1995-04-27_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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ntr 1 5 T page „ i r s y Joe ibson, Environmental evie, Planning Coordination The flooding across southern Minnesota in 1993 reminded everyone that flooding is still o severe problem. tt is estimated that average annual flood damages in Minnesota are S60-70 million. The 1993 flood alone is estimated to have caused almost S500 million in damages in Minnesota. it will never be possible to eliminate all flood damages in the state, but there ore many`areos where flood damages can be reduced or eliminated. The Corps of Engineers developed some figures on the damages prevented by completed COE flood control projects during the 1993 floods-S2.8 m(Ilion in Henderson (the state assisted Henderson with the non-federal share of project costs), S63 million in Mankato, S330 thousand in South St. Paul, and 54.6 million in St. Paul. This is over S70 million in damages prevented in just four communities!! ff these structural and non-structuroi measures are so' effective, then why are flood damages still so high? The onswer is that most of these projects and programs have only been ~npiemented during the past 20 years. There are a large number of homes and businesses (maybe 17,000) that were built before floodplain zoning regulations were in place. Many bridges, culverts and stormwater systems built before the mid-1970's were designed to handle 10, 20 or 50 year floods-not the big floods that couse so much damage. Cropland damage will always be high from summer floods. There is less federal assistance for flood control projects. Federal budgets have been reduced, priorities hove changed, project planning and implementation take a long time, and local interests are expected to pay a much larger share of the cost. (Cost-share is now 7596 federal/25X non- federal. tt used to be 9096 federal/1096 non- federal.) What is the State of Minnesota doing about the flooding situation? The Stole has established two excellent programs to prevent flood damages. In 1969 the Floodplain Management Act was passed fM.S. 103F). This law requires the DNR to help local governments administer and enforce local floodploin zoning ordinances. These ordinances require that new homes and businesses be protected from the 100 year. flood. This is usually accomplished by elevating the structure on fill so that flood water from these large floods cannot come into contact with the structure. This program has been very effective where it is properly administered. Locos governments are to be commended for properly administering these ordinances. >rtn of ankato hold:back - In 1987 the Flood Crory dik®s. Hazard Mitigation Grant Assistance Program was established in M.S. 103F.161. This program allows the DNR to make • 5096 state/50961ocal cost-shoring grants to study and implement measures that will reduce or eliminate flood damages in the future. The M Pleese turn to e l 2...