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<br />Introduction
<br />
<br />The purpose of this Activily
<br />Summary is 10 provide the reader with
<br />an overview of the organization. funding
<br />and programs of the Urban Drainage
<br />and Flood Control District. Readers
<br />are encouraged to contact the District
<br />for morc detailed information about any
<br />item discussed in this summary.
<br />
<br />The Urban Drainage and Flood
<br />Conuol District was established by the
<br />Colorado legislature in 1969, for the
<br />purpose of assisting local governments
<br />in the Denver metropolitan area with
<br />multi-jurisdictional drainage and flood
<br />control problems. The District covers
<br />an area of 1608 square miles and
<br />includes Denver, parts orlhe 5
<br />surrounding counties, and 29
<br />incorporated cities and towns. There
<br />are about 1600 miles of -major
<br />drainageways. which 3rc defined as
<br />draining at least llXK) acres. The
<br />present population of the District is
<br />approximately 1.8 million people.
<br />
<br />Governing Body
<br />
<br />The District is an independent
<br />agency governed by a 17 member board
<br />of directors. The make-up of the board
<br />is unique, in that fifteen members are
<br />locally elected officials (mayors, county
<br />commissioners, city council members)
<br />who arc appointed to the board. These
<br />fifteen members select two registered
<br />professional engineers to fill out the
<br />board.
<br />
<br />Urban Drainage and Flood Control District
<br />
<br />Responsible Growth
<br />
<br />ACTIVITY SUMMARY
<br />
<br />The 1969 legislation which
<br />established the Urban Drainage and
<br />Flood Control District gave the District
<br />fairly broad powers but very little money
<br />to implement those powers. Initially,
<br />the District was authorized to levy 0.1
<br />mill for planning and operations, which
<br />amounted to approximately $4OO,CXXl
<br />
<br />January, 1993
<br />
<br />Funding
<br />
<br />Distric( (unds come (rom (our
<br />different propeny tax mill levies. The
<br />mill levies arc earmarked (or specific
<br />programs which arc detailed in the
<br />Collowing sections. The total mill Ie\')'
<br />cannot exceed one mill.
<br />
<br />Staff
<br />
<br />The concept of the District with
<br />regard to staffing is to keep the staff
<br />small and to utilize private consultants
<br />and contractors as much as possible. A\
<br />a result the District operates a S12
<br />million annual program with only 18
<br />Cull time employees and 6 pan-lime
<br />
<br />-
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<br />college student interns.
<br />
<br />The fil'lt major activity oC the
<br />District was to inventory drainage
<br />basins and sub+basins to determine the
<br />extent oC problems and 10 develop a
<br />plan to attack those problems. The
<br />initial study indicated that
<br />approximately 25% oC the major
<br />drainagcway miles within the District
<br />were developed, with the remaining
<br />75% undeveloped and amenable to
<br />preventive approaches.
<br />
<br />The staff is responsible (or
<br />management of all project Cunds;
<br />supervision oC all work done by
<br />consulting engineers; and coordination
<br />of all planning, design, construction and
<br />floodplain management efforts with
<br />local governments.
<br />
<br />Programs
<br />
<br />The District operates five programs:
<br />Master Planning, Design and
<br />Construction, Maintenance, Aoodplain
<br />Management and South Platte River. A
<br />brief description of each program is
<br />given in the Collowing sections.
<br />
<br />It was logical to consider that, iC
<br />effective preventive measures could be
<br />undertaken on Ihe undeveloped
<br />drainagcways, significant saving; in
<br />Cuture remedial needs could be realized.
<br />The District Board therefore made a
<br />commitment to develop a
<br />comprehensive floodplain management
<br />program to prevent new problems from
<br />being created by new development.
<br />
<br />....
<br />
<br />The Board also realized that the
<br />South Plaue River. the backbone Cor
<br />the draiange system Cor the entire
<br />Denver Metropolitan Area, was so large
<br />and had so many problems that it could
<br />absorb all of the District's time, effort
<br />and money. ThereCore the Board
<br />decided to emphasil.e work on
<br />tributaries to the South Platte River.
<br />
<br />-'
<br />
<br />~
<br />
<br />In 1973, Collowing Cour years oC
<br />problem identification and planning,
<br />the Board requested authority to levy an
<br />additional 0.4 mill Cor a design and
<br />construction program. The legislature
<br />granted the request, beginning in 1974.
