Showing posts with label CWCB. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CWCB. Show all posts

State Flood Mitigation Plan Update: 30 Day Public Comment Period Open

logo for news release


The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) is working to update the Colorado Flood Mitigation Plan which was last updated in 2013. The Plan re-assesses the state’s flood risk and mitigation strategies and includes updates on implementation and progress toward meeting the plan’s goals. Multiple state agencies are included in the plan preparation process through participation on the Flood Technical Assistance Partnership (Flood TAP). The Flood TAP also includes representation from local and federal agencies as well, including multi-agency coordination through the Army Corps of Engineers Silver Jackets program. 

The planning effort paralleled the update of the State Hazard Mitigation Plan, a plan that will be seeking FEMA enhanced plan status in order to leverage more mitigation funding for Colorado. The Flood Mitigation Plan will be incorporated into Colorado’s State Hazard Mitigation Plan as a stand-alone appendix and will ultimately be adopted by the governor through that affiliation. CWCB staff intends to bring the finalized, updated plan to the CWCB Board at their September board meeting for adoption.

Gap Filling Radar Installed on Missionary Ridge

Gap filling radar was installed  on Missionary Ridge as a jointly funded project between the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM).

The agencies contracted with the University of Oklahoma to deploy this gap filling Doppler radar from July to October to better identify storms that are not visible by radar out of the Grand Junction or Albuquerque Weather Service Offices.

La Plata Electric Association installed a meter and is providing free electricity through October for the project.  La Plata County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) worked to coordinate the location and installation of the unit on July 2, 2018.

In addition, DHSEM also worked with La Plata County OEM and the Rio Grande Watershed Emergency Action Team (RWEACT) to obtain and install real time rain gauges in order to better notify the public of the threat of flash flooding over the 416 Fire burn scar.

Photos of radar taken by Thomas McNamara with La Plata County OEM.

Gov. Hickenlooper Announces $2.29 Million in Grants for Stream Recovery Projects

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Office of Gov. John Hickenlooper

Kevin Houck, 303-866-3441 c.  kevin.houck@state.co.us


Gov. Hickenlooper announces $2.29 million in grants for stream recovery projects

DENVER – Friday, Aug. 08 2014 – Moving quickly to keep Colorado’s long-term recovery on pace, Gov. John Hickenlooper today announced grants totaling $2.29 million for 19 new stream recovery projects in Boulder, Larimer, Weld, and Jefferson counties, less than three months after the program was created.

"Quickly and strategically rehabilitating streams damaged by the flood is critical for many reasons; most notably so that we are prepared to endure any future surprises Mother Nature might throw our way," said Hickenlooper. "We are grateful to the Colorado Water Conservation Board; to Senators Jeanne Nicholson and Scott Renfroe and Representatives Mike Foote and Jerry Sonnenberg, for working with us to expeditiously get these resources where they are so needed."  

Repairing the state’s streams and watersheds is a high priority because it reduces future flood risk, and helps restore stream banks, wildlife habitats, agricultural areas and recreational opportunities.

The flooding - which impacted 24 counties - triggered nine small dam failures, damaged or destroyed nearly 225 water-diversion structures, damaged an estimated 32,000 acres of croplands and swept away $540,000 in state-owned stream-gauge equipment. During the floods, many northern Colorado waterways experienced 100-year or 500-year floods.  

The grant program, created with Senate Bill 14-179, will reimburse up to 50 percent of eligible expenses used for cleaning up debris or restoring watersheds. The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) approved the grants on July 16.

The legislation authorizes payments to private entities and individuals whose property was affected by the floods as well as local governments, watershed coalitions, and other private non-profit entities who are performing restoration activities.


Applicant
Project Title
Approved Funding
Wildland Restoration Volunteers
North Fork of the Big Thompson River Restoration
$196,500
City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Department
Boulder Creek Confluence Restoration
$200,000
Rocky Mountain Flycasters
Multi-basin Riparian Restoration and Plant Propagation Program
$200,000
Boulder County Parks and Open Space
Left Hand Creek Restoration
$200,000
Town of Estes Park
Fish Creek Restoration Project: Brook Drive to Country Club Reach
$200,000
Boulder County Land Use Department
Fourmile Creek Restoration Project
$80,000
City of Longmont
Peschel-St.Vrain Creek Restoration
$110,000
Boulder County Parks and Open Space
South St. Vrain Creek Restoration at Hall Ranch
$110,000
City of Greeley/Larimer County
Lions Open Space Eastern Bank Restoration Project
$150,000
The Environmental Group
Coal Creek Canyon Restoration Project: Twin Spruce Junction
$94,400
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Big Thompson River Restoration
$300,000
Sylvan Dale Ranch
Fish Habitat Design and Debris Removal, sylvan Dale Reach, Big Thompson River
$59,850
Big Thompson Conservation district
Little Thompson River Urgent Needs
$170,625
Mark Boslough
Riparian Habitation Restoration, Stream Bank Revegetation and Beaver Reintroduction on Highland Placer, South St. Vrain Watershed, Boulder County
$14,00
Stephen Strand
8398 Lefthand Creek Streambed and Bank Stabilization, Riparian Corridor Restoration
$20,000
Logan Mill Ranch Tree Farm and Properties
Sunbeam Gulch Stream Restoration Project
$20,000
Town of Lyons
Lower McConnell Hazard Mitigation Project
$56,250
Left Hand Water District
Debris Removal from Left Hand Creek Water Intake
$9,030

Floodplain Management Training Course Scheduled for March 10-13

Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and Colorado Association of Storm Flood Managers (CASFM) are hosting a four day floodplain management training course in Colorado.

Managing Floodplain Development through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will be held March 10-13, 2014 in Longmont. Click Here for the Flyer Click Here for Registration .

This course is designed to provide an organized training opportunity for local officials responsible for administering their local floodplain management ordinance. The course will focus on the NFIP and concepts of floodplain management, maps and studies, ordinance administration, and the relationship between floodplain management and flood insurance.

The Association of State Flood Plain Managers (ASFPM) Certified Flood Manager (CFM) Exam will be offered on March 14. The CFM Exam requires a separate registration through ASFPM. You will need to apply for the exam and pay ASFPM directly. Follow this link to register for the CFM Exam: http://www.floods.org/index.asp?menuid=405&firstlevelmenuid=180&siteid=1

You do not have to take the course in order to take the exam, but the course will provide a good overview of the topics on the exam. Please complete the exam registration with ASFPM at least a few weeks before the exam, because if ASFPM does not have your registration and payment processed, you will not be able to take the exam.

Flood Related Funding Still Available in CWCB Loan Program

There remains a substantial amount of flood-related funding still available in the Colorado Water Conservation Board  (CWCB) loan program. Water entities in need of financial assistance are encouraged to contact CWCB staff for further information.

Please view the Flood-Related Funding Fact Sheet for specific information on funding sources.

Colorado Water Conservation Board Launches Website for Watering Restrictions

The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) has launched a new website where residents across Colorado can quickly link to information about watering restrictions affecting their local community. The new website, www.COH2O.co, provides search features that allow visitors to quickly link to their water utility and learn of any local water restrictions that may be in place because of below-average precipitation and reservoir storage in many areas of Colorado.

To learn more about drought, including local and state planning, water conservation, current statewide conditions, water supply projects, newsletters, and to access the drought planning toolbox, visit the CWCB Drought home page.

For additional information, contact Taryn Finnessy, in the CWCB Water Supply Planning Section, at (303) 866-3441 x3231, or at taryn.finnessy@state.co.us.
You can also follow CWCB's drought response on Twitter by following @CO_H2O or www.twitter.com/CO_H2O