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County adopts updated floodplain administrative procedures to align with DNR recommendations
Summary
Story County supervisors approved modifications to the county’s floodplain administrative procedures to align terminology and processes with the Iowa DNR community assistance visit and FEMA nomenclature; staff said the changes complement Chapter 80 regulations and become effective immediately.
Story County planning staff presented proposed modifications to the county’s floodplain administrative procedures and the Board of Supervisors approved the changes on July 29.
Staff said the administrative procedures—originally adopted in the 1990s—were revised following a community assistance visit by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in October 2024. The updates align county practice with current FEMA terminology and mapping conventions; staff specifically noted the replacement of the term “floodplain” with the FEMA term “special flood hazard area” where appropriate. Planning staff said the administrative procedures complement, but do not replace, the county’s floodplain regulations codified in Chapter 80 and that the modifications do not require additional DNR review.
During Q&A, supervisors asked whether the new phrase “special flood hazard area” is broader than the county’s prior usage; staff replied that it is the current, standard designation used on flood insurance rate maps and that the county’s adopted maps use the same term. Staff recommended adoption and said changes would be effective immediately upon board action. The board voted to approve the modifications by voice vote.
The board did not indicate changes to Chapter 80 itself; the action was limited to county administrative procedures used to process permits and applications related to floodplain (special flood hazard area) management.
