By Matt Wiley
As the rainy season (and hurricane season) begins, we almost automatically can expect rain to be in the forecast on a regular basis. However, regular rain also poses the threat of flooding, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (or “Swiftmud”) is working with the public to draw the most up-to-date and accurate flood plain maps.
On May 22, Swiftmud held a public meeting at Wesley Chapel High (located on Wells Rd.) to gather information and first-hand accounts of flooding from residents of the New River/Upper Hillsborough River Watershed, which covers 121 square miles, 68 of which are located in southeastern Pasco, including parts of Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills. Swiftmud sent out 5,000 letters to property owners living in the affected areas, inviting them to take part in the meeting.
“This is something (Swiftmud does) on a regular basis,” says Swiftmud managing engineer JP Marchand, P.E. “The District, being responsible for helping to manage water resources in this area, regularly works with communities and Pasco County to identify flood hazard areas so that we can let property owners know and they can plan and protect their properties, accordingly.”
The information collected can be used by Pasco not only for land use and zoning decisions, but also to help manage development in and around floodplains and wetlands, to help reduce flood risks, to preserve land and water resources, and for emergency planning.
Inside the WCH cafeteria, which was full of detailed maps of each section of the watershed, members of Swiftmud greeted attendees and escorted them to the map that displayed their respective properties. Each map featured areas covered with yellow stripes to represent previous Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) flood plain maps, as well as areas covered in blue to show the new areas that Swiftmud currently is identifying as flood-prone.
Although the Swiftmud flood prone area information for the New River/Upper Hillsborough River watershed isn’t incorporated in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs) that were presented to the public in June 2013, the information could be used in future updates. To be clear, the Swiftmud flood plain maps will not directly affect flood insurance rates, Marchand explained.
Marchand says that Swiftmud also collects information from the public at the meetings to identify additional flooding problems that may not be on their maps, so that solutions can be found.
“Part of the process is getting out to the public and identifying what work we’ve done so far, what we’re identifying as flood hazard areas and getting input back from them in terms of whether or not what we’re predicting looks reasonable,” Marchand explains. “We take comments from them and make adjustments, accordingly.”
Norman & Elaine Kline, of Zephyrhills, said at the meeting that although their property itself isn’t in one of the newly identified flood prone areas, the roads to get to their home are. The couple did not want to disclose the road that they live on, but said that they live in the area northeast of S.R. 54 and Morris Bridge Rd. that floods because of a lake in a mobile home park that doesn’t have proper drainage.
“Last August was bad,” Norman said. “We had a few straight days of steady rain. (Swiftmud) has a pretty good picture of the flooding problems in our area. Now it’s up to the county to do something with the information.”
A Wesley Chapel resident who asked to only be named as Bea who lives off Fox Ridge Blvd. says that she has been living at her home for more than 20 years, but is considering selling.
“This meeting has been helpful because I’m looking to sell my home,” Bea explains. “Now, if someone asks me whether the property is in a flood plain, I’ll be able to answer them, honestly. I’m not in a flood prone area, but I was worried about how it could affect my property value.”
For more information about the Swiftmud Flood Plain Maps, please visit SWFWMD.State.fl.us.
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