DR-4434-CA Public Notice 004
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FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE: Sonoma County Flood Elevation Program, Sonoma County, California | HMGP 4434-018-08
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to provide federal financial assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to Sonoma County (Subapplicant) in Sonoma County, California, to mitigate flood risks from the Russian River and its tributaries (proposed action). Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) and FEMA’s implementing regulations at Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 9, FEMA hereby provides interested parties with a notice of its final decision and an explanation of the alternatives that were considered.
The purpose of the proposed action is to reduce flood risks in the communities of Forestville, Guerneville, and Monte Rio. The proposed action consists of elevating six residential structures at least two feet above the base flood elevation. At each proposed location, the following would occur: 1) structural foundation work; 2) excavation that is limited to the foundation footprint and within an estimated 15 feet around the existing house; 3) construction staging in the driveway or adjacent yard; and 4) removal of trees and/or vegetation, if at the start of construction, they hinder the execution of the project work. If any tree over 10 inches in diameter is removed, Sonoma County's tree policy would be followed, which requires obtaining a permit and having an arborist on site.
The project area is depicted on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), Map Numbers 06097C0538E, 06097C0657E, 06097C0659E, and 06097C0685E, effective December 2, 2008. Four of the six properties, located on 14250 Lovers Lane, 20272 River Boulevard, 10055 Bohemian Avenue, and 8830 Trenton Road, lie within Zone AE, an area that has a 1-percent probability of flooding every year. The two other properties, 14999 Foothill Boulevard and 17770 Neeley Road, lie within Zone AE and shaded Zone X, an area of moderate flood hazard and has a 0.2-percent annual chance of flooding.
A map of the project area and its location within the floodplain is available for public inspection. Parties interested in receiving a copy of the map should contact the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer using contact information provided in this notice.
Two alternatives to the proposed action were considered: Alternative 1, No Action; Alternative 2: Structure Relocation. Alternative 1 would not provide further protection to the residential structures. This Alternative is not recommended because there remains a high risk of damage to these structures from reoccurring flooding associated with the Russian River and its tributaries. Alternative 2 included physically moving the structure. This Alternative is not recommended due to high costs associated with disassembling the building and the sewer and utility reconfiguration. FEMA has determined that the proposed project is the only practicable alternative available; therefore, the proposed action must be in the floodplain. The proposed action would have no significant adverse impact on the floodplain and would benefit the area by reducing the risk of flooding and flood damage. Therefore, measures to minimize impacts on the floodplain are not necessary. Sonoma County has declared that the proposed action conforms to local floodplain standards, and would be responsible for the management, construction, and maintenance of the proposed action.
Additional information about FEMA’s proposed action may be requested by writing the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer at FEMA, 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200, Oakland, California 94607, or fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov. All requests should be received no later than 15 days after publication of this notice. No action will be taken before this date.