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GUIDELINES FOR FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT Floodway Designation A desiqnated floodway is the area of the flood plain provided to convey a design frequency flood. The "design flood'. often selected inconnectior: with flO<;>d"'"ydetermination is the lCC _ year frequency Intermediate Regional Flood. In terms of maintaining a reasonable balance between the advantages of reducing potential flood losses and the disadvantages of overly restricting land use, the Intermediate Regional Flood's heights and areal limits are con- sidered most practical for use in gaining the goals sought through selective zoning. Floods caused very little damage until the works of man invaded the flood plains. Through bitter e~perience, man has learned that flO<;>ds quite often cover portions of the flood plains, damaging or sweeping away roads, bUildings, homes and often pose a severe threat to human life. The continuing growth of cities results in ever-increasing encroachment of the flood plains. OVer the years, reservoirs, channel improvements,levees, and other flood-protection works have been constructed to protect the works of man against the force of nature's floods. But encroach- ment of the flood plains has taken place faster than flOOd-protection works have been constructed with the result that flood damages have been steadily increasing across the nation. Despite the expenditure of tax funds running into billions of dollars for flood control works, the incroase in flood damages has led to a new approach for reducing these damages. Called "flood plain management," this new approach ~"Onsi...t$ of applying con- trols over the use of land lying adjacent to the streams. Land-use control. ...ost often known as "~'lood PI...i" Regulations," does not att"",pt to reduce or eliMinate flooding hut is deslgne<.l to mold th" flood plain development in such ~ manner as to lcssen the dam~ging effects of floods. Planned development and management of flood hazard areas can be accomplished by a variety of means, some are described in the following text; however, no recommendation is made for the use of a specific }ochnique. Plood plain regulations are th"responsibilityof State and localgov"rnin\l ag"ncies. Citip~ "nd eo'mth~ within th.. Sta~" of Color"rlo ''''" authorized to enact ...nd enforce land-use controls. Advisory nssist- Zoning Constituting a legal tool that c...n be u5ed to impl~.ent and enforce the detailed plans resulting from a land-use planning program. Selective zoning ensures the most beneficial use of flood plain lands while safeguarding the health, safety and welfare of the """"""~.ity. Designated floodways may be reserved by establishing .<. ~oachmeHt lines that clearly define the floodway zone, Desig- nated tloodways should be zoned for the purpose of passing flood- waters and for other limited usee that do not conflict with that primary purpose. The utilization of flood plain lands adjacent to the floodway is lim1t~ only by the degree of flood risk dec~od allOwable (a determination of local government) and the require- ments of the city's zoning criteria for the area: ance relating to their detailed development for flood plain manage- ment needs is available from the Colorado Water conservation Board. Subdivision Requlations SubdiVision re'julations are u~ed by local governments to specify the ~nner in whioh land ~ay be divided. They may state the required width of streeti, requirements for curbs and gutters, size of lot, elevation of land, freedom from floodinq, size of flood- "'ays and other points pertir.->nt to the he"lth, sahty and ",dfare of t~e co~unity. These regulations prOVide an effectiv.. ~ean~ of con- trolling construction and preserving floodways in pre5ently undevel- oped flood plain are~s. " ;0