BOARD01805

• Board Meeting Date: 5/23/2005
• Description: Flood Section - 2005 Flood Update
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

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Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
]313 Shennan Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

DATE:
RE:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members L- r?L-/.
Larry Lang, Chief, Flood Protection Program; and
Flood Protection Program Staff
May 11, 2005
Agenda Item 34
Flood Protection - 2005 Flood Update
May 25, 2005 Board Meeting - Salida, Colorado

Russell George
E~ecutive Director

TO:
FRqM:

Rod Kuharich
eweB Director

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

Rick Brown
Acting Deputy
Director

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Introduction
CWCB staff from the Flood Protection Program have been actively involved with snowmelt flood preparation
activities this spiing, spurred on by heavy mountain snowpack within certain portions of Colorado's high country.
Beginning in March, staff was well aware of higher than average snowpack in the southwestern and south-central
mountain areas ofthe state. In response to the perceived flood threat, staff has engaged in proactive approaches to
developing snowpack, snowmelt, and flood-related information for communities and other interested parties. In
addition to the information and coordination roles, the CWCB continues to chair the Colorado Flood 1'askForce
and exhibits leadership for local, state, and federal partnering functions.

In March, April, and May the staff has been cooperating with the Colorado Division of Water Resources and the
Department of Local Affairs in implementing flood awareness and preparedness activities. The weather
information provided by John Henz - HDR Engineering, Inc. and the National Weather Service has been very
accurate this year. Staff will use PowerPoint to present graphics on this year's snowpack during this memo as well.

Discussion
Staff plans to provide brief presentations to the Board regarding the following main topics related to this Flood
Update memorandum:

A. Colorado Flood Task Force

The CWCB Chairs the Colorado Flood Task Force and we have met on April 6 and May 5 this year. We will be
again June 8th in conjunction with the Water Availability Task Force. The purpose of the meetings is to present
weather forecasts, flood outlooks, and share information related to programs and opportunities. Meetings are
regularly attended by the representatives from the CWCB, DWR, USGS, USBR, USACE, NRCS, CGS, HDR
Engineering Inc., and the media. Task Force highlights from the May 5th meeting are:
. NRCS Snowpack - May 1 statewide snowpack was 990/" of average and: 146% of l...t. Y~i1.l. Bymajor river
basin the snowpack as a percent of the 30-year average is: YampalWhite 76%, North Platte 82%, South
Platte 93%, Arkansas 142%, Rio Grande 155%, San Miguel/DoloreslAnimas/San Juan 146%, Gunnison
136%, Colorado 97%. .
. NRCS Reservoir Storage - May 1 statewide reservoir storage was 89% of average and 107% oflast year.
By major river basin the reservoir storage as a percent of the 30-year average is: YampalWhite 98%, North

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Colorado Water Conservation Board
Flood Protection. Water Supply Pl~ng and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation andDrougbcPmnning