Minnie Creek Floodplain

Minnie Creek Floodplain Changes
Changes have been made to Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the Minnie Creek area, north and east of the City of Cheney. The Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for a community depicts land which has been determined to be subject to a 1% (100-year) or greater chance of flooding in any given year. The FIRM is used to determine flood insurance rates and to help the community with floodplain management.

Spokane County has received a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS-FEMA) revising FIRM 530174 panels 689D, 693D, 700D and 856D for Spokane County, WA (Unincorporated Areas). The areas revised are along Minnie Creek between Meadow Lake Branch Road (just south of Meadow Lake) and the BNSF rail line just east of the City of Cheney. This revision reflects the results of the recent detailed floodplain analysis of Minnie Creek by the Army Corps of Engineers. A copy of this analysis along with maps showing proposed floodplain boundaries and elevations are also available.

Map Revisions
This Letter of Map Revision will result in:

• Establishment of a new 1% annual chance flood hazard areas with Base Flood Elevations (BFEs).
• Widening of the existing approximate 1% annual chance floodplain.
• Establishment of a regulatory floodway. A floodway is the portion of the floodplain that includes the channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land area that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water-surface elevation by more than a designated height.

These changes became effective on April 7, 2010 and were reissued on August 17, 2010 for the new DFIRMS. Structures within these areas may now be required to obtain flood insurance by lenders unless they can demonstrate they are located on ground above the BFE. Also, all development on parcels a portion of which contain floodplain will be subject to requirements of the Spokane County Flood Damage Protection Ordinance. We understand you may have concerns regarding these changes. Please remember that these regulations are in place to protect your property from flood damage due to inappropriate development.

Questions or Concerns
If you have any questions or concerns about the proposed changes to the FIRM or its effect on your property, you may contact me by phone at 509-477-7443 or email Marianne Barrentine.