BOARD02209

• Board Meeting Date: 3/24/2003
• Description: Flood Section - FEMA Map Modernization Implementation Plan Update
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Stteet, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: (303) 866,3441
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
Larry Lang, P.E., Chief, Flood Protection Section
March 11,2002
Agenda Item 21 March 24-26, 2002 Board Meeting--
FEMA Map Modernization Implementation Plan (MMIP) Update

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

Introduction

At the March 2002 Board meeting, staff presented information to the Board regarding floodplain
mapping activities in Colorado and the proposed significant increase in federal funding for such
activities. In his initial proposed FY '03 budget, President Bush provided more than $300
million for floodplain mapping nationwide. At the request of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), and with help from a $50,000 grant from FEMA the CWCB and
its consultants prepared a "Map Modernization Implementation Plan" (MMIP). The Colorado
MMIP was submitted to FEMA in August 2002. It outlines the floodplain mapping needs,
priorities, and estimated costs for updating the State's flood hazard maps.

At the March 2002 Board meeting, the Board also took formal action to adopt a resolution that
supports the Map Modernization Implementation Plan effort that is currently underway. The
resolution indicates unilateral support for President Bush's proposed floodplain mapping budget.

At the November 2002 Board meeting, the CWCB endorsed a staff request for a non-reimbursable
investment of $500,000 from the Construction Fund to assist with the preparation of revised and
improved floodplain studies and maps for communities throughout Colorado. The CWCB dollars
would mainly be used as a match against millions of federal dollars (75/25% cost share). Staff
requested the funding to establish a long-term statewide program based on the anticipated federal
funding, state funding, and local funding. The local share would consist of local cash and local
in.kind funding (e.g. local GIS maps, local hydrologic studies).

The purpose of this memo is to provide the Board with an update of the current situation with regard
to Map Modernization.

Discussion

Federal Action
In mid-February the new Congress adopted the federal budget for FY '03, which began in
October '02 and ends on September 30,2003. Included in that budget was $150 million for Map
Modernization, approximately half of the President's original request. FEMA staff is currently

Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning