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Article I - Title and Purpose

Provided below is a web version of the Floodplain Management Program Policy. Return to Floodplain Management website.

Section A. Statutory Authorization

The Legislature of the State of Colorado has, in Title 29, Article 20 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, delegated the responsibility of local governmental units to adopt regulations designed to minimize flood losses. However, it was determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that the State of Colorado needed to develop a process for state-owned land located in counties and municipalities that do not participate in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program or an equivalent program. C.R.S. 24-30-1303 made it the responsibility of the Office of the State Architect to develop a compliance program for state property outside any local approved program. The Office of the State Architect does hereby adopt the following floodplain management policy:

Section B. Findings of Fact

  1. The flood hazard areas of the State are subject to periodic inundation, which can result in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental services, and extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief, all of which adversely affect the health, safety, and general welfare of the public.
  2. These flood losses are created by the cumulative effect of obstructions in floodplains, which cause an increase in flood heights and velocities, and by the occupancy of flood hazard areas by uses vulnerable to floods and hazardous to other lands because they are inadequately elevated, floodproofed, or otherwise protected from flood damage.

Section C. Statement of Purpose

It is the purpose of this policy to promote public health, safety and general welfare and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas by provisions designed to:

  1. Protect human life and health;
  2. Minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control projects;
  3. Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;
  4. Minimize prolonged business interruptions;
  5. Minimize damage to critical facilities, infrastructure and other public facilities such as water, sewer and gas mains; electric and communications stations; and streets and bridges located in floodplains;
  6. Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of flood-prone areas in such a manner as to minimize future flood blight areas; and
  7. Ensure that potential buyers are notified that property is located in a flood hazard area.

Section D. Methods of Reducing Flood Losses

In order to accomplish its purposes, this policy uses the following methods:

  1. Restrict or prohibit uses that are dangerous to health, safety or property in times of flood, or cause excessive increases in flood heights or velocities;
  2. Require that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction;
  3. Control the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels, and natural protective barriers, which are involved in the accommodation of flood waters;
  4. Control filling, grading, dredging, and other development which may increase flood damage;

Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally divert flood waters or which may increase flood hazards to other lands.

Floodplain Management Program Policy