CHAPTER VII

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

The success of this Master Plan Update will be in its implementation.  Each of the 11 subsections in Chapter III: MRBC Programs identified recommendations for implementation.  This Implementation Plan summarizes the recommendations into the following 3 categories:

1. Policy related recommendations,
2. Program related recommendations, and
3. Project related recommendations.

Within each of these categories, implementation is further divided based on the role of MRBC.  These are as follows:

1. Implementation tasks to be lead by MRBC,
2. Implementation tasks to be facilitated or coordinated by MRBC, and
3. Implementation tasks to be assisted by, encouraged by, or publicized by MRBC.

Each recommendation is referenced back to the subsection within which it was originally discussed if clarification or additional information is needed.   The following recommendations also include a suggested timeline, funding, and responsible entity for successful implementation.  The timeline is based on:

• Ongoing
• Short-term Implementation 3-5 years
• Medium-term Implementation 5-10 years
• Long-term Implementation 10-15 years

Suggested sources of funding include operating budget or grant funded.  The responsible partnering entity has also been identified along with the timeline and funding source in a pair of “brackets” in front of each recommendation.

1)  POLICY RELATED RECOMMENDATIONS

Policy related recommendations focus on local planning, code enforcement, and ordinances to reduce social, physical, and economic impact of flooding. 

a)  Implementation tasks to be lead by MRBC:

• Utilize ASFPM’s Building Public Support for Floodplain Management: A Catalog of Good Practices to increase awareness and support for better floodplain management. (Chapter III-1) [short-term implementation; operating budget; MRBC]
  • Secure copies (electronic and paper)
  • Distribute to local elected official, decision-makers, and local media
  • Post electronic copy on MRBC webpage
    
    
• Work with the individual Floodplain Administrators from each of the 14 NFIP communities to adopt a unified floodplain ordinance.  Special emphasis should be given to DeKalb County, Adams County, City of Decatur, and City of Garrett since they do not have compensatory storage language in their current ordinance. (Chapter III-1)  [short-term implementation; operating budget; MRBC]
  
  
• Continue to provide technical and financial assistance to the NFIP communities that adopt model Floodplain Ordinance and Stormwater Management Ordinance language. (Chapter III-1 and Chapter III-2)  [ongoing; operating budget; MRBC]
  
  
• Make an editable version of these Model Ordinance and Standards documents available to each interested community for them to customize these documents to match their needs. (Chapter III-2)  [short-term implementation; operating budget; MRBC]
  
  
• Monitor status and degree of enforcement of Floodplain Ordinance, Stormwater Ordinance, and Technical Standards by communities within the Maumee River Basin, especially with respect to accounting for accumulative impact and No Adverse Impact (NAI) of new development. (Chapter III-1 and Chapter III-2)  [ongoing; operating budget; MRBC] 
  
  
• Conduct seminars to familiarize local interest groups with the Model Stormwater Management Ordinance and Technical Standards Manual; ½-day seminars for developers, homebuilders and realtors; full-day seminars for architects, engineers and surveyors. (Chapter III-2) [ongoing; grant; MRBC]
  • Compile list of participants.
  • Select date, time, venue, and distribute invitations.
  • Prepare for and conduct seminar(s).
    
    
• Focus a portion of MRBC’s Public Outreach and Education Program on educating the communities’ planning and building officials of the importance of enforcing the NFIP requirement of performing a Detailed Flood Insurance Study when either the total number of lots is greater than or equal to 50 and/or the total area being developed is greater than or equal to 5 acres. (Chapter III-3)  [ongoing; grant; MRBC]

b)  Implementation tasks to be facilitated or coordinated by MRBC:

• Assist communities in establishing a local funding mechanism for acquisition of flood prone structures. (Chapter III-7)  [ongoing; grant; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]
  
  
• Coordinate with local community officials and departments to leverage efforts that allow programs to complement each other and accomplish more for the dollar.  For instance, one area may be qualified to easily receive federal dollars in which case, the local fund administrator would not need to focus on that area.  Or, local dollars may be able to purchase the last remaining structures in an area for which federal dollars can’t be obtained. (Chapter III-7)  [ongoing; operating budget; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]
  