<br />Also in 1974 the Board established the
<br />
<br />The District aS$im IocalgOYl:mments with multj.jurisdiClional drainage and t\ood oonu'Ol problems.
<br />
<br />Design and Construction Program
<br />
<br />The Design and Construction
<br />Program is responsible for the design
<br />and construction of master planned
<br />projects. Prior to the initiation of the
<br />program in 1974, the District Board
<br />established policies that would
<br />distribute the program Cunds in such a
<br />way that local governments would not
<br />be concerned that one portion of the
<br />District would be subsidizing
<br />construction in another portion.
<br />
<br />I
<br />
<br />I
<br />I
<br />
<br />The key policy decisions were as
<br />follows: (I) Proposed improvements
<br />must be requested by local
<br />governments; (2) Proposed
<br />improvements must have been master
<br />planned; (3) District Cunds must be
<br />matched by local governments; (4)
<br />Local governments must agree to own
<br />completed Cacilities and must accept
<br />primary responsibility for their
<br />maintenance; (5) District tax revenue
<br />received Crom each county will be spent
<br />for improvements benefining that
<br />county over a period from 1974 to five
<br />years into the Cuture; and (6) The
<br />District will not develop a public works
<br />department but will rely on existing
<br />local governments' public works
<br />departments.
<br />
<br />The District's approach is intended
<br />to minimize the need Cor a large staff.
<br />Generally the District coordinates final
<br />designs prepared by consulting
<br />engineers. The local governments are
<br />involved in all aspects of the design
<br />process. The local governments
<br />generally acquire the necessary rights+
<br />oC-way (ROW) and serve as
<br />construction contracting agency. The
<br />District is, however, sometimes the lead
<br />agency for ROW acquisition and
<br />construction contracting.
<br />
<br />Each year the Board adopts a Five
<br />Year Capital Improvement Program
<br />
<br />which lists projects and District
<br />participation by county from 1974 to
<br />five years into the future. This plan
<br />Corms the basis for District participation
<br />in design and construction projects.
<br />
<br />The program staff consists oC a
<br />program chief, a project engineer and
<br />halCa student intern. The program bas
<br />been in\lOlved in over S121 million oC
<br />construction projects, including $52
<br />million in District Cunds. The major
<br />construction projects are listed in the
<br />table and shown on the map on the back
<br />oC this page.
<br />
<br />-..
<br />
<br />
<br />floodplain management program, 10 be
<br />Cunded out oC tbe original 0.1 mill.
<br />
<br />In 1979, the Board requested a 0.4
<br />mill increase Cor maintenance and
<br />preservation oC flood plains and
<br />noodways. The legislature approved the
<br />request for a three-year trial period
<br />Crom 1980-83. In 1983 the Ie\)'
<br />authorization was extended indefinitely.
<br />
<br />By 1980, the District had been
<br />authorized to levy up to 0.9 mill for the
<br />following purposes: General Fund
<br />(operations, Planning Program and
<br />Floodplain Management Program) - 0.1
<br />mill, Design and Construction Program
<br />- 0.4 mill, and Maintenance and
<br />Preservation Program. 0.4 mill.
<br />
<br />With S(,.'Veral years oC experience and
<br />many master plans and construction and
<br />maintenance projects completed or
<br />underway, the District turned to the
<br />South Platte River. A master planning
<br />study Cor the river through the District
<br />was completed in late 1985. Using the
<br />master plan as a basis Cor its requcst, the
<br />Board sought an additional O.J mill
<br />authorization (excluding Boulder
<br />County) Cor Cunds to be earmarked for
<br />the South Platte River, and that request
<br />was approved in 1986.
<br />
<br />The District now had a
<br />comprehensive program addressing all
<br />aspects of flood management. a set of
<br />tried and proven policies and
<br />procedures, and a reasonable and
<br />reliable level of Cunding. Details of the
<br />individual District programs are
<br />provided in greater detail In the
<br />Collowing sections.
<br />
<br />Since 1969 the metro area bas grown
<br />by about 600,000 people, and Ihe urban
<br />area was extending beyond the District's
<br />boundaries. The proposed new Denver
<br />International Airport spurred Cuture
<br />development plans to the east oC the
<br />District, and development was also
<br />expanding to the south. The Board
<br />requcsted the 1989 Legislature to
<br />expand the District's boundaries to
<br />encompass these new growtb areas, and
<br />the legislature granted that requcst,
<br />adding about 400 square miles to the
<br />District's area.
