About Animas Watershed Multi-County Risk MAP
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This Risk MAP project includes two phases: Phase 1 - Discovery, and Phase 2 - Data Development. Discovery was conducted in 2016 & 2017 and identified hazards, potential mitigation actions, and needs for further study. The Phase 2 project began early spring 2018 and serves to develop updated risk data, primarily pertaining to flooding. Both phases are described further below.
This Phase 2 study was initiated in 2018 by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the Animas River Watershed (and nearby areas) extending in Archuleta, La Plata, and San Juan Counties of southwestern Colorado. This project intends to meet needs that were identified during a Discovery Project (Phase 1) conducted in this area in 2016 & 2017. The study will provide more accurate hazard data for flooding and related hazards (ice jamming, post-fire flooding, sediment-bulked flooding, etc.) that can be used for planning, permitting, and design decisions along with emergency response, infrastructure rebuilding, and private development and reconstruction. Current special flood hazard area delineations in the Project Area are often in excess of 30 years old and do not accurately reflect flood hazards. This project includes field reconnaissance, channel and overbank surveys; creating terrain models from updated topographic data; evaluating hydrology; hydraulic modeling; and flood hazard delineations. Field survey will be completed in the Spring/Summer of 2018 with and draft floodplains for community review in Fall 2018. These activities are anticipated to result in updated Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) by 2021.
In early Summer 2015, the States of Colorado and New Mexico identified the Animas Hydrologic Unit Code 8 (HUC8) Watershed as a candidate for a joint-effort Discovery (Phase 1) Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (MAP) study. The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) is excited to team up with the University of New Mexico (UNM) Earth Data Analysis Center (EDAC) and New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (NMDHSEM) to conduct the initial Discovery step of the Risk MAP project. The project will be coordinated across two states and two Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regions. Included in the coordination will also be seven counties in southwestern Colorado, one county in northwestern New Mexico, multiple communities in both states, and at least one tribal entity.
An important aspect of consideration for Discovery is to promote resilience. The project team can discuss multiple aspects of resilience with the local communities. One noteworthy item is that the Animas HUC8 Watershed received elevated visibility while Discovery planning was occurring. Contaminated wastewater was spilled from the Gold King Mine near the watershed’s headwaters in early August 2015. Considering the recently heightened environmental concerns, this Discovery effort will expand its evaluation of mitigation efforts to also highlight select environmental considerations in addition to ongoing and prospective mitigation initiatives for flood and other natural hazards.