FEMA Map Modernization efforts enter their fifth year.
Oxford county towns will be the first in Maine to have digital floodplain maps available to them. Camp Dresser and McKee (CDM) a contractor working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has completed preliminary mapping and is asking for comments from the communities in Oxford County.
In the picture above Amol Daxikar from CDM and Denise Lavalle from FEMA are discussing mapping issues with Oxford county community official Barry Burten at the map meeting in Mexico Maine. Other counties in the process of having maps improved are Kennebec, York and Cumberland.
We will be improving our website over the next few weeks to include the latest information on map modernization efforts in Maine. In the interim you may contact Joe Young for more information. If you would like to know more about the FEMA Map Modernization project please go to the FEMA website.
|
New Floodplain Ordinances to be Required in all Oxford County Towns
If all goes as planned all communities in Oxford county will be required to update their floodplain ordinances by the middle of 2009. As the approval process for the revised maps continues it is a good idea for communities to begin the process of redrafting their ordinances to reflect any changes in the new maps or to bring their ordinance in line with the current models. Please contact Maine Floodplain Management staff if you would like to begin the process. The staff can help with customization of the ordinance to fit the specific needs of your community. For assistance please contact Joe Young.
|
Elevation Data Getting Renewed Interest
Since
the key foundational requirement for accurate floodplain maps is good
high resolution topographic data, the Joint Standing Committee on
Natural Resources has requested the
State Planning Office to coordinate with seven other State Agencies to
identify data gathering activities in each agency and to identify
a process for collaboration amongst the agencies to acquire data that
will meet Floodplain mapping needs. Unfortunately, within the State,
high resolution topographical data is not readily available. Outside of
a few cities, towns and special study areas, agencies must rely on old
USGS maps with 10 or 20 foot contours.
In
addition to the Committee's interest, the Maine GIS Stakeholders Group
has also recognized the need for better data and has formed a Working
Group to study the States needs and report back to the Stakeholders.
The working group and the State Planning
Office will work to satisfy the Committees request and complete its assigned
task of identifying high resolution elevation data needs of state agencies, recommend resolution and format specifications, and list applicable uses for the data.
The
working group is expected to complete its mission by the end of the
year. For more information contact Janet Parker at the State Planning
Office by e-mail or by phone 207-287-9981
|