<br />
<br />DISTRICT 1992 ASSESSED VALUATION
<br />
<br />County
<br />
<br />Assessed Valuation
<br />
<br />Percent
<br />
<br />Denver
<br />Adams
<br />Arapahoe
<br />Boulder
<br />Douglas
<br />Jefferson
<br />
<br />$4,260,2'8,990
<br />1,591,486.210
<br />3,211,529,910
<br />1,585,4'8,900
<br />509,566,800
<br />2,941,529.190
<br />
<br />30.2
<br />11.3
<br />22.8
<br />11.2
<br />3.6
<br />20.9
<br />
<br />TOTAL
<br />
<br />$14,099,868,000
<br />
<br />100.0
<br />
<br />Floodplain Management Program
<br />
<br />District Construction
<br />Expenditures by County
<br />(1974-1991)
<br />
<br />The Floodplain Management
<br />Program was established in 1974 to
<br />prevent new flood damage potential
<br />from being introduced into the 1000year
<br />floodplains while encouraging the
<br />utilization of non-structural methods oC
<br />flood damage mitigation. The major
<br />activities of the program are: (1) The
<br />National Flood Insurance Program
<br />(NFlP). (2) Floodplain regula.ion, (3)
<br />Flood hal.ard area delineation, (4)
<br />Flood warning, (5) Flood damage
<br />surveys. (6) Development reviews, (7)
<br />Maintenance eligibility, and (8) Public
<br />inrormation.
<br />
<br />County
<br />
<br />Adams
<br />Arapahoe
<br />Boulder
<br />Denver
<br />Douglas
<br />Jefferson
<br />
<br />Expenditures
<br />
<br />%
<br />13.80
<br />21.16
<br />9.62
<br />30.32
<br />1.20
<br />23.90
<br />
<br />$7,201,000
<br />11,042,700
<br />5,022,400
<br />15,826,200
<br />624,300
<br />12,473,100
<br />
<br />TOTAL
<br />
<br />$52,189,700 !OO.OO
<br />
<br />
<br />The Federal government has
<br />established the NFIP to make
<br />affordable flood insurance available to
<br />all floodplain occupants. The District
<br />works with local governments to assure
<br />that they remain in the program and
<br />keep flood insurance available for their
<br />citi1.ens. The District also works with
<br />the Federal Emergency Management
<br />Agency, the federal agency which
<br />administers the NFIP, to assure
<br />consistency between District studies and
<br />Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
<br />
<br />The District has the authority to
<br />regulate floodplains but has chosen not
<br />to do so as long as the local
<br />governments implement their own
<br />regulations. The District assists the
<br />local governments with their floodplain
<br />regulations, including the requirements
<br />oC the NFIP.
<br />
<br />The District continues to identify
<br />and publish l00-year floodplains
<br />through its nood hazard area
<br />delineation program. The floodplains
<br />form the basis for floodplain regulation
<br />when development is proposed. See the
<br />map and table on the back of this page
<br />for information on the location and
<br />status of District nood hal.ard area
<br />delineation studies.
<br />
<br />District Construction Projecu; Upper left . Detention facility at Rotary Park in Adami County, Upper
<br />r1ghl.lakewood GulcM)l}' Gukh improve:lIK'Jl~ in I>aJver, [.(Mer left - Four lam drainage
<br />improvements in Arapahoe County, ~r right. Nonh Branch Upper Sloans Lake Itorm IeWel' in
<br />Edgewater and Wheal Ridge.
<br />
<br />
<br />A IOlInd noodplain management program can help ~t the unwile development oft\ood hazard areas.
<br />
<br />The District assists local
<br />governments in the development of
<br />nood warning plans and the installation
<br />oC nood detection networks. In addition
<br />the District hires a private
<br />meteorological service to provide daily
<br />forecasts oC nood producing events.
<br />The forecasts are made available to all
<br />local governments.
<br />
<br />The District has a special
<br />notification program to notify
<br />occupants oC nood plains oC the flood
<br />potential they face. The District
<br />annually mails over 24,OCXl
<br />informational brochures to addresses in
<br />or adjacent to each District identified
<br />floodplain.
<br />
<br />The District reviews and provides
<br />comments on proposed developments in
<br />or near floodplains at the request of
<br />
<br />local governments. The District also
<br />requires that drainage and flood control
<br />Cacilities constructed by, or approved for
<br />construction by, local governments must
<br />be approved by the District in order for
<br />those facilities to be eligible Cor
<br />assistance Crom the District's
<br />Maintenance Program. The
<br />determination of maintenance eligibility
<br />rests with the Floodplain Management
<br />Program.
