Flooding events in Seward do more than destroy personal property and endanger lives, flods also force land use policy decisions. Our Watershed Coordinator Matt Gray represents conservation interests at the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area. Matt also served on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Seward area Flood Task Force.
The general goal of the Task Force is develop ways to promote responsible development within all areas subject to flooding. The one probable end result will be to establish building requirements for the historic flood areas. I was really impressed with the open discussion and willingness to look at many other ways that the Task Force could address the overall goal. These include:
• a buy-out program for "problem" properties
• establish an enforcement system
• open new upland areas for development
• complete a scientific study of historic channel migration zones and develop a comprehensive flood management plan
• encourage FEMA to get their new maps out soon
• get DNR to drop their significant fees for gravel removal for flood control
• place a warning sign on roads leading to undeveloped flood prone areas
• get historic flood zone and/or warning notes on subdivision plats
• real estate disclosure statements
• develop better flood info packets for property owners
• increased road requirements in flood areas
The main problem is that people continue to build in historic floodways and that the FEMA maps do not address significant areas that rutinely flood. The areas that typically flood and are outside of FEMA mapping are completely unregulated. Areas within the FEMA maps do require some flood related building requirements but these are clearly insufficient.
Stoney Creek, October 2006