Androscoggin floodplain mapping was initiated in the fall of 2009. FEMA contracted with STARR, LLC to complete new floodplain mapping for all Androscoggin county communities. The task order calls for completing new detailed studies for 140 stream miles, new model based approximate studies for 191 stream miles and re-delineation for 111 stream miles. It also included provision for acquisition of new high resolution topographic data for the county.
New topographic data acquisition was completed in the spring of 2010 and with the help of USGS funding completely processed. The data is now available on the USGS Center for LiDAR Information and Knowledge website. The Table below shows the most recent details on mapping progress.

Androscoggin Mapping Progress Report

Project Work Products	Start Date	Status
Outreach		On Going
Acquire Base Map	1/4/2010	Completed
Develop Topographic Data	1/11/2010	Completed
Perform Field Survey	1/11/2010	Completed
Perform Hydrologic Analysis	2/22/2010	Completed
Perform Independent QA Hydrologic Analysis
Develop Hydraulic Data	4/5/2010	Completed
Perform Independent QA Hydraulic Data
Perform Floodplain Mapping	7/8/2010	Completed
Perform Independent QA Floodplain Mapping	8/5/2010
Develop DFIRM Database	8/4/2010
Produce Preliminary Map Products	8/12/2010
Distribute Preliminary Map Products	10/10/2010
Independent QA of Preliminary Map Products	8/5/2010
Post Preliminary Processing	10/20/2010

 

 

Last Updated February 11, 2011
For official floodplain information and permitting purposes you should always visit your local town office and discuss your plans with the local Code Enforcement officer.

Content 3

November 4, 2011

The Cumberland County Mapping project began in 2004 and preliminary maps and flood insurance study report were released for public review in 2009. Several coastal communities challenged the methodologies and resulting base flood elevations in the study. As a result the normal adoption process halted pending review of the appeals and the County wide study was carried over into FEMA’s new Risk MAP program.
In early 2010 the State Planning Office, Maine Emergency Management and County Emergency Management agency staff members helped organize two meetings providing Federal Emergency Management Agency staff with a venue for explaining the new Risk MAP program to community leaders. FEMA staff encouraged communities to draft Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) to serve as a basis for improving the relationship between FEMA and the communities and promoting a more cooperative approach to floodplain mapping in their communities.  These MOU’s are designed to foster communication and understanding between FEMA and the community. Information in the MOU does include what the town and FEMA are providing for resources to improve floodplain mapping in the community.
In September 2011 FEMA signed a task order with a contractor ( STARR, LLC) to continue the mapping process. The new mapping schedule proposes to:

• Deliver new preliminary maps by             4/17/2013
• Approve final maps by                           1/18/2014
• Authorize an Effective map date of        7/17/2014

Content 5

Discovery for New Floodplain Mapping

Beginning in the October 2011 Floodplain Management Program staff will lead a process called Discovery to determine mapping needs in the county. Our goal is to reach as many individuals as possible who have an interest in floodplain mapping and engage at least one representative from each community.
The following list provides examples of the type of people we are hoping to engage.

• State or regional groups with a vested interest in water resources (e.g., levee boards, regional partners, conservation districts, watershed/river basin commissions, etc.);
• Geographic Information System (GIS) managers and specialists, community and regional planners, local and state water authorities, levee and dam owners, county land use departments, etc.;
• Community and state emergency management officials such as county offices of emergency management, fire districts, fire departments, fire chiefs, etc.;
• Building officials, local floodplain administrators, county and local engineering departments, highway departments, etc.;
• Members of Tribal Communities, as defined through consultation and coordination with Tribal Officials (see Section 4.2);
• Representatives of any other appropriate Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) (environmental groups, recreational groups, etc.);
• Economic development and commerce representatives; and
• Other key stakeholders as appropriate (e.g., developers, realtors, bankers, etc.).

It is important for community representatives to engage in a holistic view of flood risk management and mitigation of flood risk within their community.
Data Collection and Analysis
The types of information that will be collected include information about:

• The community planning capabilities, and the timing and level of any needed technical assistance for mitigation planning;
• The status of a local or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan;
• Current storm water activities such as culvert or ditch cleaning;
• Current outreach programs to residents about storm water issues;
• Storm water Best Management Practices, programs for reducing flows, etc.;
• Risk and flood study needs;
• Flooding issues, historical flooding, and declared flood disasters;
• Information regarding participation in the Community Rating System (CRS);
• Actionable projects identified in the Hazard Mitigation Plan;
• Community development plans and comprehensive plans;
• Prior proactive mitigation actions and planning efforts resulting in reduced losses;
• Interest in providing elevation data or pursuing partnership opportunities;
• Information about community priorities in order to focus mitigation discussions through knowledge of what is important to the public;
• Community-identified mitigation opportunities;
• Regional or state information about communities and flooding within a watershed, such as information from Community Assistance Visits (CAVs);
• Community correspondence, and other data that the FEMA Regional Office, State NFIP Coordinator, or SHMO possesses;
• Information from OFAs, NGOs, and other watershed stakeholders; and
• Data from the Mapping Information Platform (MIP), the FEMA library, etc.