<br />
<br />The program staff consists oC a
<br />program chief, a project engineer and
<br />haUa student intern.
<br />
<br />Master Planning Program
<br />
<br />The Master Planning Program is
<br />Cunded oul of the original 0.1 mill
<br />authorization for the DistriCL Key
<br />policy decisions which guide the
<br />program implementation are as follows:
<br />(1) Each master planningefTon must be
<br />requested by the local governments and
<br />must have a multi-jurisdictional
<br />dimension; (2) Master plans are
<br />completed by consultants acceptable to
<br />all local project sponsors and the
<br />District; (3) The District will pay SO%
<br />oCthe study costs, with the local
<br />sponsors sharing the other 50% of the
<br />costs; and (4) The master plan must be
<br />acceptable to all the affected local
<br />governments.
<br />
<br />The program has evolved into five
<br />major areas of interest: (1) Major
<br />drainageway master planning; (2)
<br />OutCall systems planning; (3) Drainage
<br />criteria manuals for local governments
<br />and the District; (4) Support of local
<br />government stormwater discharge
<br />permitting efforts; and (5) Special
<br />projects, such as criteria for channels
<br />and structures on sandy soils, benefit-
<br />cost analysis, wetland issues, and other
<br />projects that contribute to regional
<br />criteria development.
<br />
<br />Master plans are an important tool
<br />to help identify projects Cor
<br />construction. The master plans also
<br />provide valuable input to the District's
<br />Five Year Capital Improvement
<br />Program. They also help to guide
<br />proposed developments to be consistent
<br />with regional drainage needs, and help
<br />to identify and acquire rights-of.way Cor
<br />future capital improvements.
<br />
<br />The program staff consists of a
<br />program chieC, a project engineer and 2
<br />student interns. Fony.thrce major
<br />drainageway and 32 outfall system
<br />master plans have been completed and
<br />several more are in progress. See the
<br />
<br />Maintenance Program
<br />
<br />Key policy decisions Cor the
<br />maintenance program include the
<br />following: (1) Maintenanc:eoCfacilities
<br />Cunded by the District shall be the
<br />primary responsibility oC the local
<br />governments; (2) To the extenl the
<br />funds are available, the District will
<br />assist local governments with
<br />maintenance and preservation oC
<br />floodplains and floodways; (3) The
<br />order of priority Cor the expediture of
<br />District maintenance funds is District
<br />owned Cacilities, District Cunded
<br />projects, projects Cunded by others,
<br />unimproved urban drainageways, and
<br />unimproved rural drainageways; (4)
<br />Funds derived Crom the maintenance
<br />mill levy are returned to each county on
<br />an annual basis in the same proportion
<br />as they are received; (5) Local
<br />governments are not required to match
<br />District Cunds; and (6) The District will
<br />not create a public works department.
<br />
<br />South Platte River Program
<br />
<br />
<br />map and table on the back oC this page
<br />for more inCormation on the location
<br />and status oC these master plans.
<br />
<br />The South Platte River Program was
<br />begun in 1987. It was established in
<br />order to provide special attention to the
<br />South Platte River, which is the
<br />receiving body of water Cor all the other
<br />drainagcways in the District. The
<br />District Board annually will allocate
<br />comtruction project funds based on
<br />timing of projects, availability of
<br />matching Cunds, relative need and
<br />priority of proposed improvements,
<br />compatibility with the South Platte
<br />River master plan, and distribution of
<br />revenues to the various counties
<br />through which the river nows.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />The District will share in the cost oC
<br />capital improvement projects on the
<br />basis oC a minimum contribution oC 25%
<br />from the panicipating local
<br />government. In addition to capital
<br />improvement projects, maintenance is a
<br />primary activity. The District may
<br />contribute up to 100% of the cost oC
<br />maintenance activities.
<br />
<br />- ----
<br />r .
<br />
<br />
<br />Other efforts include cooperative
<br />projects with property owners to
<br />stabilize river banks, acquisition oC
<br />right-of.Wjly, detailed inventories oC
<br />facilities and properties along the river,
<br />and periodic surveys of the river to track
<br />and assess horizontal and vertical
<br />movement oC the river bed
<br />
<br />The South Platle River Program is
<br />managed by the Master Planning
<br />Program staff with one additional
<br />student intern.
