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1998. CoIB,ado Flood HaRrd Mitig8tion Plan (409) e House Bill 1041 charges the state Soil Conservation Board and the Soil Conservation Districts with the responsibility of assisting local govemments in deter- mining natural hazard areas of state interest relative to floodplains, flood water problems, sediment and ero- sion, and soil suitability under the jurisdiction of the applicable local govemment. The state Soil Conservation Board approves or disap- proves watershed protection and flood prevention ap- plications to the federal government under PL-566 (watershed protection). Although the most important purpose of these projects is the saving of lives and the reduction of property damage and crop loss through flood prevention, there are additional benefits through irrigation, recreation, and other purposes. In cooperation with the USDA Soil Conservation Ser- vice, conservation of the land in Colorado through this program has resulted in over 352 erosion control dams, and 1,826,000 miles of terraces, which control runoff in 14 drainage basins. 3.2.1.2.5 Division of Wildlife e The Division of Wildlife (DOW) owns and controls a number of properties throughout the state. It has an ongoing inspection and maintenance program for all of its 74 lakes, 215 wildlife areas and 14 fish hatcheries. It has prepared an emergency action plan to be used in case of dam failure, which considers four potential flooding scenarios. The primary involyement of the Division of Wildlife in floodplain management decisions is in the administra- tion and protection of wildlife habitat areas that hap- pen to be in floodplains. Because much of the wildlife in the state is dependent on riparian areas for water, food, or sheller, there are many such areas. Often there is a conflict between preserving the riparian habitat and removing the trees and shrubs, which can congest streams and increase flood hazard. There are other cases where wildlife values and flood- plain management values can coincide. In some urban or urbanizing areas, protection of undeveloped riparian lands for wildlife areas can also serve to preserve those lands in their undeveloped state and eliminate flood hazards by keeping out structures that would be subject to such hazards. Obviously there would still be a balance between preserving riparian vegetation and maintaining adequate channel capac- ity, but the opportunity exists to preserve the same area for two purposes. Fountain Creek in Pueblo is an example. One Iimilalion on the Division of Wildlife's role is that they have to justify the acquisition of lands on the basis or current wildlife values, not potential values. Where those current values indicate Its appro- priateness, the division can act to work with communi- e ties on the condemnation or other means of acquisi- tion of floodplains or on their management for wildlife values. An important vehicle for the Division of Wildlife to provide input into floodplain decisions is the U.S. Army Corps' 404 Permit process. One other such vehicle is Senate Bill 40, concerning the protection of fishing streams. This bill is primarily intended to assure that the planning process for highways in river areas con- siders proleclion of the rivers for fishing. other slate activities are also included, with the exception of irrigation projects. The Colorado Water Conservation Board administers the instream flow program with the assistance and recommendations of this division. The Division of Wildlife also comments on all applications to the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission, 3.2.1.2.6 Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation The programs the Division of PaOO; and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR) administers in floodplain areas include recreation development, reservoirs, the state trails program, and Land and Water Funds. In admin- istering these programs there are no established rules or regulations used to implement the Govemo~s Exec- utive Orders regarding floodplain management and flood insurance. The DPOR has floodplain maps for areas that it manages, but they are not used in the administration of these areas. The only flood protection plans devel- oped by the DPOR are development plans for raser- \/Oir recreation facilities where reservoir high water lines are a factor in loCating and designing those facilities. 3,2.1.2,7 Division of Minerals and Geology This division is responsible for mineral and energy development, policy, regulation and planning. The division is comprised of three units-the Office of Mined Land Reclamation, the Office of Active and lnaclive Mines and the Colorado Geologicai Survey. The Office of Mined Land Reclamation issues recla- mation permits from either the Minerals Program or the Coal Program. Together, these two programs regulate mining and reclamation activilies at coal, metal, aggregate and other minerals mines. Their primary objective is to review mining and reclamation permit applications and to inspect mining operations to make sure that reclamalion plans are being fol- lowed. The Office of Active and Inactive mines reclaims and safeguards abandoned mine sites that are dangerous and create environmental hazards. The program also provides safety training for mine operators and em- ~ ChapIBr 3 - 7 112l119l!10:51 PM