Floodplain management
Climate change and floodplain management
Air & ClimateWashington is one of the most flood-prone states in the nation, with nearly 30 presidential disaster declarations related to flooding since 1953. We help local governments reduce flooding risks through planning and regulation in their special flood-hazard areas, also called “floodplains:"
- Through our floodplain management efforts, we help local governments meet development requirements under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and Washington floodplain management standards.
- In Puget Sound, we assist local governments as they work to comply with standards set to protect endangered species.
- We partner with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Washington Military Department's Emergency Management Division, and others to address flood-hazard challenges statewide.
Planning
Holistic flood hazard management is critical to address the delicate balance between flood risk reduction, resource protection, and land-use development. We developed guidance on Comprehensive Planning for Flood Hazard Management for communities undertaking this effort.
Comprehensive flood hazard management plans are intended to help communities identify, inform, prepare for, and mitigate flood hazards that affect their citizens, businesses, and infrastructure. These plans are a valuable tool to identify the risks and needs of communities requesting assistance through the Flood Control Assistance Account Program, Floodplains by Design, and other state and federal grant programs, as well as to prioritize projects undertaken by flood control zone districts.
Regulation
If you're planning to do any development work on a property located in a floodplain, contact your local government to obtain a floodplain development permit. Local governments are responsible for managing development in floodplains under the NFIP; however, some local governments have higher regulatory standards than the minimums of the NFIP, such as regulating a larger area than what is shown on Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Please check in with your local government's floodplain administrator before planning a project.
The NFIP provides flood insurance to homeowners and property owners. There are more than 36,000 flood insurance policies in Washington providing nearly $10 billion in insurance coverage. We help communities understand and comply with the requirements of the federal program — in addition to Washington floodplain management laws — to keep their flood risks lower.
In Puget Sound, we help local governments comply with the standards in the National Marine Fisheries Service NFIP Biological Opinion, which protects endangered species in the floodplain. For more about this effort, see FEMA's current guidance for local communities working to implement the insurance program while protecting federally listed endangered species.
Washington counties and cities engaged in planning under the state Growth Management Act are required to periodically review and update their Critical Areas Ordinances. These ordinances address frequently flooded areas to promote safety from floods (see Guidance for Floodplains - Critical Area Ordinance).
Related links
These are some great resources for local floodplain administrators:
Contact information
Amanda Richardson
Senior Floodplain Management Planner/State NFIP Coordinator
amanda.richardson@ecy.wa.gov
509-385-3076
Kayla Eicholtz
Northwest Region Floodplain Management Planner
kayla.eicholtz@ecy.wa.gov
425-429-4545
Alex Rosen
Southwest Region Floodplain Management Planner serving Grays Harbor, Mason, Lewis, Pacific, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties
alex.rosen@ecy.wa.gov
360-810-0027
Matt Gerlach
Southwest Region Floodplain Management Planner serving Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Jefferson, Pierce, and Skamania counties
matt.gerlach@ecy.wa.gov
360-584-2804
Sandra Floyd
Central Region Floodplain Management Planner
sandra.floyd@ecy.wa.gov
509-571-5679
Jason Radtke
Eastern Region Floodplain Management Planner
jason.radtke@ecy.wa.gov
509-934-0838