FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT EFFORTS IN THE SANTA CLARA RIVER WATERSHED DIGITAL FLOOD INSURANCE MAP (DFIRM) UPDATES LEVEE CERTIFICATION FEMA FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY (Santa Clara River) Present to: Santa Clara River Watershed Council of Ventura County July 2008
DIGITAL FLOOD INSURANCE MAP (DFIRM) UPDATES
Why Update Flood Maps? Federal Requirements - National Flood Insurance Program: National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 Current accurate flood maps are critical to: Reduce potential loss of life & property through sound floodplain management Reduce NFIP & disaster costs Protect natural & beneficial values of floodplains Accurate and up to date flood maps are vital for the successful implementation of all floodplain management strategies.
Flood Mapping Inventory Ages: Ventura County vs. Nationwide 100 90 80 70 Percentage 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Less than 5 years From 5 to 10 years From 10 to 15 years More than 15 years Nationwide 18 11 15 56 Ventura County 0 0 13 87 Age of FIRMs Source of Data: Nationwide data is from MapIX website. Ventura County data is from manual tabulation of FIRMs.
Ventura County Revised Preliminary DFIRM Preliminary DFIRM: Released in Sept. 2005, incorporating Calleguas Creek Watershed FIS. Revised Preliminary DFIRM: Released May 30, 2008 incorporated appeals from local communities and PAL process
DFIRM Adoption Timeline: DFIRM Adoption Timeline: First Release September 2005 Revised Preliminary May 30, 2008 Comment Period Expires October 30, 2008 Letter of Final Determination December 30, 2008 Effective Date June 30, 2009 Appeals, PAL Process Community Review & Comment 6 Month Period for Local Stakeholders to Amend Ordinances Stakeholder Input and Comment
What s s Next? Review and determination of key levees compliance with FEMA Levee Accreditation Provide comments to FEMA by October 30, 2008
Levee Certification
FEMA Levee Certification Requirements: FEMA has long been concerned with levee certifications Initiated Levee Policy Committee to develop recommendations to NFIP before Katrina in 2005 Accreditation vs. Certification FEMA does not certify levees. Levee owners do. FEMA accredits certified levees on effective DFIRMs.
Code of Federal Regulations (44 CFR 65.10) For the purpose of NFIP maps, FEMA will only recognize levee systems that meet and continue to meet design, operational and maintenance criteria of the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Section 65.10 (44 CFR 65.10), which was adopted on August 25, 1986 Certification Criteria broken down into 6 key components: Operations and Maintenance Plan Freeboard Closures Embankment and foundation stability Interior Drainage Other Design Criteria
PM 34 - Levee Certification Paths
Map of District Levee Inventory
District Levee System Inventory List: 26 Levees 68 Miles
Provisionally Accredited Levees (PAL) Out of 14 levees requested, 6 were PALed: Non levees in Santa Clara River watershed were PALed
Levee Certification Timeline: Levee Certification Timeline: Begin Levee Certification September 2006 Submitted Request for 14 PAL Levees Nov. 27, 2007 FEMA Approved 6 PALs May 28, 2008 Progress Report to FEMA Nov. 30, 2008 Submit Levee Certificatio Package to FEMA Nov. 30, 2009 Levee Inventory Efforts PAL Efforts, Consultant Service SOW Consultant Selection, BOS Approval Prepare Levee Certification Package
What s s Next? Select Consultants BOS Approval Prepare Levee Certification Packages
Santa Clara River FEMA Flood Insurance Study
FEMA Flood Insurance Study Initiated in 2006 under FEMA CTP Program All study areas were determined in consultation with local communities Study Reaches: Santa Clara River 9 of its tributaries totaling 57.11 miles
Santa Clara River Flood Insurance Study: Study Reaches Name Reach Length Mile Santa Clara River 38.33 Orcutt Canyon 1.07 Sespe Creek 5.99 Grimes Canyon Wash 1.93 Pole Creek 2.02 Basolo Ditch 1.00 Hopper Canyon 2.71 Piru Creek 1.57 El Rio Drain 1.19 Patterson Drain 1.30 Total Length 57.11
Preliminary Comments on Technical Support Data Notebook (TSDN) FEMA released the TSDN on May 8, 2008 Preliminary District and Community review comments sent to FEMA on June 30, 2008 Expect COE to send independent review comments soon.
SCR Flood Insurance Study SCR Flood Insurance Study Timeline: Release of TSDN May 8, 2008 Technical Review Period Expires Oct. 30, 2008 Incorporate into Revised Preliminary DFIRM December 2008 Publication of News Release January 2009 90 Day Appeal Period Begins February 2009 Appeal Period Expires May 2009 Letter of Final Determination July 2009 Effective Date January 2010 Stakeholder Input and Comment Appeal/Protest Period
What s s Next? Local communities/stakeholders review the FIS, speak to FEMA with one voice Agree upon the MOU, Consultant Service SOW Consultant review comments by end of Oct. 2008 Public outreach: What if levees are not able to be certified? What the impacts will be to communities?
What s s Next? (Continue) The District will place potential improvement projects into the ranking system of the Integrated Watershed Protection Plan (IWPP) for selection of Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) The District will look for grant from State and Federal sources The District will look for participation of local communities
What s s Next? (Continue) Identification of levee improvement projects will be included in the ongoing SCR Feasibility Study
Questions?