Once this information is collected the Discovery Team will complete a thorough and thoughtful analysis of the data and information collected. This data and analysis will be compiled into a draft discovery report to facilitate preparations for the Discovery Meeting.
The goal here is to focus discussions on watershed characteristics, flood risk, flood hazard communications, hazard mitigation, and outreach. Communities may provide additional data and information at the meeting, and some data collection post-meeting may result from meeting discussions. However the focus of the Discovery Meeting will not be on data-collection.
Discovery Meeting
The objectives of the Discovery Meeting are to:

• Introduce the project team to the communities, Tribes, and other officials with areas of influence within the watershed.
• Review what the available data suggest about a watershed’s flood risk, confirm whether the information is accurate, and get watershed stakeholders’ perspectives about their flood risk. This will help determine whether a flood risk project is necessary and appropriate for the watershed.
• Bring community and Tribal officials and other stakeholders in the watershed together to promote a better understanding of flood risk in the watershed so that informed risk management decisions can be made and so that a conversation on a watershed vision can be initiated with communities.
• Introduce concepts/tools/techniques related to hazard identification, flood risk assessment, and mitigation planning.

• Emphasize the importance of the community’s or Tribe’s responsibility in keeping the public informed of flood risks and the relevance of those risks, identifying the public as a stakeholder in the process.
• Discuss and emphasize the importance of having a Hazard Mitigation Plan; how to prepare, maintain, and implement mitigation plans; and the importance of having an actionable mitigation strategy.
• Discuss the tools FEMA can offer to help communities and Tribes communicate flood risk to the public, support communities and Tribes in their outreach efforts, and discuss the best way to communicate with community and Tribal officials, citizens, and other stakeholders.
• Discuss possible flood risk project scope based on the draft Discovery Map, draft Discovery Report, and data and information collected.

Discovery Map
A draft Discovery Map will be created using the data and information collected during Discovery, and a final Discovery Map will be created to illustrate the decisions that were made at the Discovery Meeting. The draft Discovery Map will be provided to the communities and Tribes prior to the Discovery Meeting and presented at the Discovery Meeting as a facilitation tool.
Post Meeting Coordination
After the Discovery meeting the scope of any new studies will be prepared. Additional coordination will be required with those communities receiving new data to discuss anticipated changes in flood risk identified, depicted on floodplain maps and Flood Insurance Study reports.
In coordination with watershed stakeholders, the scope of the flood risk project will be refined, including a decision about the regulatory and/or non-regulatory products to be provided, the mitigation planning technical assistance that may be offered, and the communications and outreach assistance to be provided. This information will be documented in a Memorandum of Understanding to be developed in coordination with FEMA, communities and watershed stakeholders.
Time Frame for Completion
 The Discovery portion of the mapping project should be completed by May 31, 2012.

Kennebec County floodplain maps have been finalized. The effective date of the new maps is June 16, 2011. The updating process did not include new floodplain studies. However many adjustments were made to update maps with existing information contained in neighboring communities.
Previous map updates were done on a community by community basis. This process led to situations where base flood elevations and floodplain delineations established on a stream or lake in one town not being reflected on maps of a neighboring town. By updating maps on a county wide basis these discrepancies were corrected.
For official floodplain information and permitting purposes you should always visit your local town office and discuss your plans with the local Code Enforcement officer.

Discovery for New Floodplain Mapping

Beginning in the October 2011 Floodplain Management Program staff will lead a process called Discovery to determine mapping needs in the county. Our goal is to reach as many individuals as possible who have an interest in floodplain mapping and engage at least one representative from each community.
The following list provides examples of the type of people we are hoping to engage.

• State or regional groups with a vested interest in water resources (e.g., levee boards, regional partners, conservation districts, watershed/river basin commissions, etc.);
• Geographic Information System (GIS) managers and specialists, community and regional planners, local and state water authorities, levee and dam owners, county land use departments, etc.;
• Community and state emergency management officials such as county offices of emergency management, fire districts, fire departments, fire chiefs, etc.;
• Building officials, local floodplain administrators, county and local engineering departments, highway departments, etc.;
• Members of Tribal Communities, as defined through consultation and coordination with Tribal Officials (see Section 4.2);
• Representatives of any other appropriate Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) (environmental groups, recreational groups, etc.);
• Economic development and commerce representatives; and
• Other key stakeholders as appropriate (e.g., developers, realtors, bankers, etc.).

