A. Statutory Authority: The Legislature of the State of Idaho, pursuant to Idaho Code sections 46-1020, 46-1023, and 46-1024, authorizes local governments to adopt floodplain management ordinances that identify floodplains and minimum floodplain development standards to minimize flood hazards and protect human life, health, and property. Therefore, the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Idaho does hereby ordain as follows:
B. Findings Of Fact:
1. The flood hazard areas of Washington County, Idaho are subject to periodic inundation that results in:
a. Loss of life and property;
b. Health and safety hazards;
c. Disruption of commerce and governmental services;
d. Extraordinary public expenditures for flood relief and protection; and
e. Impairment of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health, safety, and general welfare.
2. These flood losses are caused by structures in flood hazard areas, which are inadequately elevated, flood-proofed, or otherwise unprotected from flood damages, and by the cumulative effect of obstructions in floodplains causing increases in flood heights and velocities.
3. Local government units have the primary responsibility for planning, adopting, and enforcing land use regulations to accomplish proper floodplain management.
C. Statement Of Purpose: The purpose of this chapter is to promote public health, safety, and general welfare and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas by provisions designed to:
1. Protect human life, health, and property;
2. Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water purification and sewage treatment plants, water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, streets, and bridges located in floodplains;
3. Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of flood prone areas;
4. Minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control projects;
5. Minimize the need for rescue and emergency services associated with flooding, generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;
6. Minimize prolonged business interruptions;
7. Ensure potential buyers are notified the property is in an area of special flood hazard; and
8. Ensure those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions.
D. Objectives And Methods Of Reducing Flood Losses: In order to accomplish its purpose, this chapter includes methods and provisions to:
1. Require that development which is vulnerable to floods, including structures and facilities necessary for the general health, safety, and welfare of citizens, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction;
2. Restrict or prohibit uses which are dangerous to health, safety, and property due to water or erosion hazards, or which increase flood heights, velocities, or erosion;
3. Control filling, grading, dredging, and other development which may increase flood damage or erosion;
4. Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers that will unnaturally divert floodwaters or that may increase flood hazards to other lands;
5. Preserve and restore natural floodplains, stream channels, and natural protective barriers which carry and store floodwaters. (Ord. 82, 11-5-2018)