Water Resource Planning
Flooding, Fluvial Erosion Hazards, & River Corridors
Flooding, including flash flooding and inundation flooding, is a significant natural hazard event for Vermont and Windsor County. Flooding directly impacts mostly those properties located near or in flood prone areas. However, during severe events they can indirectly impact the whole community.
Flash flooding can occur near smaller upstream tributaries in mountainous terrain. It is characterized by intense, high velocity torrent of water moving downstream following a heavy rainstorm. Flash floods are very dangerous and destructive, causing severe land erosion and property damage
Inundation Flooding occurs in lower lying areas when water levels rise overflowing the banks of a river or lake. In hilly or mountainous areas, drainage from higher elevations flows to the lower reaches or valleys of a watershed causing these waters to rise quickly. Instances of inundation type flooding can occur long after precipitation has ended or when no precipitation has occurred, such as an extreme winter warming event causing river ice to melt resulting in ice jams obstructing the flow of river waters. These waters often carry with it debris which can block culverts or a bridge underpass, exacerbating flooding.
Fluvial Erosion is the erosion or scouring of riverbeds and banks during high flow conditions of a river. Fluvial erosion can be catastrophic when a flood event causes a rapid adjustment of the stream channel size and/or location. These areas are found within the River Corridor.
Flash flooding can occur near smaller upstream tributaries in mountainous terrain. It is characterized by intense, high velocity torrent of water moving downstream following a heavy rainstorm. Flash floods are very dangerous and destructive, causing severe land erosion and property damage
Inundation Flooding occurs in lower lying areas when water levels rise overflowing the banks of a river or lake. In hilly or mountainous areas, drainage from higher elevations flows to the lower reaches or valleys of a watershed causing these waters to rise quickly. Instances of inundation type flooding can occur long after precipitation has ended or when no precipitation has occurred, such as an extreme winter warming event causing river ice to melt resulting in ice jams obstructing the flow of river waters. These waters often carry with it debris which can block culverts or a bridge underpass, exacerbating flooding.
Fluvial Erosion is the erosion or scouring of riverbeds and banks during high flow conditions of a river. Fluvial erosion can be catastrophic when a flood event causes a rapid adjustment of the stream channel size and/or location. These areas are found within the River Corridor.
The Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) is the land in the floodplain within a community subject to a 1 percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year. This is mapped and determined by FEMA.
The River Corridor is the land area surrounding a river that provides for the meandering, floodplain, and the riparian functions necessary to restore and maintain the naturally stable or least erosive form of a river thereby minimizing erosion hazards over time. These areas are mapped and determined by the Agency of Natural Resources. |
FEMA has begun a new round of updates to Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). For Windsor County, these were last developed in 2007. This effort will ultimately update the Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the communities in the study areas. These are the basis of adopted flood hazard regulations and flood insurance requirements and risk rating. This new update will cover the entire state in stages and may become effective as soon as 2026.
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When the new maps go into effect, FEMA requires that town bylaws meet current standards for participation in the NFIP. If your bylaws are not sufficient, residents will no longer be able to purchase nor renew flood insurance through the NFIP. Now is the time to update your bylaws.
If you updated your bylaws to regulate development in special flood hazard areas (SFHA) or river corridors in the last 20 years, it’s still worth revisiting them to ensure they fit the current NFIP requirements, state guidance, and the flood resilience efforts in your Municipal Plan.
For more information on the new FIRMs, visit this webpage.
If you updated your bylaws to regulate development in special flood hazard areas (SFHA) or river corridors in the last 20 years, it’s still worth revisiting them to ensure they fit the current NFIP requirements, state guidance, and the flood resilience efforts in your Municipal Plan.
For more information on the new FIRMs, visit this webpage.
Resources for Towns
Flood Ready Vermont
Is your community flood ready? Visit the State of VT's Flood Ready website for community reports, online maps, planning guidance, and funding opportunities.
Flood Hazard Area Bylaws and River Corridor Bylaws
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation has prepared model regulations for communities to work with. They have been pre-reviewed by FEMA and meet or exceed the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. Model language is available on their Municipal Assistance webpage.
Flood Training
Several workshops, webinars, and online courses are available - click here to register online. The Making Room for Rivers site introduces basic concepts of river corridor and floodplain management.
