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Stoddard selectboard to send technical comment to FEMA after identifying likely flood‑modeling anomaly
Summary
A private analysis found FEMA’s preliminary model appears to treat Route 9 tunnel as a dam, creating roughly 37 feet of modeled backup and expanding flood zones. The selectboard voted unanimously to send a technical comment letter to FEMA before the maps advance to the next review stage.
The Stoddard selectboard voted June 8 to send a technical comment to the Federal Emergency Management Agency after a private analysis identified a likely modeling anomaly in FEMA’s preliminary flood maps.
The analysis, reviewed by the board and staff, found that Lidar processing used in FEMA’s model appears to treat the Route 9 tunnel as a dam, producing an estimated 37 feet of water backup and enlarging flood zones for Island Pond and Highland Lake. The minutes state the error could affect town infrastructure including the fire station, Shedd Hill bridge and the Highland Lake dam. The board described the issue in its minutes as a "material defect" and directed the chair to file a technical comment before the maps advance to the next FEMA review stage (CCO/LFD).
Chairperson Terri LaRoche moved that the board send the flood‑map letter and attached analysis to FEMA; Selectman Jason Kovarik seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The board asked staff to monitor notifications from FEMA and the state NFIP coordinator and to confirm whether the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) has any related survey or modeling information.
Why it matters: Preliminary flood‑map changes can alter insurance requirements, development restrictions and emergency‑response planning. The board said the modeled increase in water levels — if not corrected — would expand regulatory flood zones and potentially affect private property, town roads and critical facilities.
What the minutes recorded: The board’s materials describe the anomaly as stemming from a Lidar limitation and note FEMA guidance discourages removing major outflows in automated models; the selectboard therefore asked for manual review by FEMA QA and will forward the committee’s findings as a formal technical comment. The action was procedural (a comment and request for review), not a regulatory appeal.
Next steps: The selectboard will send the comment letter and attachments; staff will watch for FEMA or state notifications and report back at a future meeting. The board did not authorize any immediate regulatory change or formal legal challenge in these minutes.
