Q. 16, Short EAF (Part 1) 100 Year Flood Plain
Environmental Assessment Form Workbook
Is the project site located in the 100 year flood plain?
Background Information
Floodplains are low-lying lands next to rivers and streams. When left in a natural state, floodplain systems store and dissipate floods without adverse impacts on humans, buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. Natural floodplains add to our quality of life by providing open space, habitat for wildlife, fertile land for agriculture, and opportunities for fishing, hiking, and biking.
Floodplains can be viewed as a type of natural infrastructure that can provide a safety zone between people and the damaging waters of a flood. But more and more buildings, roads, and parking lots are being built where forests and meadows used to be which decreases the land's natural ability to store and absorb water. Coupled with changing weather patterns, this construction can make floods more severe and increase everyone's chance of being flooded.
A 100-year floodplain is the area that would be inundated by the 100-year flood, better thought of as an area that has a one percent or greater chance of experiencing a flood in any single year. The 100-year floodplain is called a Special Flood Hazard Area and is shown on federal flood maps, known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM). On the FIRM, these areas are shaded and labeled with the letter "A" or "V" sometimes followed by a number or letter.
Answering the Question
The answer to this question will be automatically inserted on the PDF generated by the EAF Mapper.
If the project site is located in a 100-year floodplain, the EAF Mapper will check "yes" on a pdf of the SEAF. If mapping coverage is available and the project site is not located in the 100-year floodplain, the EAF Mapper will check "no" on the form.
Note that there is only partial coverage of 100-year flood mapping in New York State. If the project site is located in an area where there is no or partial coverage, then the EAF Mapper will check neither 'yes' nor 'no' and instead will add a message in the report found on the last page of the SEAF Part 1 pdf that says 'insufficient data to answer this question.' If this response is received (neither a "yes" nor a "no"), the applicant should contact the municipality in which the project is located for any additional information on floodplain mapping in the area.
If the applicant or project sponsor believes the answer filled out by the EAF Mapper is incorrect, supplemental information should be provided to the reviewing agency that explains that discrepancy.
If the EAF Mapper is not used, you can also view flood maps and other NFIP products through the FEMA Map Service Center.(link leaves DEC's website) Links on this page will allow you to view the National Flood Hazard Layer (link leaves DEC's website) using the online map viewer. You can also view scanned versions of FIRMs by using the search box in the upper left side of the page.
Your local town, village, or city hall should have copies of these flood maps. EPAs NEPAssit mapping tool (link leaves DEC's website) may also help you find floodplain information.
Answer no if there is no portion of the proposed project site within a 100 year flood plain.
Answer yes if there is any portion of the proposed project site within a 100 year flood plain.
Other Useful Links
The National Flood Insurance Program (link leaves DEC's website)
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