Liberty County reviews floodplain rules, LIDAR update and sand‑and‑gravel permit process at workshop

Liberty County officials and outside consultants used an April workshop to review the county’s master drainage plan update, the county’s floodplain and floodway permitting process and how sand‑and‑gravel (quarry) projects will be reviewed under Federal Emergency Management Agency rules.

The discussion focused on technical steps needed to produce an “apples‑to‑apples” baseline model local engineers and FEMA can use, the county’s recent LIDAR and benchmark survey work, and the process for Letters of Map Change when proposed work alters regulatory flood elevations.

County Judge (name not recorded) said the master drainage plan and supporting data were the reason for the workshop and underscored the need to use the federal and state processes correctly. The judge warned of the consequences of noncompliance with FEMA rules: "If you're not gonna behave, we'll just cancel your flood insurance for the entire county, period," he said.

William Tomlin, senior project manager with LJA, described the county’s regulatory foundation: "That's the flood damage ordinance. That's the development criteria for projects in the floodplain, floodway based on FEMA codes and regulations." He and other LJA staff explained that the county’s grant‑funded master drainage plan relies on updated terrain data, including 2024 LIDAR that is still in quality assurance and control and expected to be released publicly later in the spring.

Consultants said Liberty County now…