  
• Coordinate with and assist communities in obtaining and cataloging aerial photography; collecting pertinent rainfall and other hydrology related data; and document high water marks after major flood event.  Compare with FIRMs to determine any significant discrepancies (Chapter III-11) [ongoing; grant; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]
  • Identify contacts at local, state, and federal agencies that document major flood event (aerial photography, rainfall data, and high water marks).
  • For each NFIP community, facilitate discussions among identified agencies, local leaders, and floodplain administrators to ensure that copies of pertinent information and data for major flood event are provided to the local office that houses the floodplain administrator.
  • Work with local floodplain administrator to document in GIS the extent of flooding and compare with FIRMs.  Document discrepancies.

c)  Implementation tasks to be assisted by, encouraged by, or publicized by MRBC:

• Encourage all communities within the Maumee River Basin to adopt the MRBC Model Floodplain Ordinance, Model Stormwater Management Ordinance and Stormwater Technical Standards Manual.  Initial emphasis should be given to DeKalb County, Adams County, Noble County, Steuben County, and Wells County as the communities within a County most often would follow the County’s lead in floodplain and stormwater matters. (Chapter III-1 and Chapter III-2) [medium-term implementation; operating budget; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]
  • Meet with Floodplain Administrators, Stormwater Managers, and elected officials to discuss the benefits of adopting the MRBC Model Ordinances and Technical Standards.   
  • Working with these same individuals, set a timeline for amending existing ordinances, local adoption, and procedure for accepting future MRBC updates.
    
    
• Utilize IDNR’s Local Floodplain Permitting Procedures (Step-by-Step Guide and Flowchart). (Chapter III-1) [short-term implementation; operating budget; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]
  • Work with Floodplain Administrators to customize and integrate IDNR’s Floodplain Permitting Procedures into local floodplain permitting procedures
  • Annually check with Floodplain Administrators to ensure procedures are working effectively.
    
    
• Contact additional communities/organizations about becoming a regional partner in the City of Fort Wayne’s Early Flood Warning System.  Suggested entities include but are not limited to DeKalb County Department of Homeland Security, the Towns of Leo, Cedarville, and New Haven, and the DeKalb Eastern School Corporation (due to location of a school in the St. Joseph River floodplain). (Chapter III-4) [long-term implementation; operating budget; identified NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]
  • Compile a list of potential participants and arrange to meet with them individually or collectively to discuss the benefits of becoming regional partners in the City of Fort Wayne’s Early Flood Warning System.
  • Working with the City of Fort Wayne staff and/or a contractor, develop and implement a Regional Early Flood Warning System.
    
    
• Assist the USGS in publicizing the ability to sign up for the USGS river gauge level notifications.  Registration for this capability can be done by contacting the USGS.  Those who should be informed of this capability include all EMA Directors, Floodplain Administrators, Planning Directors and other agency heads. (Chapter III-4) [short-term implementation; operating budget; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]
  
  
• Ensure all EMA Directors, Floodplain Administrators, Planning Directors and other agency heads are aware of the AHPS website capabilities and the USGS gauge flood level automatic warning capabilities.  (Chapter III-4) [ongoing implementation; operating budget; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]
  
  
• Explore the use of nonstructural tools to reduce or eliminate stream maintenance including: comprehensive land use planning; zoning, subdivision, land development ordinances; elevation; building code; floodplain management ordinances; flood forecasting, warning, evacuation or emergency preparedness, agriculture open space preservation, and stormwater management in the Maumee River Basin. (Chapter III-6) [long-term implementation; grant; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]
  • Work with city, town, and county staff to identify opportunities within existing plans, codes, and ordinances to reduce or eliminate stream maintenance.
  • Working with these same individuals, set a timeline for amending existing plans, codes, and ordinances.
    
