TITLE 14
FLOOD CONTROL
FLOOD CONTROL
CHAPTER 1
FLOOD PLANNING MANAGEMENT AND FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION
FLOOD PLANNING MANAGEMENT AND FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION
SECTION:
14-1-1: Statutory Authorization
14-1-2: Findings Of Fact
14-1-3: Statement Of Purpose
14-1-4: Methods Of Reducing Flood Losses
14-1-5: Definitions
14-1-6: General Provisions
14-1-7: Habitat Impacts
14-1-8: Administration
14-1-9: Provisions For Flood Hazard Reduction
14-1-10: Standards For Protection Of Structures
The legislature of the state of Washington has delegated the responsibility to local governmental units to adopt regulations designed to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizenry. Therefore, the city of Orting does hereby adopt the following floodplain management regulations. (Ord. 913, 9-28-2011)
A. Areas of Orting are subject to periodic inundation and channel migration which results in loss of life and property, health, and safety hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary public expenditures for protection and relief from flooding and channel migration, and impairment of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health, safety, and general welfare.
B. When floodplains and watersheds are developed without taking appropriate care and precautions, flood heights, frequencies, and velocities increase, causing a greater threat to humans, damage to property, destruction of natural floodplain functions, and adverse impacts to water quality and habitat.
C. Rivers, streams, lakes, estuarine and marine areas and their floodplains are major elements of healthy aquatic and riparian habitats and conveyance of floodwaters. If watersheds, rivers, streams, lakes, estuaries, floodplains and other systems are not viewed holistically as biological and geomorphologic units, it can lead to serious degradation of habitat and increased flood hazards to people and human development.
D. Over the years, natural processes have evolved that manage floodwaters and channel flows in the most effective and efficient manner. Disruption of these processes by altering land cover, stream channels, wetlands, and other water bodies leads to increased flood hazards, loss of life and property, threats to public health, and loss of habitat. (Ord. 2017-1006, 2-22-2017)
It is the purpose of this chapter to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare, and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas by provisions designed to:
A. Protect human life, health, safety and welfare from the dangers of flooding;
B. To the extent possible, retain the natural channel, shoreline, and floodplain creation processes and other natural floodplain functions that protect, create, and maintain habitat for threatened and endangered species;
C. Prevent or minimize loss of hydraulic, geomorphic, and ecological functions of floodplains and stream channels;
D. Minimize expenditure of public money and costly flood control projects;
E. Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;
F. Minimize prolonged business and governmental interruptions;
G. Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, roadways, and bridges and culverts located in areas of special flood hazard;
H. Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of areas of special flood hazard so as to minimize future flood blight areas;
I. Ensure that potential buyers are notified that property is in an area of special flood hazard;
J. Ensure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions;
K. Qualify the city for participation in the national flood insurance program, thereby giving citizens and businesses the opportunity to purchase flood insurance;
L. Maintain the quality of water in rivers, streams, lakes, estuaries, and marine areas and their floodplains so as to protect public water supplies, areas of the public trust, and wildlife habitat protected by the endangered species act;
M. Retain the natural channel, shoreline, and floodplain creation processes and other natural floodplain functions that protect, create, and maintain habitat for threatened and endangered species; and
N. Prevent or minimize loss of hydraulic, geomorphic, and ecological functions of floodplains and stream channels. (Ord. 2017-1006, 2-22-2017)
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