Laserfiche WebLink
<br />. <br /> <br />FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT <br /> <br />Local Ordinance/Statutorv Reauirements <br /> <br />Communities that manage their floodplains in Colorado do so most often through the local <br />regulatory process. This requires a community to adopt an ordinance or regulation that sets forth <br />the perfonnance standards by which development will occur in identified flood hazard areas. <br />Nationwide and in Colorado, regulations are enforced within the area of the 100-year floodplain. <br /> <br />The basic requirement of these regulations is that new development and significant improvement of <br />existing development cannot occur in the 100-year floodplain without a floodplain development <br />permit being obtained. Obtaining such a pennit requires compliance with engineering standards. <br />In communities like Coal Creek that have no detailed floodplain infonnation with water surface <br />elevations, the engineering standards are general. Structures must be built with materials and <br />techniques that "minimize flood damages." In communities that have detailed floodplain <br />infonnation the standards require that residential buildings must be elevated above the 100-year <br />elevation and that non-residential buildings must be either elevated or floodproofed. Other <br />structures or projects (Le. bridges, culverts or fill) must be constructed in a way that minimizes the <br />potential increase in flood elevations they may cause. <br /> <br />. Flood Insurance <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Flood insurance is made available to owners and occupants of flood-prone property through the <br />.', <br />federal government's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP insurance is available <br />to anyone in any cornmunity that particip~tes in the NFIP. At the time of this publication, Coal <br />Creek was not participating in the NFIP. Communities become participants by adopting floodplain <br />regulations, adopting an NFIP map (if one exists) and agreeing to cooperate with the federal <br />government in the local imphlmentation of the N:FJ.P. J?TDpert)'-"p.wners and occupants can then <br />contact an insurance agent familiar with the NFIP (perhaps their own agent) and purchase insurance <br />through that agent, much like they would purchase homeowner's insurance. Brochures and other <br />infonnation regarding the' National Flood Insurance Program can be obtained by calling the <br />Regional Office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Denver at (303) 235- <br />4830. <br /> <br />Floodulain Mana2ement Alternatives <br /> <br />Besides floodplain regulations and flood insurance, there are many actions that can reduce the risk <br />of flood damage in a community. Generally these actions fall into'two classes; structural actions <br />and non-structural actions. Structural actions involve the construction of facilities to separate <br />floodwaters from property that is at risk. They include construction of improved channels, <br />enlargement of crossing structures (bridges and culverts), levees and floodwalls, reservoirs and <br />ponds to detain floodwaters and diversion channels and pipes to direct waters elsewhere. Non- <br />structural actions usually involve removing people and/or structures from the risk without <br /> <br />8 <br />