It is important for community representatives to engage in a holistic view of flood risk management and mitigation of flood risk within their community.
Data Collection and Analysis
The types of information that will be collected include information about:

• The community planning capabilities, and the timing and level of any needed technical assistance for mitigation planning;
• The status of a local or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan;
• Current storm water activities such as culvert or ditch cleaning;
• Current outreach programs to residents about storm water issues;
• Storm water Best Management Practices, programs for reducing flows, etc.;
• Risk and flood study needs;
• Flooding issues, historical flooding, and declared flood disasters;
• Information regarding participation in the Community Rating System (CRS);
• Actionable projects identified in the Hazard Mitigation Plan;
• Community development plans and comprehensive plans;
• Prior proactive mitigation actions and planning efforts resulting in reduced losses;
• Interest in providing elevation data or pursuing partnership opportunities;
• Information about community priorities in order to focus mitigation discussions through knowledge of what is important to the public;
• Community-identified mitigation opportunities;
• Regional or state information about communities and flooding within a watershed, such as information from Community Assistance Visits (CAVs);
• Community correspondence, and other data that the FEMA Regional Office, State NFIP Coordinator, or SHMO possesses;
• Information from OFAs, NGOs, and other watershed stakeholders; and
• Data from the Mapping Information Platform (MIP), the FEMA library, etc.

Once this information is collected the Discovery Team will complete a thorough and thoughtful analysis of the data and information collected. This data and analysis will be compiled into a draft discovery report to facilitate preparations for the Discovery Meeting.
The goal here is to focus discussions on watershed characteristics, flood risk, flood hazard communications, hazard mitigation, and outreach. Communities may provide additional data and information at the meeting, and some data collection post-meeting may result from meeting discussions. However the focus of the Discovery Meeting will not be on data-collection.
Discovery Meeting
The objectives of the Discovery Meeting are to:

• Introduce the project team to the communities, Tribes, and other officials with areas of influence within the watershed.
• Review what the available data suggest about a watershed’s flood risk, confirm whether the information is accurate, and get watershed stakeholders’ perspectives about their flood risk. This will help determine whether a flood risk project is necessary and appropriate for the watershed.
• Bring community and Tribal officials and other stakeholders in the watershed together to promote a better understanding of flood risk in the watershed so that informed risk management decisions can be made and so that a conversation on a watershed vision can be initiated with communities.
• Introduce concepts/tools/techniques related to hazard identification, flood risk assessment, and mitigation planning.

• Emphasize the importance of the community’s or Tribe’s responsibility in keeping the public informed of flood risks and the relevance of those risks, identifying the public as a stakeholder in the process.
• Discuss and emphasize the importance of having a Hazard Mitigation Plan; how to prepare, maintain, and implement mitigation plans; and the importance of having an actionable mitigation strategy.
• Discuss the tools FEMA can offer to help communities and Tribes communicate flood risk to the public, support communities and Tribes in their outreach efforts, and discuss the best way to communicate with community and Tribal officials, citizens, and other stakeholders.
• Discuss possible flood risk project scope based on the draft Discovery Map, draft Discovery Report, and data and information collected.

Discovery Map
A draft Discovery Map will be created using the data and information collected during Discovery, and a final Discovery Map will be created to illustrate the decisions that were made at the Discovery Meeting. The draft Discovery Map will be provided to the communities and Tribes prior to the Discovery Meeting and presented at the Discovery Meeting as a facilitation tool.
Post Meeting Coordination
After the Discovery meeting the scope of any new studies will be prepared. Additional coordination will be required with those communities receiving new data to discuss anticipated changes in flood risk identified, depicted on floodplain maps and Flood Insurance Study reports.
In coordination with watershed stakeholders, the scope of the flood risk project will be refined, including a decision about the regulatory and/or non-regulatory products to be provided, the mitigation planning technical assistance that may be offered, and the communications and outreach assistance to be provided. This information will be documented in a Memorandum of Understanding to be developed in coordination with FEMA, communities and watershed stakeholders.
Time Frame for Completion
 The Discovery portion of the mapping project should be completed by May 31, 2012.

Discovery for New Floodplain Mapping

Beginning in the October 2011 Floodplain Management Program staff will lead a process called Discovery to determine mapping needs in the county. Our goal is to reach as many individuals as possible who have an interest in floodplain mapping and engage at least one representative from each community.
The following list provides examples of the type of people we are hoping to engage.

