Public Works and Planning

Flood Control / Stormwater Infrastructure Deficiencies

As first discussed with Council in August of 1999, City and County stormwater masterplans identified over $44 million in infrastructure deficiencies in just eight of the twenty-eight basins affecting the urban area. City Council budgeted $10.9 million worth of projects and land acquisitions in the 10 year capital improvement program.

Floodplain Management

The importance of this topic was recently brought to the City's attention in the fall of 1999 when the State of Colorado FEMA representatives found mistakes in administering the floodplain/way around the Mesa Mall area. The City of Grand Junction undertook further analysis of the floodway in order to determine that all of the current buildings and a couple of proposed pad sites would still meet the FEMA guidelines. The City of Grand Junction then ensured that the flood insurance rate map was revised. The exercise still stressed the importance of "staying on top" of floodplain management.

Community Rating System

The NFIP offers reasonably priced flood insurance in communities that comply with minimum standards for floodplain management. The NFIP's Community Rating System (CRS) recognizes community efforts beyond those minimum standards by reducing flood insurance premiums for the community's property owners. CRS discounts on flood insurance premiums range from 5% to 45%. Those discounts provide an incentive for new flood protection activities that can help save lives and property in the event of a flood. Many Colorado communities have already been rated, however Grand Junction and Mesa County have never asked to be rated. Staff believes that a rating of 8, which would result in a savings of 10% to those homeowners with flood insurance, is easily obtainable and will be seeking to rated in the near future. The rating scale extends from 10 (the worst) to 1 (best). For reference, the best rating in the country is Tulsa which has attained a level 3. The best in Colorado is Fort Collins which is at a level 6.

The City Council was informed on these proposed regulations in August 1999. The proposed regulations focus primarily on Best Management Practices (BMP's) and are primarily aimed at increasing the public's awareness on stormwater. The EPA is leveling the new regulations against Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4's). Definite MS4's include City of Fruita, City of Grand Junction, Mesa County, Grand Junction Drainage District, and many of the irrigation districts. With so many local entities involved it makes sense to try and pool resources in meeting the regulations. There are six "minimum" measures that each MS4's program are required to address: public education, public involvement, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site stormwater runoff control, post-construction management of new development, and municipal operations. The City of Grand Junction is looking at adding very little to its stormwater management program to meet the regulations; strengthening the code, adding a public involvement component, issuing construction permits, and long term enforcement of operation and maintenance of BMP's on private development can most likely be done with minimal additional staff. State Rule 37 regulation from the State Water Quality Control Commission proposes numeric standards for all named and unnamed tributaries to the Colorado River. This regulation is still in draft form, however the impacts to Stormwater management could be enormous. Construction of water quality ponds, currently proposed to meet NPDES Phase II regulations in 2012 or later, may have to be accelerated in order to ensure the discharges from the various drainages across the Grand Valley meet the proposed standards. Because there are numeric standards, water sampling and lab work would probably mean up to two additional lab technicians to collect and analyze and report findings. There is also the possibility of limits being placed on businesses discharging into the sewer system and expansions to the Persigo Wastewater Treatment Plant.