Flood Mapping
Flood maps are one tool that communities use to know which areas have the highest risk of flooding. FEMA maintains and updates data through flood maps and risk assessments. Using a flood map, you can see the relationship between your property and the areas with the highest risk of flooding. There is no such thing as a “no-risk zone,” but some areas have a lower or moderate risk. The FEMA Flood Map Service Center (MSC) is the official online location to find all flood hazard mapping products.
Emergency Relief and Assistance Fund
The Emergency Relief and Assistance Fund (ERAF) Rule created financial incentives to adopt river corridor and floodplain protection bylaws. For more information, click here.
Watershed Management
The Department of Environmental Conservation's Watershed Management Division is responsible for protecting, maintaining, enhancing, and restoring the quality of Vermont's surface water resources. Visit their website to learn more about wetlands, rivers, lakes, stormwater, and wastewater.
Residents: What to Do Before a Flood
The best way to protect your home and belongings from flood damage is to purchase flood insurance. Here are a few other steps you can take to be ready for flooding: https://www.floodsmart.gov/first-prepare-flooding.
Is your community flood ready? Visit the State of VT's Flood Ready website for community reports, online maps, planning guidance, and funding opportunities.
Flood Hazard Area Bylaws and River Corridor Bylaws
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation has prepared model regulations for communities to work with. They have been pre-reviewed by FEMA and meet or exceed the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. Model language is available on their Municipal Assistance webpage.
Flood Training
Several workshops, webinars, and online courses are available - click here to register online. The Making Room for Rivers site introduces basic concepts of river corridor and floodplain management.
Flood Mapping
Flood maps are one tool that communities use to know which areas have the highest risk of flooding. FEMA maintains and updates data through flood maps and risk assessments. Using a flood map, you can see the relationship between your property and the areas with the highest risk of flooding. There is no such thing as a “no-risk zone,” but some areas have a lower or moderate risk. The FEMA Flood Map Service Center (MSC) is the official online location to find all flood hazard mapping products.
Emergency Relief and Assistance Fund
The Emergency Relief and Assistance Fund (ERAF) Rule created financial incentives to adopt river corridor and floodplain protection bylaws. For more information, click here.
Watershed Management
The Department of Environmental Conservation's Watershed Management Division is responsible for protecting, maintaining, enhancing, and restoring the quality of Vermont's surface water resources. Visit their website to learn more about wetlands, rivers, lakes, stormwater, and wastewater.
Residents: What to Do Before a Flood
The best way to protect your home and belongings from flood damage is to purchase flood insurance. Here are a few other steps you can take to be ready for flooding: https://www.floodsmart.gov/first-prepare-flooding.
Funding for Flood Resiliency and Hazard Mitigation
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding is opening for the major disaster declared for flooding in July 2023. Entities interested in applying do not need to have damages from that event. The best use of this funding is implementation projects, such as property buyouts and elevations, floodproofing, floodplain restoration, and upsizing bridges and culverts.
Flood Resilient Communities Fund (FRCF) was established by the Vermont Legislature under Act 74 with the intent of improving landscape and community resilience and reducing the future public safety and water quality impacts of flood hazards in Vermont, focusing on buyouts of flood-vulnerable properties. This program will prioritize projects that are not eligible for FEMA funding.
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program to states and local communities for mitigation activities. Funding can be used for Project Scoping, planning activities, and project implementation. The deadline to submit application to the State for BRIC 2023 has passed. The funding announcement for BRIC 2024 is expected in Fall 2024.
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program funds states, local communities, tribes, and territories to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The deadline to submit application to the State for FMA 2023 has passed. The funding announcement for FMA 2024 is expected in Fall 2024.
Flood Resilient Communities Fund (FRCF) was established by the Vermont Legislature under Act 74 with the intent of improving landscape and community resilience and reducing the future public safety and water quality impacts of flood hazards in Vermont, focusing on buyouts of flood-vulnerable properties. This program will prioritize projects that are not eligible for FEMA funding.
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program to states and local communities for mitigation activities. Funding can be used for Project Scoping, planning activities, and project implementation. The deadline to submit application to the State for BRIC 2023 has passed. The funding announcement for BRIC 2024 is expected in Fall 2024.
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program funds states, local communities, tribes, and territories to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The deadline to submit application to the State for FMA 2023 has passed. The funding announcement for FMA 2024 is expected in Fall 2024.
Additional information can be found by visiting our Flood Resiliency webpage.