• State or regional groups with a vested interest in water resources (e.g., levee boards, regional partners, conservation districts, watershed/river basin commissions, etc.);
• Geographic Information System (GIS) managers and specialists, community and regional planners, local and state water authorities, levee and dam owners, county land use departments, etc.;
• Community and state emergency management officials such as county offices of emergency management, fire districts, fire departments, fire chiefs, etc.;
• Building officials, local floodplain administrators, county and local engineering departments, highway departments, etc.;
• Members of Tribal Communities, as defined through consultation and coordination with Tribal Officials (see Section 4.2);
• Representatives of any other appropriate Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) (environmental groups, recreational groups, etc.);
• Economic development and commerce representatives; and
• Other key stakeholders as appropriate (e.g., developers, realtors, bankers, etc.).

It is important for community representatives to engage in a holistic view of flood risk management and mitigation of flood risk within their community.
Data Collection and Analysis
The types of information that will be collected include information about:

• The community planning capabilities, and the timing and level of any needed technical assistance for mitigation planning;
• The status of a local or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan;
• Current storm water activities such as culvert or ditch cleaning;
• Current outreach programs to residents about storm water issues;
• Storm water Best Management Practices, programs for reducing flows, etc.;
• Risk and flood study needs;
• Flooding issues, historical flooding, and declared flood disasters;
• Information regarding participation in the Community Rating System (CRS);
• Actionable projects identified in the Hazard Mitigation Plan;
• Community development plans and comprehensive plans;
• Prior proactive mitigation actions and planning efforts resulting in reduced losses;
• Interest in providing elevation data or pursuing partnership opportunities;
• Information about community priorities in order to focus mitigation discussions through knowledge of what is important to the public;
• Community-identified mitigation opportunities;
• Regional or state information about communities and flooding within a watershed, such as information from Community Assistance Visits (CAVs);
• Community correspondence, and other data that the FEMA Regional Office, State NFIP Coordinator, or SHMO possesses;
• Information from OFAs, NGOs, and other watershed stakeholders; and
• Data from the Mapping Information Platform (MIP), the FEMA library, etc.

Once this information is collected the Discovery Team will complete a thorough and thoughtful analysis of the data and information collected. This data and analysis will be compiled into a draft discovery report to facilitate preparations for the Discovery Meeting.
The goal here is to focus discussions on watershed characteristics, flood risk, flood hazard communications, hazard mitigation, and outreach. Communities may provide additional data and information at the meeting, and some data collection post-meeting may result from meeting discussions. However the focus of the Discovery Meeting will not be on data-collection.
Discovery Meeting
The objectives of the Discovery Meeting are to:

• Introduce the project team to the communities, Tribes, and other officials with areas of influence within the watershed.
• Review what the available data suggest about a watershed’s flood risk, confirm whether the information is accurate, and get watershed stakeholders’ perspectives about their flood risk. This will help determine whether a flood risk project is necessary and appropriate for the watershed.
• Bring community and Tribal officials and other stakeholders in the watershed together to promote a better understanding of flood risk in the watershed so that informed risk management decisions can be made and so that a conversation on a watershed vision can be initiated with communities.
• Introduce concepts/tools/techniques related to hazard identification, flood risk assessment, and mitigation planning.

• Emphasize the importance of the community’s or Tribe’s responsibility in keeping the public informed of flood risks and the relevance of those risks, identifying the public as a stakeholder in the process.
• Discuss and emphasize the importance of having a Hazard Mitigation Plan; how to prepare, maintain, and implement mitigation plans; and the importance of having an actionable mitigation strategy.
• Discuss the tools FEMA can offer to help communities and Tribes communicate flood risk to the public, support communities and Tribes in their outreach efforts, and discuss the best way to communicate with community and Tribal officials, citizens, and other stakeholders.
• Discuss possible flood risk project scope based on the draft Discovery Map, draft Discovery Report, and data and information collected.

Discovery Map
A draft Discovery Map will be created using the data and information collected during Discovery, and a final Discovery Map will be created to illustrate the decisions that were made at the Discovery Meeting. The draft Discovery Map will be provided to the communities and Tribes prior to the Discovery Meeting and presented at the Discovery Meeting as a facilitation tool.
Post Meeting Coordination
After the Discovery meeting the scope of any new studies will be prepared. Additional coordination will be required with those communities receiving new data to discuss anticipated changes in flood risk identified, depicted on floodplain maps and Flood Insurance Study reports.
In coordination with watershed stakeholders, the scope of the flood risk project will be refined, including a decision about the regulatory and/or non-regulatory products to be provided, the mitigation planning technical assistance that may be offered, and the communications and outreach assistance to be provided. This information will be documented in a Memorandum of Understanding to be developed in coordination with FEMA, communities and watershed stakeholders.
Time Frame for Completion
 The Discovery portion of the mapping project should be completed by May 31, 2012.