<br />
<br />Maller planning helpl determine the man practical KI1ulion to existing drainage .and 0000 oontrol
<br />problclTlI.
<br />
<br />. .
<br />
<br />An annual maintenance work
<br />program is developed for each county
<br />based on the funds available for that
<br />county and maintenance requests from
<br />the local governments in that county.
<br />The work is divided into three types of
<br />activities: routine, restoration and
<br />rehabilitation. These activities are
<br />described in greater detail below.
<br />
<br />mucking, trash rack cleaning, tree
<br />thinning, repairing local erosion
<br />problems, and local channel grading,
<br />shaping and stabilization.
<br />
<br />Routine maintenance consists of
<br />vegetation mowing, trash and debris
<br />cleanup, weed control, and revegetation
<br />efforts. Private contractors are hired
<br />each year to perCorm the routine
<br />maintenance activities on a unit price
<br />basis.
<br />
<br />Rehabilitation projects are major
<br />design and construction efforts whieh
<br />are intended to reclaim and reestablish
<br />existing facilities which have been
<br />neglected such that serious problems
<br />have developed. Examples include
<br />rebuilding or replacing drop structures;
<br />building low now or trickle channels;
<br />establishing maintenance access into
<br />drainageways; and providing protection
<br />Cor existing box culverts, retaining walls,
<br />bridges and other facilities.
<br />
<br />
<br />The South Plane River preICflts botb problems and opportunities for the entire metropolitan area.
<br />
<br />'.".. ..>I.~ ,
<br />
<br />Compollte photograph of Herben Hot.lInna Athletic Field Complex, a multi.purpoie park and lick channel detention facility conllruc1ed by the Cityo( Englewood
<br />'With Diltrict tinancialaMistanoe. "The facilityconlailllo 14 am:soCpllrk land, including two resu1ation IOCCCrfiekkand a bueball rlcld,and it pruvidts85 acre-fttlo(
<br />flood ~onge for the tOO-year design Oood.
<br />
<br />
<br />Restoration work is site specific
<br />construction work to repair limited
<br />drainageway problems. This work often
<br />eliminates the need for more costly
<br />work later on. Types of restoration
<br />projects include detention pond
<br />
<br />The staff consists of a program chief,
<br />two project engineers, two
<br />inspector/technicians, and two student
<br />interns. All maintenance activities,
<br />including design and construction, are
<br />done by private contractors.
<br />
<br />.... '~",~"4;3l (4;~ <. <
<br />.. .':'" ~ttl-'~ t'$.'
<br />f t... ~ .' . . I
<br />. .... 7 _ .,
<br />'..;Ai.. ~- -., .,&
<br />
<br />- -
<br />
<br />-
<br />
<br />
<br />-
<br />
<br />
<br />A baffled chute drop Itructure on Niver Creek in Adams County. the
<br />Dislrict.S first ronmuction project.
<br />
<br />A drop Itructure at 88th Ave. on the South Plalle Rivff, the fint major
<br />project of the South Platte River Program.
<br />
<br />Board of Directors
<br />
<br />Executive Committee:
<br />
<br />Calhy Reynolds, Chairman
<br />City oC Denver
<br />John Stone, Chairman Pro~Tem
<br />Jefferson County
<br />Harold Kite, Secretary
<br />Adams County
<br />Arlen Patton, Treasurer
<br />Engineer member
<br />Linda Morton, Member
<br />City oC Lakcwood
<br />
<br />Before and after views 0(. restonttion project on. Hidden Lake lrit>utary in WtlItminlter.
<br />
<br />Bruce Alexander
<br />City of Denver
<br />David Day
<br />Engineer member
<br />David Doering
<br />City of Denver
<br />Leslie Durgin
<br />City of Boulder
<br />Slephanie Foote
<br />City of Denver
<br />Donald A. Hamstra
<br />City of Brighton
<br />
<br />Sandy Hume
<br />Boulder County
<br />Suzy McDanal
<br />Douglas County
<br />John Nicholl
<br />Arapahoe County
<br />Polly Page
<br />City of Aurora
<br />Mary Poe
<br />Town of Morrison
<br />Clyde Wiggins
<br />City of Englewood
<br />
<br />Address: 2480 West 26th Ave., Suite 156-B, Denver, CO 80211 Phnne: (303) 455.6277
<br />
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