Laserfiche WebLink
Eugene -Springfield Area Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan <br />2. Hazard Descriptions <br />Land "within the 100-year floodplain" is not considered "suitable and <br />available" under the buildable land definition. Due to State planning <br />requirements, City floodplain development requirements, and the small <br />number of dwelling units located in Special Flood Hazard Areas, the <br />vulnerability of residential development to the flood hazard is low. <br />Eugene and Springfield are in the process of identifying resources to update flood <br />hazard information through new mapping. Once complete, a thorough <br />quantification of vulnerable structures can be completed, provided the resources are <br />available. <br />The 2014 Regional Climate and Hazards Vulnerability Assessment found, while <br />flood incidents have the potential to cause severe loss and damage in localized <br />areas, flooding is not likely to result in significant damage to critical systems or <br />systemic failures across multiple sectors. The reason vulnerability to this hazard is <br />rated as moderate for riverine flooding relates to the primary impacts and potential <br />inconvenience for many members of the population (transportation impacts, drain <br />on emergency response resources, etc.). The area's capacity to respond to this <br />hazard is moderate due to resources and the prolonged onset period of flood <br />hazards. <br />2.6.7 Risk Assessment <br />FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS) are the most comprehensive resource <br />for identifying flooding hazards in the Eugene -Springfield area. The Eugene - <br />Springfield area's most recent FIRMS became effective on June 2, 1999. It is <br />common knowledge the Eugene -Springfield metro area flood maps are based on <br />outdated information. The availability of LiDAR data and other technologies offers <br />superior ability to project and map riverine flooding in the area. Eugene and <br />Springfield are actively working with FEMA and the State of Oregon to identify <br />resources needed to update the Eugene -Springfield regulatory floodplain maps. <br />Notably, some areas within Springfield have recently been re -mapped. These <br />include the Willamette River through the southern portion of Glenwood, as well as <br />the confluence of the Middle Fork and Coast Fork of the Willamette River. <br />Flood prone areas of the Eugene -Springfield area include the FEMA-mapped <br />floodplains for major rivers including the Mohawk, McKenzie, and Willamette <br />(including the Middle Fork and the Coast Fork). FEMA-mapped floodplains also <br />include areas along Amazon Creek, Mill Race and several smaller creeks (mostly in <br />the western portion of Eugene). <br />Historical experience and hydrologic/hydraulic modeling suggest the most <br />problematic areas for local stormwater drainage flooding in Eugene are the Amazon <br />Creek, Willow Creek, and Laurel Hill basins in the South Hills. Drainage problems <br />in these areas are exacerbated by relatively thin, impermeable soils. Vulnerability <br />2-37 January 2020 <br />