Oxford was the first county in Maine to have digitized maps available on line. Floodplain maps can be found on the FEMA web site or you can view paper copies in your local town office.

The maps became effective on July 7th 2009. New Base Flood Elevations (BFE) were established in four communities, Bethel, Hiram, Otisfield and Paris.

Communities with GIS capabilities can obtain floodplain data in digital form to use with other community mapping data to produce more informative maps.

If you are familiar with Google Earth and use that program you can link to the FEMA maps and display floodplain maps on Google Earth Platform. Instructions on how to do this can be found on the FEMA mapping information platform at this location.

For official floodplain information and permitting purposes you should always visit your local town office and discuss your plans with the local Code Enforcement officer.

Content 10

Content 11

Discovery for New Floodplain Mapping

Beginning in the October 2011 Floodplain Management Program staff will lead a process called Discovery to determine mapping needs in the county. Our goal is to reach as many individuals as possible who have an interest in floodplain mapping and engage at least one representative from each community.
The following list provides examples of the type of people we are hoping to engage.

• State or regional groups with a vested interest in water resources (e.g., levee boards, regional partners, conservation districts, watershed/river basin commissions, etc.);
• Geographic Information System (GIS) managers and specialists, community and regional planners, local and state water authorities, levee and dam owners, county land use departments, etc.;
• Community and state emergency management officials such as county offices of emergency management, fire districts, fire departments, fire chiefs, etc.;
• Building officials, local floodplain administrators, county and local engineering departments, highway departments, etc.;
• Members of Tribal Communities, as defined through consultation and coordination with Tribal Officials (see Section 4.2);
• Representatives of any other appropriate Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) (environmental groups, recreational groups, etc.);
• Economic development and commerce representatives; and
• Other key stakeholders as appropriate (e.g., developers, realtors, bankers, etc.).

It is important for community representatives to engage in a holistic view of flood risk management and mitigation of flood risk within their community.
Data Collection and Analysis
The types of information that will be collected include information about:

• The community planning capabilities, and the timing and level of any needed technical assistance for mitigation planning;
• The status of a local or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan;
• Current storm water activities such as culvert or ditch cleaning;
• Current outreach programs to residents about storm water issues;
• Storm water Best Management Practices, programs for reducing flows, etc.;
• Risk and flood study needs;
• Flooding issues, historical flooding, and declared flood disasters;
• Information regarding participation in the Community Rating System (CRS);
• Actionable projects identified in the Hazard Mitigation Plan;
• Community development plans and comprehensive plans;
• Prior proactive mitigation actions and planning efforts resulting in reduced losses;
• Interest in providing elevation data or pursuing partnership opportunities;
• Information about community priorities in order to focus mitigation discussions through knowledge of what is important to the public;
• Community-identified mitigation opportunities;
• Regional or state information about communities and flooding within a watershed, such as information from Community Assistance Visits (CAVs);
• Community correspondence, and other data that the FEMA Regional Office, State NFIP Coordinator, or SHMO possesses;
• Information from OFAs, NGOs, and other watershed stakeholders; and
• Data from the Mapping Information Platform (MIP), the FEMA library, etc.

Once this information is collected the Discovery Team will complete a thorough and thoughtful analysis of the data and information collected. This data and analysis will be compiled into a draft discovery report to facilitate preparations for the Discovery Meeting.
The goal here is to focus discussions on watershed characteristics, flood risk, flood hazard communications, hazard mitigation, and outreach. Communities may provide additional data and information at the meeting, and some data collection post-meeting may result from meeting discussions. However the focus of the Discovery Meeting will not be on data-collection.
Discovery Meeting
The objectives of the Discovery Meeting are to:

• Introduce the project team to the communities, Tribes, and other officials with areas of influence within the watershed.
• Review what the available data suggest about a watershed’s flood risk, confirm whether the information is accurate, and get watershed stakeholders’ perspectives about their flood risk. This will help determine whether a flood risk project is necessary and appropriate for the watershed.
• Bring community and Tribal officials and other stakeholders in the watershed together to promote a better understanding of flood risk in the watershed so that informed risk management decisions can be made and so that a conversation on a watershed vision can be initiated with communities.
• Introduce concepts/tools/techniques related to hazard identification, flood risk assessment, and mitigation planning.

