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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Pre-Disaster Flood Hazard Mitie:ation Plan 1. Introduction In the 120 years Delta has been a City, there have been numerous floods from snow melt as well as rainstonn and windstonn events. The building of six Bureau of Reclamation Dams above Delta has helped with uncontrolled flooding to some degree, yet has increased the threat of catastrophic flooding due to dam failure. Growth has also contributed to the stonn event flooding where rain water is gathered by rooftops, paving and parking lots. These activities have increased overland run-off in the community by reducing the amount of area where heavy rainfall can be absorbed by the soil. In past years, the snow melt flooding has caused the greatest amount of damage and public expenditure. In 1993 and 1995 the Gunnison River left its banks and damaged property and public infrastructure. The City staff contacted the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the Colorado Office of Emergency Management (OEM) during and after that flood to seek advice. Along with other assistance, both agencies recommended the development of a local Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan. This document is the result of the subsequent planning effort. The purpose of this Pre-Disaster Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan is to 1) identify the critical flood hazard issues for the city and surrounding area, and 2) identify pre-disaster mitigation activities and techniques that can be implemented to reduce future flood losses before they occur. 2. Community Description Delta is located in Southwest Delta County at the confluence of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre Rivers. Delta entered the Regular Phase of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on September 15, 1983. Our Community Number is 080041. It's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) was revised on August 19, 1991 as the result ofa re-studyby FEMA. Streams in the community which have the 100-year floodplain delineated by detailed engineering methods are the Gunnison River and the Uncompahgre River. 3. Past Flood Hazard Mitie:ation Activities Flood hazard mitigation activities can be undertaken before, during or after a flood event. This plan focuses on pre-disaster flood hazard mitigation activities which, when implemented in Delta, will reduce future flood damages. First, however, Delta's past mitigation activities will be described to demonstrate the community's ongoing commitment to the reduction of flood damages whenever funding permits. Past and future mitigation activities will be characterized into two broad categories: 1 - Non-structural flood hazard mitigation: 2 - Structural flood hazard mitigation. Examples are as follows: