Mat-Su new draft flood plain maps/open house

PALMER — According to Mat-Su officials, approximately 900 property owners in the borough will have their parcels moved out of a federal floodplain while around 150 parcels will be moved in. To better inform residents, a number of open houses on the topic have been planned for today and tomorrow.

Mat-Su planner Taunnie Boothby said more than 3,500 notices were mailed to affected borough landowners. Boothby said a majority of the mailings went to property owners whose lands remain in the borough flood zone but whose boundaries have changed. She said the borough continues working with state and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials on updating floodplain boundaries for 100 and 500-year flood events.

Borough officials have implemented use of detailed fieldwork, a new flood model and high-resolution topographic data that wasn't available the last time floodplains were studied in the 1980's. Boothby said proposed new maps have arrived but are not yet finalized. Borough officials have planned a number of open houses to discuss how the maps were developed, hear from residents regarding the new proposed boundaries and describe the next steps in the process.

Boothby said those attending will be able to talk with FEMA representatives as well as those from the State of Alaska, borough, and flood insurance providers. Covered topics include flood prevention, mitigation, flood insurance, flood hazard development standards and best practices, and flood map revisions.

Wednesday, March 15 open houses include: Willow Elementary School--10:30 -12:30 a.m., and Meadow Lakes Elementary School--6-8 p.m.. Thursday, March 16, an 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. session is planned for Iditarod Elementary in Wasilla and an evening session from 6-8 p.m. will take place at Butte Elementary School in Palmer. All sessions will be held in the schools' libraries.

Boothby said all affected Mat-Su property owners were contacted by mail. Anyone with questions or concerns is encouraged to attend an open house. As an alternative, you may contact the Mat-Su permit center at 907-861-7822 or email permitcenter@matsugov.us. The borough's floodplain web page may be viewed at www.matsugov.us/flood-plain-development-info.