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<br />2.5 Existing Mitigation Planning_and Programs <br /> <br />During 1981, the staff of the Water Conservation Board met <br />with selected State agencies WhOSE! work included aspects of flood <br />hazard mitigation. One purpose of those meetings was to <br />determine how these state ag.mcies were implementing the <br />Governor's Executive Orders on floodplain management and on the <br />National Flood Insurance program. By eval uating what var ious <br />state agencies were doing in regards to flood hazard mitigation, <br />the following updated summary report on mitigation activities by <br />state agencies was prepared to give a better overall picture of <br />existing flood hazard mitigation planning and programs within <br />Colorado State government. <br /> <br />2.5.1 Division of Water Resources <br /> <br />The Division of Water Resources primarily through its Dam <br />Safety Branch reviews, approves, and file€: plans and <br />specifications for dams before construction as required by <br />Section 37-87-105, CRS 1913,. as amended. Finished structures <br />must be approved before storage 01: water is allowed. The concern <br />is for the safety of downstream rE!si.dents and property" The Dam <br />Safety Branch's program is approxi.mately 100 years old. <br /> <br />In 1967, the Division of Water Resources, <br />State Engineer, published the latest version of <br />Rules and Regulations for Filing Claims to Water <br />Specifications for tl1e Construction of Dams." <br /> <br />Office of <br />a "Manual <br />and Plans <br /> <br />the <br />of <br />and <br /> <br />All 2,249 dams in the state have been given high, moderate, <br />or low hazard ratings based on the probability of loss of life <br />and/or significant property damage below them. The hazard rating <br />includes a "normal" rating based on "failure in the dry" which <br />means looking at the consequences of a failure from structural <br />deficiencies. There is also a rating based on the additional <br />damages or loss of life caused by a failure of t:he dam when it is <br />overtopped by a flood exceeding its spillway capacity (hydrologic <br />deficiency) . <br /> <br />If a dam is found to be "unsafe," the Dam Safety Branch can <br />restrict the storage behind it to ensure safety. Any dam under <br />restrictions remains restricted until specified hazardous <br />conditions are corrected. D,~ms not under restrictions may fill <br />to capacity. <br /> <br />In FY 1976-77, prior to thE! National Dam Safety Program <br />(NDSP), the State Engineer's Jffice conducted IJ\Clre than 1,000 dam <br />inspections with five field engineers and a supervisory <br />engineer. This included all types of inspE!ctions such as safety <br />eval uations, construction inspections, response to complaints, <br />and a number of reinspections. <br /> <br />-49.- <br />