New floodplain maps in effect

Last week, on Jan. 6, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued updated floodplain maps for portions of Austin. The new maps are the last step in a Watershed Protection Department study of the floodplains. In that study, the city looked at the floodplains for: Boggy Creek, Bull and West Bull creeks, Carson Creek, Cottonmouth Creek, Dry East Creek, Fort Branch, Shoal Creek and Tannehill Branch Creek. As a result, according to a press release from the city, about 2,200 properties are no longer in the FEMA floodplain, and about 2,400 now are. According to the press release, “The City received a $1.1 million grant from FEMA for a portion of the study costs with the remaining $2.0 million being funded by Watershed Protection through the drainage charge for a total study cost of $3.1 million. The results of the study were updated flood risk information that the City is using to enforce our floodplain management regulations and to design flood mitigation projects. In addition, FEMA is using the information for flood insurance purposes.”