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<br />out on the first reading. And coming back to my first question, perhaps <br />you could background us on the definition of the low hazard zone. <br /> <br />Mr. Sparks: Most floodplains have varying degrees of danger. If you <br />have a stream which is confined within vertical walls, you only have <br />one hazard zone because the water does not spread outside of those <br />relatively vertical walls. But as we get on into the plains area the I <br />water will spread a considerable distance. It will not actually flow <br />with any great velocity in certain areas which are sometimes referred <br />to as flood fringe areas. Virtually every floodplain ordinance attempts <br />to define by various definitions those areas where .lower hazards exist <br />than in those areas exposed to the direct brunt of the floodwaters. <br />It is a difficult thing to define. We originally thought of just for- <br />getting about it and saying that everything within the floodplain is <br />subject to flood hazards. However, we decided that we couldn't do <br />that because there are areas where the flood hazard is quite low. '. <br />What we have said here is that the low hazard area is an area in which <br />the water does not exceed a depth of one foot, nor reach a.velocity <br />greater than three feet per second. In our opinion, this presents no <br />significant flood hazard. <br /> <br />Mr. Vandemoer: Larry, would the occupation of a low hazard area require <br />a permit? <br /> <br />Mr. Sparks: Yes. It is part of the designated floodplain. <br /> <br />Mr. Fetcher: Well, I think anyone would concede that if they had a <br />foot of water around their house they would be in a flood, but I am a <br />little bit hung up on this velocity problem and I just don't have any <br />feel for that. Apparently if the flood reaches a foot high or the. <br />water reaches a foot high around the structure, it is defined as being <br />outside of the low hazard area, as I understand it. <br /> <br />Mr. Sparks: Providing the velocity is less than three feet per second. <br />;;Both of these conditions. <br /> <br />Mr. Fetcher: Well, you said either. <br /> <br />Mr. Sparks: Yes, which will not either attain a velocity of more than <br />three feet or a depth greater than one foot. So either one of these <br />puts it within the high hazard area. <br /> <br />Mr. Fetcher: It is not the way it reads. <br /> <br />Mr. Sparks: The water does not either attain a depth greater than one <br />foot or a velocity greater than three feet per second. So if either <br />one of those conditions are exceeded, it is not in the low hazard area. <br /> <br />Mr. Fetcher: You are a lawyer and I am not, but I still have trouble <br />reading it. <br /> <br />Mr. S\,arks: We did have trouble defining that too. We wrote it about <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />-6- <br />