(A) Statutory authorization. The Indiana Legislature has in I.C. 36-7-4 granted the power to local government units to control land use within their jurisdictions. Therefore, the Board of Commissioners of Morgan County, Indiana does hereby adopt the following floodplain management regulations.
(B) Findings of fact.
(1) The flood hazard areas of Morgan County and the towns of Bethany, Brooklyn, and Paragon are subject to periodic inundation which results in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health, safety, and general welfare.
(2) These flood losses are caused by the cumulative effect of obstructions in floodplains causing increases in flood heights and velocities, and by the occupancy in flood hazard areas by uses vulnerable to floods or hazardous to other lands which are inadequately elevated, inadequately flood-proofed, or otherwise unprotected from flood damages.
(3) Benefits of FEH-based river corridors maps: A river corridor map shows the area a river needs to accommodate equilibrium conditions, specifically the meanders (stream length) and slope requirement of a stable stream channel. It also shows the land most vulnerable to erosion from flooding. Preventing further encroachment into the river corridor will minimize fluvial erosion hazards and property loss from flooding, enhance public safety, maximize channel stability, and maintain or improve water quality and habitat function.
(Ord. 7-3-7.2, passed 8-29-2014; Ord. passed 9-24-2014)