New York State Floodplain Management Program

New York State Floodplain Management Program
Name	New York State Floodplain Management Program
Caption	Floodplain mapping in New York
Jurisdiction	New York (state)
Parent agency	New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Established	Federal Emergency Management Agency era initiatives

New York State Floodplain Management Program The New York State Floodplain Management Program is a statewide initiative administered through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in coordination with Federal Emergency Management Agency, aimed at reducing flood risk across the Hudson River Valley, Long Island, the Mohawk River basin and other watersheds. The program integrates floodplain regulation, mapping, hazard mitigation, and community assistance to protect people and property, linking statewide policies with local implementation in counties such as Albany County, Suffolk County, Westchester County and cities including New York City and Buffalo, New York.

Overview

The program promotes compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program and supports state statutes including provisions of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation enabling laws, coordinating with federal statutes such as the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973. It addresses floodplain management along major corridors like the Hudson River and the Genesee River, in coastal zones adjacent to Atlantic Ocean tides, estuaries like the Long Island Sound, and inland flood-prone areas influenced by systems including Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River basin.

Legal and Regulatory Framework

State regulatory authority is exercised under statutes administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and interacts with municipal codes in counties such as Erie County and Onondaga County. The program aligns with federal requirements from Federal Emergency Management Agency for community participation in the National Flood Insurance Program and implements policy guidance tied to the Endangered Species Act where floodplain projects intersect with habitat for species listed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Legal instruments include state model ordinances, references to standards from the United States Geological Survey, and cross-references to case law arising in state courts such as the New York Court of Appeals.

Program Components and Activities

Core activities include floodplain mapping, regulatory review of development proposals in flood hazard areas, administration of floodplain permitting tied to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulatory framework, and technical assistance for localities like Town of Hempstead, City of Rochester, and Town of Brookhaven. The program provides guidance on building elevation standards consistent with Federal Emergency Management Agency flood insurance rate maps and promotes best practices from organizations such as the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Planning Association. It also supports nature-based solutions in partnership with entities like the New York Botanical Garden and the Sierra Club New York Chapter.

Coordination and Partnerships

Coordination occurs among state agencies including the New York State Department of Health, New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, as well as federal partners such as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and the United States Geological Survey. The program collaborates with municipal leaders in New York City, regional planning bodies like the Capital District Regional Planning Commission, watershed groups such as the Croton Watershed, environmental organizations like The Nature Conservancy in New York, and academic partners including Columbia University, Cornell University, and the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Funding and Grants

Funding streams include state appropriations administered through agencies such as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and federal grants from Federal Emergency Management Agency programs including Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program. The program leverages financing from the Community Development Block Grant program administered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for buyouts and elevation projects, and partners with foundations like the Rhodes Trust-adjacent philanthropic entities and regional development agencies such as the Empire State Development Corporation for resilience investments.

Floodplain Mapping and Data Management

Flood hazard mapping integrates data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Geological Survey hydrology models, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration sea level rise projections. The program maintains geospatial datasets compatible with systems used by the New York State GIS Program Office and supports local use of Geographic Information System tools in municipalities including Yonkers, New York and Schenectady, New York. It produces regulatory floodplain maps, advisory floodplain layers, and integrates climate projections from research centers at Columbia University and Cornell University to inform updates to fema flood insurance rate maps and state regulatory requirements.

Impacts and Outcomes

Outcomes include increased community participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, implementation of mitigation projects such as property buyouts and elevation retrofits in communities affected by events like Hurricane Sandy and Tropical Storm Irene, and improvements in floodplain mapping accuracy across river basins including the Hudson River and Genesee River. The program has facilitated resiliency investments in urban centers like New York City and Buffalo, New York, strengthened coordination with regional authorities such as the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and contributed to policy developments influencing flood risk reduction in counties including Westchester County and Nassau County.

Category:Flood control in New York (state)