WSP05488

• File Number: 8030
• Description: Section D General Compact Issues - US Water Resources Council
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 8/1/1971
• Author: US Water Resources C
• Title: Regulation of Flood Hazard Areas to Reduce Flood Losses - Draft - Volume II Part VI - Without Appendices
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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COASTAL FLOOD PROBLEMS

4

6-120.

Local units now have primary responsibility to adopt

coastal regulations. Nevertheless, onlyia'small portion

of the communities with coastal flooding problems have

adopted special regulations to reduce losses. A combina-

tion of new, local regulations like those discussed in Chapter II is
needed:

(1) Building codes can

specify construction standards to withstand wind stresses,

define minimum flood protection elevations for coastal

structures, and establish structural flood-proofing standards.

Coastal communities have corr~only adopted building codes

which have wide potential in reducing losses,

(2) Zoning

re'Iulatio!~~ can define minimum protection elevations for
buildings and services in coast,al low hazard areas and

stringently restrict uses in high hazard areas with erosion

or wave action damage.

(3) Subdivision regulations can

prohibit subdivision of coastal flood and erosion hazard

areas unless the flood threat is overcome and the lands are

made suitable for intended purposes through placement of

fill for building sites, bulkheading, construction of sea~

walls, construction of erosion control structures or other

techniques.

(4) Miscellan~ou~~egul~tions such as dune

protection ordinances, ordinances to protect natural storm

beaches, ordinances controlling seawall construction and

bulkheading, ordinances defining structural setbacks from

the water line, special coastal conservancy zoning and

other regulations can reduce losses.