    
• Assist and encourage each community in the basin to establish post flood damage assessment processes that include the items in the Damage Assessment Process Template presented in this chapter. (Chapter III-11) [long-term implementation; grant; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]
  • Identify local entities involved in post flood damage assessment (may vary from among NFIP communities)
  • Present Damage Assessment Process Template to these entities.
  • Assist in the development, coordination, and adoption of individual Damage Assessment Processes for each NFIP community.
    
    
• In an effort to prevent additional future mitigation needs, MRBC should encourage communities to avoid extensions of water and/or sewer lines to areas in the floodplain, unless the areas are properly protected from flooding and will not need flood fight efforts during a flood event.  (Chapter III-7)

2)  PROGRAM RELATED RECOMMEDATIONS

Program related recommendations emphasize the value of education, building partnerships, collaboration among a variety of entities, and participation in local and regional watershed groups.

a)  Implementation tasks to be lead by MRBC:

• Continue to build partnerships with communities upstream, in the Ohio portion of the Maumee River Basin to encourage them to adopt more restrictive standards as they apply to floodplain and stormwater management. (Chapter III-9)  [ongoing implementation; operating budget; MRBC]
• Identify and meet with local officials in Ohio NFIP communities in the Maumee River Basin to discuss benefits of floodplain and stormwater management.
• Distribute editable versions of the MRBC Model Ordinances available for these communities to consider adopting.

• Continue to educate landowners with wetlands about the social, physical, and economic value to preserving wetlands as a flood mitigation measure and alternative land use. (Chapter III-5) [ongoing implementation; operating budget; MRBC]

• Expand distribution of the MRBC newsletter “The Mitigator” to targeted audiences including: developers, builders, architects, engineers, surveyors, appraisers, realtors, insurance agents, and community officials with the Maumee River Basin. (Chapter III-9) [ongoing implementation; operating budget; MRBC]
• Compile and maintain mailing list for distribution of “The Mitigator”.

• MRBC should work to encourage local communities to expand the annual Flood Safety Awareness Week beyond the issuance of proclamations. Communities should be encouraged to host activities / programs on Flood Damage Reduction throughout the week. (Chapter III-9) [medium-term implementation; grant; MRBC]
• Identify local organizers of Flood Safety Awareness Week (typically 3rd week in March each year) in the NFIP communities in the Maumee River Basin.
• Work with local Floodplain Administrators to develop activities and/or programs during that week to engage the public and increase awareness.

• MRBC should work to convince local school corporations to incorporate “Floodplain Management” into their 4th grade curriculum. (Chapter III-9) [medium-term implementation; grant; MRBC]
• Obtain teaching materials developed by DNR Education Center and St. Joseph Watershed Initiative
• Lobby State Board of Education to integrate Floodplain Management into school curriculum.
• Encourage Floodplain Administrators to voluntarily visit 4th grade classes in each NFIP community to conduct a lesson on Floodplain Management (ideally during Flood Safety Awareness Week).
  
  
• Encourage building owners in the flood hazard area (including behind levees)  to obtain flood insurance to protect themselves from flood-related losses (Chapter III-9).
  • Work with the Floodplain Administrator for each NFIP community to identify structures in the flood hazard area without flood insurance policies.
• Distribute public education materials on flood insurance to the owners of the identified structures to encourage them to obtain a flood insurance policy.
  

b)  Implementation tasks to be facilitated or coordinated by MRBC:

• Continue to network with, and collaborate on, conservation projects with local SWCD, NRCS, ACRES Land Trust, Inc., Blue Heron Ministries, Trillium Land Trust, Nature Conservancy, Wood-Land-Lakes RC&D, US Fish & Wildlife, for example. (Chapter III-8) [ongoing implementation; operating budget; identified or similar entities with MRBC assistance]

• Continue to build relationships and collaborate with public and private entities to increase awareness, reduce flood losses, and improve water quality. (Chapter III-9) [ongoing implementation; operating budget; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]

• Where appropriate, collaborate on educational materials to meet needs of MRBC, CRS, and Phase II.  To prevent confusion among recipients, this may work better during a seminar or training class rather than in printed material. (Chapter III-9) [ongoing implementation; grant; all CRS and Phase II communities with MRBC assistance]