• Emphasize the importance of the community’s or Tribe’s responsibility in keeping the public informed of flood risks and the relevance of those risks, identifying the public as a stakeholder in the process.
• Discuss and emphasize the importance of having a Hazard Mitigation Plan; how to prepare, maintain, and implement mitigation plans; and the importance of having an actionable mitigation strategy.
• Discuss the tools FEMA can offer to help communities and Tribes communicate flood risk to the public, support communities and Tribes in their outreach efforts, and discuss the best way to communicate with community and Tribal officials, citizens, and other stakeholders.
• Discuss possible flood risk project scope based on the draft Discovery Map, draft Discovery Report, and data and information collected.

Discovery Map
A draft Discovery Map will be created using the data and information collected during Discovery, and a final Discovery Map will be created to illustrate the decisions that were made at the Discovery Meeting. The draft Discovery Map will be provided to the communities and Tribes prior to the Discovery Meeting and presented at the Discovery Meeting as a facilitation tool.
Post Meeting Coordination
After the Discovery meeting the scope of any new studies will be prepared. Additional coordination will be required with those communities receiving new data to discuss anticipated changes in flood risk identified, depicted on floodplain maps and Flood Insurance Study reports.
In coordination with watershed stakeholders, the scope of the flood risk project will be refined, including a decision about the regulatory and/or non-regulatory products to be provided, the mitigation planning technical assistance that may be offered, and the communications and outreach assistance to be provided. This information will be documented in a Memorandum of Understanding to be developed in coordination with FEMA, communities and watershed stakeholders.
Time Frame for Completion
 The Discovery portion of the mapping project should be completed by May 31, 2012.

Content 13

Discovery for New Floodplain Mapping

Beginning in the October 2011 Floodplain Management Program staff will lead a process called Discovery to determine mapping needs in the county. Our goal is to reach as many individuals as possible who have an interest in floodplain mapping and engage at least one representative from each community.
The following list provides examples of the type of people we are hoping to engage.

• State or regional groups with a vested interest in water resources (e.g., levee boards, regional partners, conservation districts, watershed/river basin commissions, etc.);
• Geographic Information System (GIS) managers and specialists, community and regional planners, local and state water authorities, levee and dam owners, county land use departments, etc.;
• Community and state emergency management officials such as county offices of emergency management, fire districts, fire departments, fire chiefs, etc.;
• Building officials, local floodplain administrators, county and local engineering departments, highway departments, etc.;
• Members of Tribal Communities, as defined through consultation and coordination with Tribal Officials (see Section 4.2);
• Representatives of any other appropriate Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) (environmental groups, recreational groups, etc.);
• Economic development and commerce representatives; and
• Other key stakeholders as appropriate (e.g., developers, realtors, bankers, etc.).

It is important for community representatives to engage in a holistic view of flood risk management and mitigation of flood risk within their community.
Data Collection and Analysis
The types of information that will be collected include information about:

• The community planning capabilities, and the timing and level of any needed technical assistance for mitigation planning;
• The status of a local or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan;
• Current storm water activities such as culvert or ditch cleaning;
• Current outreach programs to residents about storm water issues;
• Storm water Best Management Practices, programs for reducing flows, etc.;
• Risk and flood study needs;
• Flooding issues, historical flooding, and declared flood disasters;
• Information regarding participation in the Community Rating System (CRS);
• Actionable projects identified in the Hazard Mitigation Plan;
• Community development plans and comprehensive plans;
• Prior proactive mitigation actions and planning efforts resulting in reduced losses;
• Interest in providing elevation data or pursuing partnership opportunities;
• Information about community priorities in order to focus mitigation discussions through knowledge of what is important to the public;
• Community-identified mitigation opportunities;
• Regional or state information about communities and flooding within a watershed, such as information from Community Assistance Visits (CAVs);
• Community correspondence, and other data that the FEMA Regional Office, State NFIP Coordinator, or SHMO possesses;
• Information from OFAs, NGOs, and other watershed stakeholders; and
• Data from the Mapping Information Platform (MIP), the FEMA library, etc.

Once this information is collected the Discovery Team will complete a thorough and thoughtful analysis of the data and information collected. This data and analysis will be compiled into a draft discovery report to facilitate preparations for the Discovery Meeting.
The goal here is to focus discussions on watershed characteristics, flood risk, flood hazard communications, hazard mitigation, and outreach. Communities may provide additional data and information at the meeting, and some data collection post-meeting may result from meeting discussions. However the focus of the Discovery Meeting will not be on data-collection.
Discovery Meeting
The objectives of the Discovery Meeting are to:

• Introduce the project team to the communities, Tribes, and other officials with areas of influence within the watershed.
• Review what the available data suggest about a watershed’s flood risk, confirm whether the information is accurate, and get watershed stakeholders’ perspectives about their flood risk. This will help determine whether a flood risk project is necessary and appropriate for the watershed.
• Bring community and Tribal officials and other stakeholders in the watershed together to promote a better understanding of flood risk in the watershed so that informed risk management decisions can be made and so that a conversation on a watershed vision can be initiated with communities.
• Introduce concepts/tools/techniques related to hazard identification, flood risk assessment, and mitigation planning.

