(1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
The Fountain creek watershed, including Fountain creek, related wetlands, existingtrails, and recreational facilities, is a unique and high quality watershed that is an important resource and asset to the people of El Paso county, Pueblo county, and the state of Colorado;
There are many challenges arising from the unique nature of the Fountain creek watershed, including torrential storms that occur intermittently in urban and rural areas that drain into Fountain creek and result in increased potential for flood danger to property, natural resources, and persons within the urban and rural areas of the watershed;
It is necessary to address flooding, drainage, sedimentation, water quality, water quantity, and erosion problems within the Fountain creek watershed in El Paso county and Pueblo county;
Because the Fountain creek watershed is physically located in both El Paso countyand Pueblo county and crosses the jurisdictional boundaries of the two counties, the cities of Colorado Springs, Fountain, Manitou Springs, and Pueblo, and the towns of Palmer Lake, Green Mountain Falls, and Monument, the watershed includes large areas of both incorporated and unincorporated land, which has:
Resulted in the fragmentation and proliferation among the counties and municipalities of powers, rights, privileges, and duties pertaining to storm water, flood mitigation, and attenuation and drainage within the watershed; and
Left the counties and municipalities unable to acquire suitable capital improvementsfor the mitigation of the flooding, drainage, and erosion problems within the watershed;
(e) In order to address flooding, drainage, sedimentation, water quality, water quantity, and erosion problems and recreational opportunities within the Fountain creek watershed and effectively protect, develop, and use the natural resources within the watershed, it is necessary and appropriate to create the Fountain creek watershed, flood control, and greenway district and to authorize the district to primarily manage, administer, and fund the capital improvements necessary in the Fountain creek watershed and the Fountain creek watershed management area to:
Prevent and mitigate flooding, sedimentation, and erosion;
Improve water quality and otherwise address water quality and water quantity issues;
Improve drainage;
Fund the acquisition and protection of open space;
Develop public recreational opportunities, including parks, trails, and open space;and
Improve wildlife and aquatic habitat and restore, enhance, establish, and preservewetlands.
(2) The general assembly further finds and declares that:
A general law cannot be made applicable to the Fountain creek watershed, floodcontrol, and greenway district, or to the properties, powers, duties, privileges, immunities, rights, liabilities, and disabilities pertaining thereto as provided in this article, because of the number of atypical factors and special conditions concerning them;
The creation of the Fountain creek watershed, flood control, and greenway districtpromotes the health, comfort, safety, convenience, and welfare of all the people of the state and is of special benefit to the inhabitants of the district and the property within the district;
All property to be acquired by the district under this article shall be owned, operated,administered, and maintained for and on behalf of all of the people of the district;
All legal and available funding sources shall be available to the district, including,but not limited to, mill levies, service fees, special assessments, and gifts, grants, and donations from public, private, and not-for-profit sources.
Source: L. 2009: Entire article added, (SB 09-141), ch. 194, p. 840, § 1, effective April 30.