~l!&o.:.~;.!:.~~~
In 1974, the Colorado General Asserrbly passed Ho..lse Bill 1041, a bill

"concerni.ng land use, and providing for identification, designation, and
administration of areas and activitiet> of State interest,..." (H.B. 1041,

Title 24, Article 65.1, GKS, as amended). Areas of State interest include

natural hazard areas, or those area:; that are "so lldverse to past,

cut"rent, or fon.seeable COIlstD.ICtion or land use as to constitute a

sigpificant hazaro to public health am safety or to property." Flood

plains are natural hazard areas.
With reference to the aaninistration of narural hazaro areas, section

24-65.l.202(2)(a) of the Act provides: Flood plains shall be administered

so as to minimize significant hazard to public health and safety or to
property; open space a<-'tivities shall be encouraged; structures shall be
d(.'Signoo in teODS of use and hazards; disposal sites and systems shall be
protected fran inundation by floodwaters; and activities shall be
discouraged \J1ich, in time of flooding, \o1l7.Jld create significant hazards
to public health and safety or to property.

The Act further provid",s t..'1at after pr.:mulga.tion of guidelines for

.land use in natural hazard areas.,., the natural hazard arellS shall be
a<ininistered by local goven'lll",nt in il manner ..tJ.ich is consistent with the
guidelines for Land use in each of the natural hazar<:! areas.
fs.~~<ido Water COnse~on Board Desi,.,natiC!!

c.,:mct:rnir~ th" d.;si~ldtioo of th" flood pl..i.in, the COler"":o :.Jat"r

C<.A1S"rv"tion Boord iM charged with the primary rt:$ponsibilicy for:

1.

Maki~ recum:\€ndations to local goverr1llents aoo the Coiorado Land

Us.. Cunmi~slon.

2. Providing teclmical assistance to local govenTllents.

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TheBoard'sJX!'w'erarrldutyis...
,....to devise and formulate methods, means and plans for bringing
"boot the greater utilizatioo of the 'Waters of the state and
prevention of flood d1mtages therefron, and to designate and approve
atonn or floodwater nnoff channels or basins, and to make sum
designations available to legislative bodies of cities and
incorporated towns, to c=ty planning c=issions, and to boards of
adjustment of cities, incorporated towns, and counties of this
state"...

as stated in Section 37-60.106 (1) (c) of the Colorado Revised Statutes

Upon review and approval of this report, the COlorado Water
Conservation Board will designate and approve as flood plain areas chose

areas inundated by the lOO-year flood as described by the floodwater

surface elevatiot1$ and profiles in this report. The use of the designated

flood plain areas may then be regulated by the local govennent.

Model Regulati~
Model flood plain regulatiOM have been pranulgated by the Colorado

Water Conservation Board. with the purpos" to prunote public health,
safety, and general welfare, and minimize flood hazards and losses. The
IlDdel includes provisions designed to:

1.

PrCJ:1lOte sound planning aro;J land use, and perrnit only such uses
within flood plains that will not endanger life, health, nnd public
safety or property i.n times of flooding.
Protect the public franalll:;lidablefinanCla1 e>c;pendltures for flood
control projects, flood relief rr..-asur"s, aOO the repair and
restoration of damaged public facilities,
Prevent avoldableinterruption of h;sinessand C01lllerce;
Minimize victi'llization of UIlI"'lry han.: arK! land PUn118S..rS; .md

2,

3.

"

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