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<br />CHAPTER I <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION AND BACKGHOUND <br /> <br />The Statewide Needs Inventory was initiated by the Colorado Water Conservation Board in response to <br />the flood losses, channel conveyance. and stream bank stability problems experienced state wide during <br />the flood events of 1993,1995, and 1997. In the 20'" Oentury, Colorado communities have experienced <br />over $4,9 billion in direct flood damage to homes, businesses, publk buildings and utility infrastructure <br />and suffered unmeasured loss of water supply capacity and environnlental quantity, <br /> <br />Between July 28 and August 17,1997, extreme flooding impacted a thirteen-county area of Colorado as <br />a result of a monsoonal stonn system which stalled over the front range area, Point rainfall amounts of <br />8.3 inches to 15 inches were recorded, An estimated $200 million in flood damages resulted in the Fort <br />Collins/Larimer County area, and an additional $50 million in damages occurred in twelve other counties, <br />Six deaths were attributed to the floodmg and the thirteen-county area received a Presidential Disaster <br />Declaration, <br /> <br />Stream and riverine flooding has always been, and remains to be, the greatest natural hazard to life and <br />property in Colorado, Today, flood p~one areas have been identified in 268 cities and towns and in all <br />of the 63 counties in Colorado, Based on estimates by the Colorado Water Conservation Board staff, <br />250,000 people are estimated to now reside in Colorado's 100-year 1100dplains with property valued at <br />over $11 billion, There is a clear need for improved floodplain management efforts to reduce thf: at-risk <br />population's vulnerability to flooding, p:~event further encroachment into flood hazard zones and preserve <br />the natural resources and fun~tions of the floodplain areas, <br /> <br />Floodplain areas in stream corridors have many uses other than conveyance of floodwaters; these include: <br /> <br />. Opportunities for outdoor recreation <br />. Open space <br />. Preservation of riparian and aq~atic wildlife habitat <br />· Preservation of wetlands. <br /> <br />Such uses of floodplain areas and stream corridors are be,coming increasingly important. Little demand <br />exists for the single purpose flood contro:! project of the past; today, municipalities and other govemmental <br />and private entities with responsibility for flood damage reduction and/or stream corridor management are <br />demanding multiple purpose projects which not only provide for floodplain management but meet needs <br /> <br />I-I <br /> <br />97-060001 <br />