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<br />001781 <br /> <br />FLOODS IN COLORADO: HISTORY AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS <br /> <br />In common with many other states, Colorado has a significant problem with <br />""'~,., -,' <br />(7":'1,~,.- <br />flooding. There are at leas~/156 communities which are subject to recurring <br /> <br />floods (1). As these community populations and infrastructures expand, <br /> <br />floods cause increasing damages and lost of life. In Colorado, the 1976 Big <br /> <br />Thompson Canyon flash flood and the 1982 Estes Park dam failure are recent <br /> <br />Although not as visible, th~re are, <br />1.( .rh_", ih..t ,J',-:.r.f .' '''\ o.;i).. \" <br />~ 1 . <br />annually between 10 to 30 major floods in Colorado which cause extensive <br />f\ <br />losses (2). If measures are not taken to ,control or manage this flooding <br /> <br />highly visible examples of this trend. <br /> <br />I,.!,,,,, <br /> <br />.' <br />; . -t,"'-'~ ' <br />, <br />\:el:l. <br />, t.: <br /> <br />problem, losses will continue to increase until incidents such as the 1965 <br /> <br />Denver area flood, which caused an estimated $500 million damage may' become <br /> <br />all too frequent. <br /> <br />There are three basic approaches to flood hazards management (3). <br /> <br />.Modify flooding by using structural measures such as dams, levees, <br /> <br />etc., to control water flows. <br /> <br />.Moderate flooding impacts by providing flood warnings, insurance, <br /> <br />disaster relief, and tax adjustments. <br /> <br />.Reduce flood damage risks with land use zoning, floodproofing, etc. <br /> <br />Traditionally, flood modification has been the preferred alternative <br /> <br />at the federal, state and local levels. In addition, warning systems and <br /> <br />emergency relief measures have also been used. Since 1936 most funding <br /> <br />for these measures has Come from the Federal Government. However, <br /> <br />-1- <br />