• Emphasize the importance of the community’s or Tribe’s responsibility in keeping the public informed of flood risks and the relevance of those risks, identifying the public as a stakeholder in the process.
• Discuss and emphasize the importance of having a Hazard Mitigation Plan; how to prepare, maintain, and implement mitigation plans; and the importance of having an actionable mitigation strategy.
• Discuss the tools FEMA can offer to help communities and Tribes communicate flood risk to the public, support communities and Tribes in their outreach efforts, and discuss the best way to communicate with community and Tribal officials, citizens, and other stakeholders.
• Discuss possible flood risk project scope based on the draft Discovery Map, draft Discovery Report, and data and information collected.

Discovery Map
A draft Discovery Map will be created using the data and information collected during Discovery, and a final Discovery Map will be created to illustrate the decisions that were made at the Discovery Meeting. The draft Discovery Map will be provided to the communities and Tribes prior to the Discovery Meeting and presented at the Discovery Meeting as a facilitation tool.
Post Meeting Coordination
After the Discovery meeting the scope of any new studies will be prepared. Additional coordination will be required with those communities receiving new data to discuss anticipated changes in flood risk identified, depicted on floodplain maps and Flood Insurance Study reports.
In coordination with watershed stakeholders, the scope of the flood risk project will be refined, including a decision about the regulatory and/or non-regulatory products to be provided, the mitigation planning technical assistance that may be offered, and the communications and outreach assistance to be provided. This information will be documented in a Memorandum of Understanding to be developed in coordination with FEMA, communities and watershed stakeholders.
Time Frame for Completion
 The Discovery portion of the mapping project should be completed by May 31, 2012.

Discovery for New Floodplain Mapping

Beginning in the October 2011 Floodplain Management Program staff will lead a process called Discovery to determine mapping needs in the county. Our goal is to reach as many individuals as possible who have an interest in floodplain mapping and engage at least one representative from each community.
The following list provides examples of the type of people we are hoping to engage.

• State or regional groups with a vested interest in water resources (e.g., levee boards, regional partners, conservation districts, watershed/river basin commissions, etc.);
• Geographic Information System (GIS) managers and specialists, community and regional planners, local and state water authorities, levee and dam owners, county land use departments, etc.;
• Community and state emergency management officials such as county offices of emergency management, fire districts, fire departments, fire chiefs, etc.;
• Building officials, local floodplain administrators, county and local engineering departments, highway departments, etc.;
• Members of Tribal Communities, as defined through consultation and coordination with Tribal Officials (see Section 4.2);
• Representatives of any other appropriate Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) (environmental groups, recreational groups, etc.);
• Economic development and commerce representatives; and
• Other key stakeholders as appropriate (e.g., developers, realtors, bankers, etc.).

It is important for community representatives to engage in a holistic view of flood risk management and mitigation of flood risk within their community.
Data Collection and Analysis
The types of information that will be collected include information about:

• The community planning capabilities, and the timing and level of any needed technical assistance for mitigation planning;
• The status of a local or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan;
• Current storm water activities such as culvert or ditch cleaning;
• Current outreach programs to residents about storm water issues;
• Storm water Best Management Practices, programs for reducing flows, etc.;
• Risk and flood study needs;
• Flooding issues, historical flooding, and declared flood disasters;
• Information regarding participation in the Community Rating System (CRS);
• Actionable projects identified in the Hazard Mitigation Plan;
• Community development plans and comprehensive plans;
• Prior proactive mitigation actions and planning efforts resulting in reduced losses;
• Interest in providing elevation data or pursuing partnership opportunities;
• Information about community priorities in order to focus mitigation discussions through knowledge of what is important to the public;
• Community-identified mitigation opportunities;
• Regional or state information about communities and flooding within a watershed, such as information from Community Assistance Visits (CAVs);
• Community correspondence, and other data that the FEMA Regional Office, State NFIP Coordinator, or SHMO possesses;
• Information from OFAs, NGOs, and other watershed stakeholders; and
• Data from the Mapping Information Platform (MIP), the FEMA library, etc.

