Oregon NFIP Biological Opinion Implementation Planning Partner Webinar March 20, 2020
WELCOME! Erin Cooper , CFM Bonnie Shorin NFIP-ESA Specialist NOAA Fisheries FEMA Region 10 bonnie.shorin@noaa.gov Erin.cooper@fema.dhs.gov Celinda Adair Sara O’Brien NFIP Coordinator Executive Director Department of Land Willamette Partnership Conservation and Development Obrien@willamettepartnership.org Celinda.adair@state.or.us Emily Irish Partner, Communications Willamette Partnership irish@willamettepartnership.org
INTENTION • Update folks on progress in FEMA implementation plan • Create a space f0r agencies to hear frank feedback and advice from partners • Outline intended next steps and opportunities for additional input Photo provided by The Wetlands Conservancy
AGENDA 10:00 – 10:15 AM Welcome! & Agenda 10:15 – 10:45 AM Agency team presentation 10:45 – 11:05 AM Break-out groups 11:05 – 11:25 AM Discussion/Q&A 11:25 – 11:30 AM Next steps Photo provided by Clean Water Services
RESULTS • Shared understanding of implementation planning process – past, present, future • Partner guidance for agency team as they map out implementation options
LOGISTICS • Please remain on mute throughout the webinar main session • If you have a question, please write it the chat and we will add it for the Q&A session at the end • If you need help with technical issues, “raise your hand” and notify us via chat • We will be recording the main session, but not the breakout groups
LOGISTICS • Raise your hand during the session and we’ll unmute you to ask the group, or ask in the Chat function.
BIOP IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING • What is the goal? • Why? • What already happened? • What’s next?
BIOP IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING • What is the goal? • Why? • What already happened? • What’s next?
BACKGROUND National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) • voluntary program • allows for flood insurance to be purchased in a participating community… • if they practice good floodplain management (NFIP minimum performance standards) Photo provided by The Wetlands Conservancy
BACKGROUND Current implementation of the NFIP creates “jeopardy” for listed native fish and harms their critical habitat. So, FEMA needs to change the way we implement this program.
WHAT IS THE GOAL? Find a way for FEMA to manage the NFIP that: • Reduces flood hazards to people and property • Maintains or improves the natural benefits of functioning floodplains • Flood storage • Water quality • Fish and wildlife habitat • Works with the policy and pragmatic realities of Oregon’s local governments
WHAT IS THE GOAL? How? • Build on existing successes and input • Offer a menu of options rather than a one- size-fits-all solution • Provide support to local governments – templates, guidance, models, mapping and technical support, etc.
BIOP IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING • What is the goal? • Why? • What already happened? • What’s next?
WHY? The way we use floodplains affects both public safety and fish populations.
WHY? There are parts of the floodplain where people and development are at much higher risk.
WHY? There are parts of the floodplain where people and development are at much higher risk. New development in these areas is often the most harmful to native fish populations, including threatened salmon species.
WHY? 1. People and fish compete for space in floods – humans have built in areas that salmon would historically have used to hide out during flood events 2. The way people use land in floodplains can harm water quality and degrade habitat in rivers and streams
WHY? Rationale for Jeopardy / Adverse Modification Determinations Photo from “Ephemeral floodplain habitats provide best growth conditions for juvenile Chinook salmon in a California river” Jeffres et al 2008
WHY? The NFIP is an important program. We need to figure out how to make it work in a way that supports the needs of both people and fish.
BIOP IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING • What is the goal? • Why? • What already happened? • What’s next?
