FEMA Zone A
FEMA Zone A
(OP)
We have a project that is in a FEMA Zone A floodplain. However, it is no more than a drainage swale running through an agricultural field. The Zone A area continues up to the beginning of the swale. The uppermost portion of this swale has a drainage area of less than 4 acres, This can't be a FEMA floodplain. Is there a minimum drainage area in determining the FEMA Zone A boundary? All information I've looked at does not give a minimum drainage area.





RE: FEMA Zone A
If you are in an A FIRM Zone, I don't think there has been a Detailed Study done by FEMA. Therefore, you are free to delineate one. A licensed engineer can model the reach. He or she will have to file a Letter of Map Change (LOMC, or LOMR) to make it legal with the Corp. But you may not even have to do that for local development criteria. You may just be able to delineate it.
Beware, doing this delineation could effectively (and legally) "rezone" the area as a Flood District, IF your local ordinance allows for that. This could backfire on you and make your development criteria more strict.
RE: FEMA Zone A