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<br />i <br /> <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> <br />Cu~~ent state policy allows const~uction of homes and <br /> <br />businesses down to the edge of the 100-yea~ floodplain. <br /> <br />This <br /> <br />policy has tied the hands of <br /> <br />local <br /> <br />floodplain manage~s to <br /> <br />p~event <br /> <br />development <br /> <br />downstream of reservoir dams regardless <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />of the condition of the dam. <br /> <br />Once the development occurs, the state engineer is <br /> <br />fo~ced to ~eclassify the dam and ~equi~e the dam owne~ to <br /> <br />upg~ade the st~uctu~e to p~otect the new p~ope~ty owne~s f~om <br /> <br />loss of life and damage. <br /> <br />Often <br /> <br />the cost <br /> <br />of <br /> <br />repairs and <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />modifications exceed a million dolla~s. <br /> <br />In addition, the dam <br /> <br />owne~ becomes exposed to an inc~eased liability equal to the <br /> <br />value of the p~ope~ty which would be damaged <br /> <br />due to dam <br /> <br />failu~e. <br /> <br />The inc~eased liability is p~opo~tionally ~eflected <br /> <br />in <br /> <br />the cost of <br /> <br />liability <br /> <br />insurance if the owner is still <br /> <br />insurable. <br /> <br />Whethe~ the action is a legal issue o~ not, it <br /> <br />would <br /> <br />appea~ <br /> <br />that <br /> <br />it <br /> <br />is immoral far one party to cause financial <br /> <br />inju~y to a second pa~ty without just compensation. <br /> <br />In o~de~ to identify how floodplain <br /> <br />managers <br /> <br />felt <br /> <br />about <br /> <br />the issue, the autho~ dist~ibuted 748 questionai~es to <br /> <br />the subsc~ibe~s of <br /> <br />the Colo~ado Wate~ <br /> <br />Conservation <br /> <br />Boa~d <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />newslette~ entitled "FLOOD STAGE". " <br /> <br />; <br /> <br />i i i <br />