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GUIDELINES FOR FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT Floodway Designation A desiqnated floodway is the area of the flood plain provided to convey a design frequency flood. The "design flood" often selected inconnectior: with floodwllydetermination is the lCO _ year frequency Intermediate Regional Flood. In terms of maintaining a reasonable balance between the advantages of reducing potential flood losses and the disadvantages of overly restricting land use, the Intermediate Regional Flood's heights and areal limits are con- sidered most practical for use in gaining the goals sought through selective zoning. Floods caused very little damage until the works of man invaded the flood plains. Through bitter e~perience, man has learned that floods quite often cover portions of the flood plains, damaging or sweeping away roads, bUildings, homes and often pose a severe threat to human life. The continuing growth of cities results in ever-increasing encroachment of the flood plains. OVer the years, reservoirs, channel improvements,levees, and other flood-protection works have been constructed to protect the works of man against the force of nature's floods. But encroach- ment of the flood plains has taken place faster than flOOd-protection works have been constructed with the result that flood damages have been steadily increasing across the nation. Despite the expenditure of tax funds running into billions of dollars for flood control works, the incroase in flood damages has led to a new approach for reducing these damages. Called "flood plain management," this new approach ~"Onsi.st$ of applying oon- trols over the use of land lying adjacent to the streams. Land-use control. l7<Ost often known as "~'lood PI...i" Regulations," does not attempt to reduce or eliMinate flooding hut is designe<.l to mold the flood plain development in such a manner as to lessen the damaging cffect.sof floo"s. Planneddeveloprt\entandmanagementofflood hazard areas can be accomplishe" by a variety of means, some are described in the following text; however, no recommendation is made for the use of a specific }ochnique. Plood plain regulations are th"tesponsibilityof State and localgov"rnin\l ag"ncies. Citip~ "nd cCl"nth~ within th.. St,,~.. of Color"rlo ''''" authorized to enact and enforce land-use controls. Advisory uS5ist- Zoning Constituting a legal tool that can be U5e" to impl~,ent and enforce the detailed plans resulting from a land-use planning program. Selective ~oning ensures the most beneficial use of flood plain lands while safeguarding the health, 5afety and welfare of the """"",'~.ity. Designated floodWllYs may be reserved by establishing .<. ~oachme"t lines that clearly define the floodway zone. Desig- nated tloodways should be zoned for the purpose of passing flood- waters and for other limited us"s that do not conflict with that primary purpose. The utilization of flood plain lands adjacent to the flocdway is limit~ only by the degree of flood risk dec~od allOwable (a determination of local government) and the require- ments of the city's zoning criteria for the area: ance relating to their detailed development for flood plain manage- ment needs is available from the Colorado Water Conservation Board. SUbdivision Rcqulations SubdiVision re'lulatiollS are u~ed by local governments to specify the ~nner in which land ~ay be divided. They may state the required width of streeti, requirements for curb5 and gutters, size of lot, elevation of land, freedom from flooding, size of flood- w"ys and other points pertir.->nt to the health, safety and wdfare of t~e co~unity. These regulations prOVide an effe~tive ~ean5 of con- trolling construction and preserving floodways in presently undevel- oped flood plain are~s. " ;0