FLOOD06993

• County: Pueblo
• Basin: Arkansas
• Title: U.S.G.S. Floodprone Quadrangle Maps - Avondale Quadrangle
• Date: 1/1/1960
• Prepared For: State of Colorado
• Prepared By: USGS
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Drawing/Map

. CWCB FLOOD FUN.
A Concept Paper
February 4, 1998

At its January 28-29, 1998 meeting, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB)
accepted findings and recommendations from an ad hoc Steering Committee that guided the
Statewide River Rehabilitation and Floodplain Management Needs Inventory (Needs Inventory)
proposed and authorized in the 1997 CWCB Construction Fund Bill (SB 97-008). The Steering
Committee was comprised of 18 private landowners, town and county officials, scientists,
environmental and mining representatives, and state and federal officials.

The Needs Inventory was initiated in response to the flood losses, channel conveyance,
and streambank stability problems experienced statewide during the flood events of 1993, 1995
and 1997. In the 20th Century, the State has experienced over 4.9 billion dollars in direct flood
losses and suffered a decrease in environmental and water quality values ofthe state's stream
corridors.

The results of the CWCB's "Needs Inventory" provided:

1. Four needs categories - Planning, Funding, Identifying Flood Hazards, and Guiding
Technical Stream and Watershed Investigations;

2. Problems with flooding and stormwater drainage;

3. Values of Colorado's stream corridors;

4. Funding mechanisms; and

5. Recommendations for the better management and rehabilitation of Colorado's stream
corridors.

One of the Steering Committee's most important recommendations, to create and fund a
revolving loan account to assist local agencies and communities in the planning and
implementation of stream rehabilitation and floodplain management strategies, is not
within the authority ofthe CWCB or any other state agency. The CWCB decided to support
this recommendation and agreed to explore legislative support in the 1998 legislative session.

This revolving loan fund could be patterned after the CWCB Construction Fund, in the
sense that applications could be reviewed and prioritized by the CWCB in open public meetings
before recommended loans are presented annually to the General Assembly for review and
approval. The approved loans would be repaid to the fund with interest at an interest rate
between 0% and 7% depending on prevailing market rates and other factors.

Revenues from the fund could be matched with other federal and local agency funds. In
addition, certain dollars could be used for feasibility and basin wide planning studies, while the
principle of the fund could be loaned out for project implementation.

CWCB will discuss this concept with potential sponsors (late bill status would need to be
approved by legislative leadership) and a report will be presented to the next meeting ofthe
Steering Committee on February 18, 1998. Please check with Larry Lang (303-866-3441 or
[e-mail]) for further information.