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Maine Floodplain Management and Mapping News
Forward to a Friend Vol. I, Issue 7
  November 2008
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In This Issue
Aroostook County LiDAR
Floodplain Managers Corner
High Resolution Topography
New Resource
Community Grants Deadline
York Takes The Lead
"Quote of the Day"
Newsletter Funding
Aroostook Considers Options for LiDAR Acquisition
by
Ken Murchison
Northern Maine Development Commission

National Guard Blocking Road Access
LiDAR System
 
NMDC noted an influx of inquires and communiqu�s regarding a FEMA proposal for a LiDAR project initially covering the Fish River from Eagle Lake to the confluence of the Fish River in Fort Kent and a subsequently a reduced area including the flood inundation area of the town of Fort Kent. As the conversation continued and interest spread to include several Federal, International (Canadian), State and local entities even larger projects, perhaps as large as individual sub-watersheds, entire watersheds and even County wide projects, and partnering were being discussed.
 
It was clear to NMDC at this point that it was time to assemble the interested parties and provide the forum for a "Telcon Handshake" so that all parties could express their potential participation in such a project. A conference call for 3:00 pm Friday October 31st was arranged to discuss the concept of LiDAR as it relates to the Original Fish River project proposed for the Fort Kent area, and the possibility of a larger LiDAR program in Aroostook County.

The conference was very successful and participants enthusiasticly embraced the opportunity to network and co-operate. An immediate collaborative effort was identified as well as long term possibilities.
 
Following is a list of stakeholders invited to join conference.
 
Holly Dominie, (FEMA)
Mike Geotz, (FEMA)
Kevin Merli, (FEMA)
Dan Walters, (USGS)
Mark Turner, (NOAA) National Weather Service
Skip Babineau, (USDA)
Elizabeth Barton, (MEMA)
Verne Ouellette, Aroostook County Emergency Management
Joe Young, MSPO
John Bannen, Town of Fort Kent
Roland Gagnon, Irving Woodlands
Robert Clark, (NMDC)
Alain Ouellette, (NMDC)
Denis Berube, (NMDC)


Remember This?
Fairbanks Bridge Flood of 87 Farmington

Do we have any not so grey beards who can identify this location?

We will publish the location in our next newsletter along with the names of anyone who can identify it.

If you have any flooding pictures you would like to contribute to our archives please send them along either by e-mail or regular parcel post to:
 Joseph Young
Maine State Planning Office
184 State St.
38 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0038.

We can scan the images and return your originals.
Last Months Picture

Felicia D. O'Clair
Maine Public Service Company
Was the first to identify last months picture just 9 minutes after it was sent out!
"Hey that is Fort Fairfield, Maine! Seen it many times!"
Jonathan Reed, Tony Levesque and John Butts also sent in identifications.

House Iced in Flood
This was taken during the 1994 Flood in Fort Fairfield. This is on Main Street.


Quick Links
:: 207-287-6077
House on Septic Tank
Visit FEMA 

Floodplain Managers Corner
by: Sue Baker, CFM
       Maine Floodplain Coordinator

Floodplain Management Handbook

In our recent CEO Workshops we handed out copies of a relatively new publication for floodplain managers. It provides a wealth of detailed information on the floodplain program and can be used as a study guide to enhance the knowledge and skills of local officials responsible for administering and enforcing local floodplain management regulations. It is also intended to broaden their understanding of floodplain management strategies that can be applied at the local level. Local officials and others can also use the study guide to help them study for the exam for the Association of State Floodplain Manager's (ASFPM) Certified Floodplain Manager designation. Guidance is included on how to handle many of the issues and information provided that will help floodplain managers explain the requirements to citizens of your community.

Normally the maximum number of copies you can get is five. We had to get special dispensation to get enough copies for all our attendees at the CEO workshops but you can order them directly on line. They are a great resource with the one caveat that you need keep in mind any areas where your ordinance is more restictive than the national program.

The handbook is free and only available in printed form which can be ordered from the FEMA Library.

Mars Hill Topographic Map
High Resolution Topography:
Regional Benefits
by Joe Young
Mapping Coordinator
Maine Floodplain Management Program

Northern Maine Development Commissions effort to start a regional approach for acquiring new topographic data could yield a very big cost savings for Aroostook County communities. The cost to individual communities for acquisition of this data is extremely high and the benefits of economies of scale are great when pursued on a regional basis.

Recent estimates for collecting data for only 20 square miles of area put the cost over $2,000 per square mile while estimates for state wide acquisition would be less than $100 per square mile. The Aroostook County working group efforts could potentially bring acquisition costs much closer to the statewide estimate.

NMDC's ability to bring together a wide variety of interests all focused on acquiring topographic data will be a tremendous asset in raising the funds necessary. Updating topographic data has universal benefits at all levels of government and for private industry. Hopefully NMDC will be succesfull in leveraging financial support from all sectors.
 


Historic BuildingHistoric Structures Bulletin Updated

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) gives special consideration to the unique value of
one of our Nation's most significant resources - its historic buildings, landmarks, and sites. It does
so in two ways.

First, the NFIP floodplain management regulations provide significant relief to historic structures. Historic structures do not have to meet the floodplain management requirements of the program as long as they maintain their historic structure designation. They do not have to meet the new construction, substantial improvement, or substantial damage requirements of the program. This exclusion from these requirements serves as an incentive for property owners to maintain the historic character of the designated structure (44 CFR �60.3). It may also serve as an incentive for an owner to obtain historic designation of a structure.

Secondly, a designated historic structure can obtain the benefit of subsidized flood insurance through the NFIP even if it has been substantially improved or substantially damaged so long as the
building maintains its historic designation. The amount of insurance premium charged the historic structure may be considerably less than what the NFIP would charge a new non-elevated structure built at the same level. Congress requires that the NFIP charge actuarial rates for all new construction and substantially improved structures (National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, 42 U.S.C. 4015).

A copy of the publication be downloaded or ordered from FEMA's web site. It is a little over 1.2 Meg so if you have a dial up connection you may want to have them send you a copy.

Joseph Young
Mapping Coordinator
Maine Floodplain Management Program
207-287-8051

Dollar_Sign
Grants Reminder
by Joseph Young, Mapping Coordinator
Maine Floodplain Mapping Program


Hazard Mitigation grants are due by the end of November to Maine Emergency Management Agency.

For more information on how to apply and what projects are eligible contact Joann Mooney 207-287-8051 or byemail.

Community Services Logo
York Takes the Lead
by Joe Young
Mapping Coordinator
Maine Floodplain Management Program

The Town of York Invested in High Resolution Topography in 2006 and has seen many benefits. The illustration to the right was provided by Brett Horr GIS Manager for the Town of York.

York's investment in high resolution topographic data has given the community a better sense of where floodplain maps are in error and hopefully compensate for FEMA Floodplain maps based on old low resolution topography. The green shading represents a floodplain boundary being overlaid onto new high resolution topography. It shows how fine tuning of the boundaries need to be made to match the reality of better topographic detail. The map is linked to York's GIS Map where you can look at floodplains and there relationship to the new high resolution topography.

Thank you Brett for your assistance!
 
Quote of the Day

"We must become the change we want to see." Ghandhi
 
House on Septic Tank
Newsletter Funding

This newsletter is funded with a grant provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)  EMB-2007-CA-0874