• Continue to be represented on the St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative’s (SJRWI’s) Board of Directors by its Executive Director.  MRBC’s participation will ensure the promotion of programs/projects that have dual benefits that address water quality and water quantity issues. (Chapter III-10) [ongoing implementation; operating budget; St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative with MRBC assistance]

• Actively engage in the formation of a watershed group on the Maumee River and be represented on such a Board of Directors when one is formed. (Chapter III-10) [medium-term implementation; grant; all NFIP and interested groups in Maumee River Watershed with MRBC assistance]

• MRBC’s Executive Director should represent the Commission at the St. Marys River Watershed Initiative meetings.  When this group formalizes, MRBC should be represented on the Board of Directors as it is with the SJRWI. (Chapter III-10) [ongoing implementation; grant; St. Marys River Watershed Imitative with MRBC assistance]

c)  Implementation tasks to be assisted by, encouraged by, or publicized by MRBC:

• Create a GIS layer and/or a database that would keep track of complaints, issued LOMA’s, changed conditions, or other indicators that would help in the evaluation of which stream segments in the watershed may need to be added to each Category described under Floodplain Mapping Program. (Chapter III-3) [long-term implementation; grant; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]
• Work with local Floodplain Administrators and GIS Coordinators to establish procedure for tracking this information and the best method to share it with the MRBC for grants, program enhancements, stream studies, etc.

• Continue to assist communities with Stream Obstruction Removal by: providing technical assistance; providing coordinating assistance; participating in annual field reconnaissance to identify location(s) and size(s) of obstructions; adopt and enforce local cost-share funding requirement to offset lack of federal grant programs for stream obstruction removal projects; and limit participation in stream obstruction removal to the Maumee River, St. Joseph River, and St. Marys River only. (Chapter III-6)  [ongoing implementation; grant; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]

• Continue to identify and provide cost-share match to landowners in the Maumee River Basin (Indiana portion) willing to participate in land use conversion programs. (Chapter III-8) [ongoing implementation; grant; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]

• Consider expanding the land use conversion program beyond agricultural land uses to include landowners of large undeveloped floodplain areas or smaller contingent parcels of interested landowners. (Chapter III-8) [long-term implementation; grant; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]

• Work with Floodplain Administrators to identify target areas and landowners.
• Distribute literature to identified landowners and meet with them to determine interest in land conversion program.

3)  PROJECT RELATED RECOMMENDATIONS

Project related recommendations include stream studies, gauge placement, GIS database management, and flood control structure inventory.  

a)  Implementation tasks to be lead by MRBC:

• Immediately pursue CTP cost-share funding and pursue the approximate floodplain studies for all Category 1 and 2 stream reaches.  (Chapter III-3) [short-term implementation; grant; MRBC]

• Initiate an evaluation of a proposed Impact Area designation and additional measures along Houk Ditch/ Trier Ditch to maintain the bypass capacity for the St Marys River. (Chapter III-7) [short-term implementation; grant; MRBC]

• Evaluate the accuracy and appropriateness of existing floodplain delineations by (Chapter III-3) [long-term implementation; grant; MRBC] –
• Develop comprehensive evaluation process to continually evaluate and identify candidate stream reaches for inclusion in the list of Category 3 and 4 stream reaches.
• Establish a process to receive input from local officials regarding their knowledge of the floodplain boundary accuracy.

