FLOOD04156

• County: Statewide
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan for Colorado 409
• Date: 2/1/1998
• Prepared For: State of Colorado
• Prepared By: CWCB
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Mitigation/Flood Warning/Watershed Restoration

199B - Colorado Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan (409)

Chapter 3 - Capability Assessment

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3.1

Legal Framework

Critical aspects of flood hazard mitigation relevant to
this plan are floodplain management, geologic hazard
management, dam safety, and emergency prepared-
ness.

State enabling legislation, executive orders and mem-
orandums adopted and currently in force for each of
these critical aspects are listed in the following para-
graphs, and selected authorities are reproduced in the
Appendix C.

3.1.1 Floodplain Management

The Colorado Revised Statutes dealing with floodplain
management date back to 1937 with the creation of
the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The Col-
orado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) in the De-
partment of Natural Resources is the principal state
agency responsible for water resource planning and
development. A role in floodplain management has
evolved over many years starting with flood control as
an economically justifiable benefit of reservoir con-
struction. Major flood legislation was further enacted ,
in 1966 by House Bill 1007 -State approval and desig-
nation of storm nunoff channels and basins; in 1 973 by
S.B. 35-Subdivision regulations including delineation
of 100-year floodplains; in 1974 by H.B. 1041-Land
Use Act; and in 1977 by S.B. 126-State to establish
criteria and requirements for performing floodplain

For More Information

Appendix A - lists the agencies and their
addresses, telephone numbers,
and summaries of their programs.
Appendix B - Includes information on financial
assistance programs.
Appendix C - Includes information on
references used in the preparation
of this plan.
Appendix D - Includes definitions and
acronyms.
Appendix E - Includes tips to minimize loss of
life & property in the event of a
flood.
Appendix F - Includes Mitigation strategies &
Measures.
Appendix G - Includes Mitigation Planning and
Examples.

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Chapter 3 - 1

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studies by local, state and federal governments.

In 1977, the gcvemor reinforced a concern for sound
floodplain management by issuing two executive or-
ders concerning the evaluation of flood hazards in
locating state facilities and state participation in the
National Flood Insurance Program.

The flood control and floodplain management section
of the board has developed severa) programs directed
toward the identification of fioodplains and providing
technical services to Colorado communities. State
statutes and executive orders regarding floodplain
management are listed in Appendix C.

3.1.2

Geologic Hazard Management

The Colorado Geological Survey has both general and
specific statutory authority in the area of geologic
hazards. These include:

. Title 34, Article 1, Colorado Revised Statutes,
Colorado Geological Survey, and Objectives of
the Survey-Duties of State Geologist.

i . Title 24, Article 65.1, Colorado Revised
Statutes, Government-State, Areas and Activi-
ties of State Interest.

Under these statutes, the CGS has in the past pro-
vided advice and technical assistance to state and
local agencies, completed geologic hazard mapping,
i and prepared numerous technical publications. Cur-
rent budget constraints preclude such work unless
cash funding can be arranged in advance.

House Bill 1041 of 1974, CRS 24-65-101 et seq.,
included comprehensive treatment of geologic hazards
and charged local governments with legal responsibil-
ity for designation and administration of geologic haz-
ard areas. The Colorado Geological Survey was
I . designated as lead agency for geologic hazards map-
ping (identification) and for providing technical assis-
tance to local govemments in designation and admin-
istration of geologic hazard areas. The Colorado
Geological Survey was also charged with preparing
and publishing a set of guidelines and model geoiogic
hazard regulations, and to assist local governments in
the full process of geologic hazard management. In
1988, following the landslides and flooding on the
westem slope, the CGS prepared the Colorado land-
slide Hazard Mitigation Plan (see Appendix C).
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