HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter supporting Flood Hazard Study of Bozeman Creek by DNRC
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Rick Hixson, City Engineer
Debbie Arkell, Director of Public Service
SUBJECT: Letter of Support for DNRC Flood Study of Bozeman Creek
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Consent
MEETING DATE: May 7, 2012
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the Mayor to sign a letter supporting the plan of the
Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to undertake a detailed flood hazard
study of Bozeman Creek and its tributaries.
BACKGROUND: The hydrologic and hydraulic analyses for the original City Of Bozeman
Flood Insurance Study were performed by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service (SCS) in 1979. A
number of minor updates to the study have been made since that time, primarily to extend the
study into what were extraterritorial areas and also to incorporate some new flooding
information, but the original study is still the primary source of data for our flood hazard maps.
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is applying for grant
funding to undertake a detailed flood hazard re-study of Bozeman Creek and its tributaries on the
City’s behalf. That application will be submitted in May of 2012. Once (and of course, if) the
grant is awarded, the City would need to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
with the DNRC, committing us to cooperate with and support the project. Our cooperation and
support would take the form of providing data and or staff resources as available.
57
A new hydrologic and hydraulic analysis of the Bozeman Creek corridor would be a boon to our
community. The final product would be new Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs) that
would meet FEMA and State standards and would more accurately reflect the floodplain
geometry that actually exists along Bozeman Creek and its tributaries.
UNRESOLVED ISSUES: None.
FISCAL EFFECTS: None.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission.
Attachments: Letter of Support
Report compiled on April 24, 2012
58
59