FLOOD07020

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

199' . ClJlt1ndo Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan (409)

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Housing

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H-1 Long term affordable housing following a disas-
ter utilizing acquisition/relocation.

BACKGROUND:

Substantial damage to affordable housing stock fol-
lowing this disaster is a major concem. Permanent
affordable housing that is safe from flooding needs to
be made available to displaced individuals to ensure a
strong, growing community and economy.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Local govemments must take the lead to provide
adequate permanent affordable housing to meet the
needs of those affected by the disaster. Acquisition!
relocation of housing affected by the disaster, and
other housing in areas of high future flood probabili-
ties, should be prioritized high on the list for mitigation
opportunities in the recovery phase of this disaster. A
combination of all disaster funding sources and a
reprogramming of funds from housing related pro-
grams needs to be utilized to ensure a solid base of
affordable housing in affected communities. Funding
sources, which need to be combined, include:
. SBA

. HUD (HOME and CDBG)

. FEMA

. U.S. Department of Agriculture (Rural Develop-
ment Administration)

. Cities, counties and Regional Planning Councils

. State DOLA

. Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA)

An interagency approach to this problem must be
used, with local clearing houses of housing resources
fonned to counsel those in need of safe, affordable
and permanent housing.

LEAD AGENCIES:

Local jurisdictions with support from Colorado DOLA,
Division of Housing

FUNDING:

State, HUD, FEMA, SBA, U.S.D.A, CHFA, Colorado
DOLA, Local jurisdictions

SCHEDULE: . One year

STATUS:

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~ I Watershed Management ~

W11-1 Lack of current and accurate floodplain map-
ping in Colorado communities, especially rural
unincorporated areas and in areas experienc-
ing development

BACKGROUND:

Much of the flood damage suffered in this disaster
period occurred in areas not shown on FEMA maps as
1 DO-year floodplain areas. Areas subject to "stann
drainage" problems (as opposed to riverine flooding
problems, if such a distinction can be drawn), areas
downstream of irrigation ditches, areas subject to
ponding without satisfactory outlet paths, areas be-
yond the limits of the 1DO-year (and even SOD-year)
flooding, and areas where debris accumulation ancllor
human emergency intervention altered flow patterns
were all witnessed in 1997. Floodplain managers,
emergency responders and citizens can all ask, "Can
we rely on these floodplain maps during an actual
. flood emergency?"

RECOMMENDATIONS:

. Seek funding (local, state, federal & private) to
sponsor an all~ay workshop on floodplain map-
ping issues.

. In view of the 1997 experience, compare current
FEMA and other floodplain maps to the outlines of
the areas of inundation during flooding in 1 997;
identify specific technical issues of concern to
hydraulic engineers who prepare floodplain maps.

. Develop specific recommendations for each of the
pertinent iechnical issues. ,

. Implement recommendations on a pilot basis by
conducting floodplain studies in Colorado commu-
nities where a particular floodplain mapping prob-
lem was experienced.

. Examine pilot studies with independent outside
reviewers and make adjustments, as necessary.

. Access information from EPA's Index of Water-
shed Integrity that uses 15 data layers to charac-
terize individual watersheds.

LEAD AGENCIES:

CWCB, Urban Drainage and Flood Control District,
CU, CSU, Colo. School of Mines, irrigation companies,
private consulting engineers, FEMA, COE (including
HEC in Davis, CA), NRCS

FUNDING:

Agency and program funding

SCHEDULE: . One to five years
STATUS:

File: FHIIP.clNlp/eM.pu/I

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Chapter 4 . 3