FLOOD08745

• County: Statewide
• Community: Statewide
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Colorado Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan
• Date: 12/1/1999
• Prepared For: State of Colorado
• Prepared By: Kistner and Associates
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Mitigation/Flood Warning/Watershed Restoration

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Colorado Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan -1999

Chapter 3 - State Capabllitv Assessment

3.1 Legal Framework
Critical aspects of flood hazard miligation relevant to
this plan are floodplain management, geologic hazard
management, and emergency preparedness.

State enabling legislation, executive orders and
memorandums adopled and Qmently in force for each
of these aitical aspects are listed in the following
paragraphs, and selected authorities are reproduced in
the Appendix A.

3.1.1 Floodplain Management
The Colorado Revised Statutes dealing with floodplain
management date back to 1937 with the creation of the
Colorado Water Conservation Board, The Colorado
Water Conservation Board (CVVCB) in the Department
of Natural Resources is the principal state agency
responsible for water resource planning and
development. A role in floodplain management has
evolved over many years, starting with flood control as
an economically justifiable benefit of reservoir
construction. Major flood legislation was further enacted
in 1966 by House Bill 1007-State approval and
designation of stann runoff channels and basins; in
1973 by Senate Bill 35-subdivision regulations including
delineation of 100-year floodplains; in 1974 by House
Bill1041-land Use Act; and in 1977 by Senate Bill 126-
-State to establish aiteria and requirements for
perfonning floodplain studies by local, state and federal
governments.

In 1977, the governor reinforced a concern for sound
floodplain management by issuing two executive orders
concerning the evaluation of flood hazards in locating
state facilities and state participation in the National
Flood Insurance Program.

Fir Mare 1IIIrIIldol

Appendix A - Indudes definitions, acronyms,
and references used in the
preparation of this plan,
Appendix B - Indudes infonnation on financial
assistance programs,
Appendix C - Indudes tips to minimize loss of
life & property in the event of a
flood,

Appendix D - Indudes miligation strategies and
measures.
Appendix E - Indudes miligation planning
examples,

The flood control and floodplain management section of
the board has developed several programs directed
toward the identification of floodplains and prolliding
technical services to Colorado communilies.

3.1.2 Geologic Hazard Management
The Colorado Geological Survey (CGS) has both
general and specific statutory authority in the area of
geologic hazards. These indude:

. Title 34, Article 1, Colorado Revised Statutes,
Colorado Geological Survey, and Objectives of
the Survey-Duties of State Geologist.

. Title 24, Article 65.1, Colorado Revised Statutes,
Govemment-State, Areas and Activities of State
Interest.

Under these statutes, the CGS has in the past prollided
adllice and technical assistance to state and local
agencies, completed geologic hazard mapping, and
prepared numerous technical publications, Current
budget constraints preclude such work unless cash
funding can be arranged in advance,

House Bill 1041 of 1974, CRS 24-65-101 et seq"
induded comprehensive treatment of geologic hazards
and charged local governments with legal responsibility
for designation and administration of geologic hazard
areas, The CGS was designated as lead agency for
geologic hazards mapping (identification) and for
prolliding technical assistance to local governments in
designation and administration of geologic hazard
areas, The CGS was also charged with preparing and
publishing a set of guidelines and model geologic
hazard regulations and is also assisting local
governments in the full process of geologic hazard
management. In 1988, following the landslides and
flooding on the western slope, the CGS prepared the
Colorado landslide Hazard Mitigation Plan,

3,2 Government Organizations & Roles of
Different Levels and Internal
Organization

3,2.1 State Departments
State departments are responsible, within their statutory
authorities, to prollide assistance and support to local
jurisdictions when they are unable to cope with a
disaster emergency situation, Upon implementation of
the State Emergency Operations Plan (SEOP) they are
responsible for the implementation of assigned State
Emergency Functions (SEFs), The operational roles,
responsibilities and intra-organizational relationships of

Chapter 3 - 1

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