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. . . . . . . . . . . ,. . . . . I. I. I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I. . . . I. . . . . . . . :e FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT Local Ordinance Requirements Communities that manage their floodplains in Colorado do so most often through the local regulatory process. This requires a community to adopt an ordinance or regulation, which sets forth the performance standards by which development will occur in identified flood hazard areas. Nationwide and in Colorado, regulations are enforced within the area of the loo-year floodplain. The basic requirement of these regulations is that new development and significant improvement of existing development cannot occur in the loo-year floodplain without a floodplain development pennit being obtained. Obtaining such a pennit requires compliance with engineering standards. In communities like Nucla that have approximate floodplain information, the engineering standards have been more general. Structures must be built with materials and techniques that "minimize flood damages". For communities that have detailed floodplain information, more specific regulations would apply. The use of engineering techniques presented in this report can help the Town to better regulate its approximate floodplain areas. Flood Insurance Flood insurance is made available to owners and occupants of floodprone property through the federal govemment's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The federally backed flood insurance is available to anyone in any community that participates in the NFIP. At the time of this publication, the Town of Nucla is not currently participating in the NFIP. Communities become participants by adopting floodplain regulations, adopting an NFIP map (if one exists) and agreeing to cooperate with the federal government in the local implementation of the NFIP. Property owners and occupants can then contact an insurance agent familiar with the NFIP (perhaps their own agent) and purchase insurance through that agent, much like they would purchase homeowner's insurance. Brochures and other information regarding the National Flood Insurance Program can be obtained by calling the Regional Office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Denver at (303) 235-4830. ,. . . . . , . . . Floodplain Manal!ement Alternatives Besides floodplain regulations and flood insurance, there are many actions that can reduce the risk of flood damage in a community. Generally these actions fall into two classes, structural actions and non,structural actions. Structural actions involve the construction of facilities to separate floodwaters from property that is at risk. They include construction of improved channels, enlargement of crossing structures (bridges and culverts), levees and floodwalls, reservoirs and ponds to detain floodwaters and diversion channels and pipes to direct waters elsewhere. Non-structural actions usually involve removing people and/or structures from the risk area without physically altering the floodplain. Actions include regulation of new development, the adoption and enforcement of specific building code requirements, floodproofing of existing buildings, relocation of structures to safer sites, acquisition of floodplain (including buildings) for open space or other appropriate land uses, public education, flood warning systems and emergency response programs. 6 -