• Create a GIS layer to track the metadata associated with information used for developing the floodplain delineation for each stream reach. (Chapter III-3) [long-term implementation; grant; MRBC]

• Pursue CTP cost-share funding and local contributions for initiating detailed floodplain studies for Category 3 and 4 stream reaches based on the immediacy of needs and availability of funds. (Chapter III-3) [long-term implementation; grant; MRBC]

• An ongoing task is to keep the structure inventory data base up to date by(Chapter III-7) [long-term implementation; grant; MRBC]:
  • Coordinate process to receive local building department information on new structure locations and LAGs.
• Update categories as new BFE information becomes available
• Update categories as new LAG information becomes available
• Update categories as structures are acquired and demolished by MRBC or local funds
• Adjust priority classes as structures change category due to revised local plans
• Coordinate changes with local fund administrators

• An ongoing task is to educate the public that while a structural measure may provide flood protection, a flood hazard still exists so plans must be in place before that event happens. (Chapter III-7) [ongoing implementation; operating budget; MRBC]

• Review the Corps of Engineers’ Western Lake Erie Basin Study when completed to determine if there is a need for more detailed water quality data collection and analysis in the St Marys, St Joseph, and Maumee River watersheds. (Chapter III-10) [short-term implementation; operating budget; MRBC]

• Conduct an inventory of the riparian corridors of the Maumee River, St. Joseph River, and St. Marys River.  Seek participation of contiguous landowners to maximize water quality and quantity benefits.   (Chapter III-8) [medium-term implementation; grant; MRBC]

b)  Implementation tasks to be facilitated or coordinated by MRBC:

• Improve the rainfall and stream flow gauging network by coordinating (Chapter III-4) [medium-term implementation; grant; identified NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]:
• Addition of stream gauge on St Marys River near Main Street bridge in Fort Wayne
• Addition of three rain/snow gauges in DeKalb, Steuben, and Allen counties
• Continued funding of the gauge network 

• Encourage and assist in the acquisition of floodprone structures
(Chapter III-7) [long-term implementation; grant; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]:
• Continue to facilitate the voluntary acquisition of structures in the Junk Ditch floodplain.
• Work with communities to establish local funding mechanisms for voluntary acquisitions.
• Pursue funding for the voluntary acquisition of structures identified as High Priority.
• Pursue funding for the voluntary acquisition of structures identified as Medium Priority.
• Assist communities in obtaining updated studies to confirm or revise flooding limits, specifically for those tributaries with older hydraulic modeling.  Updated studies would aid in confirming that high priority voluntary acquisition structures, as well as all other structures, are accurately categorized. 

c)  Implementation tasks to be assisted by, encouraged by, or publicized by MRBC:

• Encourage MRBC communities to reevaluate their flood protection efforts in light of the now available structure inventory data on expected flood depths. (Chapter III-7) [short-term implementation; grant; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]

• Encourage the City of Fort Wayne to allow no more development in the Junk Ditch/ St Marys River overflow floodplain unless it has no negative impacts. (Chapter III-7) [short-term implementation; operating budget; Fort Wayne with MRBC assistance]

• Continue to help educate communities and the public that because existing or proposed structural flood protection measures can be overtopped or can fail, emergency action plans should be developed and tested.  (Chapter III-7) [ongoing implementation; operating budget; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]

• Make sure that when structural flood protection measures are considered, the community also evaluates environmental, social, economic, public safety, maintenance, repair, and controlled design level exceedance measure costs and discharges, flood stages, storage capacity, and erosion impacts. (Chapter III-7) [medium-term implementation; operating budgets; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]

• Encourage the City of Fort Wayne to pursue a LOMR to reflect the floodplain changes resulting from the Times Corner culvert replacement project.  (Chapter III-7)[short-term implementation; operating budget; Fort Wayne with MRBC assistance]

• Suggest that the City of Fort Wayne revised their flood fight efforts in the Ross Michaels neighborhood along the St Marys River to include acquisition of structures and moving the flood fight levee further from the river.  (Chapter III-7) [short-term implementation; operating budget; Fort Wayne with MRBC assistance]

• Recommend consideration of the modified proposal for the reach of Junk Ditch between Edgerton Road and Jefferson Boulevard including acquisition and floodproofing and evaluation of impacts if pursued. (Chapter III-7) [medium-term implementation; grant; Fort Wayne with MRBC assistance]

• Promote wetland reservoir subsurface irrigation systems as a method of providing seasonal floodplain storage. (Chapter III-4) [long-term implementation; operating budget; all NFIP communities with MRBC assistance]