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Basalt, Pitkin County, Aspen and Redstone, the various communities in the Rio Grande Valley and other communities all implemented "advance measures". Those "advance measures" included prepositioning sandbags, mobilizing contractors for emergency work, reallocating funds for floodfighting, setting up floodcasting stations and implement mitigation plans. Knowing the "channel capacities" was a very important piece of information in flood management and preparedness. By knowing the existing channel capacities and receiving a reasonably accurate floodcast, it was possible for the local government officials and property owners to determine what level of emergency flood protection was adequate. They could identify potential breakout points, critical bridges and culverts and buildings in need of special protection. The Division of water resources stream gaging network played a very important role in the monitoring of spring snowmelt flooding. Reservoir Ooerations Chatfreld, Bear Creek, Reudi and the Colorado Storage Project During the 1995 snowmelt runoff and spring flood, the flood control and "non-flood control" reservoirs played a role in the detention of floodwaters and the reduction of flood flows. This was evident is in the Gunnison and South Platte River basins. However, we learned that there is a need to better coordinate the operations and releases of the reservoir pools during the spring runoff season. The Board and Office of Emergency Management staffs are in communication with the Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Water Board, and private reservoir companies regarding future operations. Like reservoir operations aild releases, irrigation company diversions, operations and "by- passes" can have a major effect on downstream flood flows and inundation of floodplain lands and property. On the Roaring Fork, Rio Grande, Cache La Poudre, North Fork of the South Platte, Lower South Platte and Upper, Blue, Colorado, and Lower Arkansas Rivers, the irrigation diversions assisted in the reduction of flood flows. State agencies have no jurisdiction over these private irrigation companies as to their flood protection responsibilities during flood. These flood protection benefits must be viewed as incidental, This flood protection can only be obtained through friendly negotiations and mutual agreements for securing flood control benefits, Local governments cannot take such flood protection for granted annually without implementing better management practices.