FLOOD04440

• County: Statewide
• Community: All
• Stream Name: All
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Colorado Flood Map Modernization Business Case Plan - March 2004
• Date: 3/1/2004
• Prepared For: FEMA
• Prepared By: CWCB
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

II
I
II
I
I
II
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

SECTIINONE

Current Program

1.1 BACKGROUND

The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and the Denver metropolitan area's Urban
Drainage and Flood Control District (UDFCD) have both been actively involved in the
preparation of floodplain information for more than 30 years. Other entities at the local, state
and federal levels have also been preparing floodplain information for Colorado streams for
many years. FEMA is one of those agencies. In addition to the above mapping activities,
CWCB has been providing formal technical designation and approval of floodplain information,
as required by Colorado statutes, for over 30 years.

The preparation and formal adoption of the most accurate and comprehensive floodplain
mapping for all of Colorado's floodprone streams has been the objective ofCWCB's Floodplain
Mapping Program since its inception. Likewise UDFCD has been dedicated to the preparation,
adoption and utilization of high quality floodplain mapping for streams within its boundaries.
Major flood disasters in 1965 (throughout eastern Colorado), in 1969, in 1973, and in 1976 (Big
Thompson Canyon) underscored the importance to Colorado's citizens of developing and
utilizing the best information possible.

1.2 CURRENT PROGRAM

The CWCB has a long-standing history of floodplain management in Colorado, beginning with
the creation ofthe Board's Flood Protection Program in 1937 and the first designated floodplain
study dated October 1963. The Flood Protection Program has evolved over time and expanded
its operations to include numerous flood-related activities that assist in the prevention of loss of
life and damage to property caused by flooding events. There are currently two entities in
Colorado that have been designated by FEMA as Cooperating Technical Partners (CTPs) and
that play major roles in floodplain management and floodplain mapping activities within the
state. Those organizations are the CWCB and UDFCD. The CWCB is interested in continuing
an active role in floodplain management throughout the State of Colorado and is currently
drafting a "Statewide Floodplain and Stormwater Criteria Manual" that will provide guidance
and consistency to help ensure responsible growth based on sound engineering and planning
practices. In addition to the CWCB's long history in floodplain management, the UDFCD has a
long history in floodplain management in the Denver metro area. The UDFCD has an existing
Urban Storm Drainage Criteria Manual and an operating budget that allows it to monitor flood
hazards and revise delineations of those hazards as needs are identified. With approximately 2
million people living within its boundaries, UDFCD addresses the needs of approximately half of
the residents of Colorado and approximately one quarter of the population of Region VIII.

1.2.1 Colorado Water Conservation Board

The CWCB is a state agency under the umbrella of the Colorado Department of Natural
Resources. The CWCB is funded through the CWCB Construction Fund. This fund was created
by the Colorado General Assembly in 1971 to provide low interest loans to water users in the
development of water resource projects. The fund and its use are governed by S 37-60-121
through 125 C.R.S. The CWCB Construction Fund is a partially self-supporting revolving loan
fund. Sources of revenue are from the return of principal and interest on outstanding loans,
interest earned on the cash balance of the fund through investments by the state Treasurer,

Colorado Business Case Plan - March 2004

1-1