Once this information is collected the Discovery Team will complete a thorough and thoughtful analysis of the data and information collected. This data and analysis will be compiled into a draft discovery report to facilitate preparations for the Discovery Meeting.
The goal here is to focus discussions on watershed characteristics, flood risk, flood hazard communications, hazard mitigation, and outreach. Communities may provide additional data and information at the meeting, and some data collection post-meeting may result from meeting discussions. However the focus of the Discovery Meeting will not be on data-collection.
Discovery Meeting
The objectives of the Discovery Meeting are to:

• Introduce the project team to the communities, Tribes, and other officials with areas of influence within the watershed.
• Review what the available data suggest about a watershed’s flood risk, confirm whether the information is accurate, and get watershed stakeholders’ perspectives about their flood risk. This will help determine whether a flood risk project is necessary and appropriate for the watershed.
• Bring community and Tribal officials and other stakeholders in the watershed together to promote a better understanding of flood risk in the watershed so that informed risk management decisions can be made and so that a conversation on a watershed vision can be initiated with communities.
• Introduce concepts/tools/techniques related to hazard identification, flood risk assessment, and mitigation planning.

• Emphasize the importance of the community’s or Tribe’s responsibility in keeping the public informed of flood risks and the relevance of those risks, identifying the public as a stakeholder in the process.
• Discuss and emphasize the importance of having a Hazard Mitigation Plan; how to prepare, maintain, and implement mitigation plans; and the importance of having an actionable mitigation strategy.
• Discuss the tools FEMA can offer to help communities and Tribes communicate flood risk to the public, support communities and Tribes in their outreach efforts, and discuss the best way to communicate with community and Tribal officials, citizens, and other stakeholders.
• Discuss possible flood risk project scope based on the draft Discovery Map, draft Discovery Report, and data and information collected.

Discovery Map
A draft Discovery Map will be created using the data and information collected during Discovery, and a final Discovery Map will be created to illustrate the decisions that were made at the Discovery Meeting. The draft Discovery Map will be provided to the communities and Tribes prior to the Discovery Meeting and presented at the Discovery Meeting as a facilitation tool.
Post Meeting Coordination
After the Discovery meeting the scope of any new studies will be prepared. Additional coordination will be required with those communities receiving new data to discuss anticipated changes in flood risk identified, depicted on floodplain maps and Flood Insurance Study reports.
In coordination with watershed stakeholders, the scope of the flood risk project will be refined, including a decision about the regulatory and/or non-regulatory products to be provided, the mitigation planning technical assistance that may be offered, and the communications and outreach assistance to be provided. This information will be documented in a Memorandum of Understanding to be developed in coordination with FEMA, communities and watershed stakeholders.
Time Frame for Completion
 The Discovery portion of the mapping project should be completed by May 31, 2012.

November 4, 2011

Preliminary maps and flood insurance study report were released for public review in 2009. Several coastal communities challenged the methodologies and resulting base flood elevations in the study. As a result the normal adoption process halted pending review of the appeals and the County wide study was carried over into FEMA’s new Risk MAP program.
In early 2010 the State Planning Office, Maine Emergency Management and County Emergency Management agency staff members helped organize two meetings providing Federal Emergency Management Agency staff with a venue for explaining the new Risk MAP program to community leaders. FEMA staff encouraged communities to draft Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) to serve as a basis for improving the relationship between FEMA and the communities and promoting a more cooperative approach to floodplain mapping in their communities.  These MOU’s are designed to foster communication and understanding between FEMA and the community. Information in the MOU does include what the town and FEMA are providing for resources to improve floodplain mapping in the community.
In September 2011 FEMA signed a task order with a contractor (STARR, LLC) to continue the mapping process. The new mapping schedule proposes to:

• Deliver new preliminary maps by             3/30/2013
• Approve final maps by                          12/18/2013
• Authorize an Effective map date of        6/16/2014

 

June 2008

Scoping to determine the extent of mapping needs was completed in March of 2005. Since then work has continued in developing new ortho photo base maps and acquiring LiDAR (Link to description of LiDAR) topographic data for the coastal sections of the county of all communities from South Berwick to Old Orchard Beach, York County LiDAR Map. With this new data new hydraulic and hydrological analysis will be done in the coastal sections of towns of Kittery, Ogunquit, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Biddeford and Old Orchard Beach during the spring and summer of 2008. New floodplain maps will be developed for these communities and it is expected that there may be significantly higher base flood elevations determined from the new models.
Preliminary maps are expected to be available near the end of 2008 or beginning of 2009 with a projected completion of the Map Adoption process in 2010.
The Maine Geological Survey has been doing coastal erosion studies in southern Maine that provide provocative and interesting analysis of potential flooding changes based on rising sea levels predicted to occur as a result of global warming.