A History of Oregon NFIP BiOp 2009 Initial Oregon litigation 2010 FEMA agrees to consult with NOAA Fisheries 2011 FEMA requests consultation NOAA provides draft BiOp 2013 April 2016 Final BiOp released 2016 – 2017 DLCD work groups 2018 Disaster Recovery Reform Act delays implementation for 3 years
WHAT ALREADY Learning from DLCD workgroups… HAPPENED? Photo provided by Clean Water Services
SUMMARY RESULTS OF DLCD WORKGROUPS Stakeholders helped identify: • Technical challenges • e.g., mapping 10-year floodplain
SUMMARY RESULTS OF DLCD WORKGROUPS Stakeholders helped identify: • Technical challenges • Pragmatic challenges • e.g., finding space for flood storage mitigation
SUMMARY RESULTS OF DLCD WORKGROUPS Stakeholders helped identify: • Technical challenges • Pragmatic challenges • Conflicts with existing policy • e.g., Measure 37/49
SUMMARY RESULTS OF DLCD WORKGROUPS Stakeholders helped identify: • Technical challenges • Pragmatic challenges • Conflicts with existing policy • Process and timeline challenges • e.g., proposed interim measures
SUMMARY RESULTS OF DLCD WORKGROUPS Stakeholders helped identify: • Technical challenges • Pragmatic challenges • Conflicts with existing policy • Process and timeline challenges • Existing resources to draw on • e.g., stormwater models & guidance
WHERE DID ALL THAT GO? 1. NOAA Fisheries clarified several areas of concern (e.g., ag and forestry practices) 2. Agencies’ better understanding of local and state context and challenges 3. Strong starting point for 2020 implementation planning effort
BIOP IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING • What is the goal? • Why? • What already happened? • What’s next?
WHAT’S NEXT? Who? • Three agencies (FEMA, NOAA Fisheries, DLCD) working as a team • Salus Resources and Willamette Partnership providing facilitation, technical, and writing support
WHAT’S NEXT? How? • Meeting ~ monthly to build existing materials into a menu of options • 2-3 partner workshops throughout 2020 – review and feedback
WHAT’S NEXT? What? • Aim to finish the year with a clear set of implementation options and resources to help communities work with them
WHAT’S NEXT? 2020 Implementation Planning Timeline (dates are approximate): • January: Agency team convenes • February: Partner workshop* • March-April: Draft outline of potential implementation options • May: Second partner workshop • June-July: Draft menu of options, list of guidance documents, templates, etc. • August: Third partner workshop • September-December: Draft implementation documents *In-person stakeholder workshops will be followed by webinar versions for remote participation
WHAT’S NEXT? Then… NEPA review process. Once completed, anticipate at least 18 months for communities to take any needed action.
BIOP IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING Questions?
BIOP IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING Time to break out!!!
BREAKOUT GROUPS • We’ll randomly place you in a break out group • Introduce yourselves • Open an email, subject line “NFIP Webinar” to take notes in and send to FEMA-R10-ESAcomments@fema.dhs.gov • You will have 15-20 minutes to discuss • Facilitators may join to check in • We will give a “5-minutes left” message • When ready to rejoin the larger session we will give you a 1-minute notice to wrap up
BREAKOUT GROUPS Have a question? Ask and a facilitator will join your breakout group Done and want to rejoin the larger session early? Leave Breakout Room
BREAKOUT GROUPS What advice would you like to give the team of agencies as they contemplate new NFIP guidance (including both process and content suggestions)? Please email individual notes to FEMA-R10-ESAcomments@fema.dhs.gov Subject line “NFIP Webinar”
BREAKOUT GROUPS Welcome back!
Discussion What do you most want this team to know? “Raise your hand” if you want to comment. We will unmute one person at a time. Photo provided by USFWS
Discussion Final questions? Type question in chat or “raise your hand” if you want to comment. We will unmute one person at a time. Photo provided by USFWS
CLOSING • Thank you for joining us and sharing your perspectives • Everything we collected today and in past conversations will be used • We’ll provide draft materials prior to future workshops – please be willing to do a little homework and come ready to dive in!
THANK YOU! Watch for email outreach from FEMA with meeting notes, feedback, and updates on this work. oregonnfip.org
Recommend
More recommend
