INITIAL PUBLIC NOTICE: Storm Drainage Improvements for The Rio Del Mar Flats, Santa Cruz County, Flood Control And Water Conservation District, Zone 6 HMGP-4344-290-098

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to provide federal financial assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to the Santa Cruz County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Zone 6. The project is in the Aptos area of Santa Cruz County. The project limits primarily encompass sections of Aptos Beach Drive, Marina Avenue, Moosehead Drive, Esplanade, Venetian Road, Rio Del Mar Boulevard, and Beach Drive. Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) and FEMA’s implementing regulations at Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 9, FEMA hereby provides interested parties with a notice of its intent to carry out an action affecting a floodplain.

The purpose of this project is to reduce or eliminate local rainfall-induced flooding throughout most of the Rio Del Mar Flats by bringing stormwater facilities up to the county-established 10-year storm standard. The project would construct an elevated gravity pipe to accelerate the discharge flood waters.The existing pipe system would be rerouted to a new pump station to provide additional flood discharge capabilities. The proposed project would accelerate the removal of runoff accumulations and reduce pollution by altering the physical extents and time periods of ponding associated with extreme rainfall events.

The entire project area is located in a floodplain based on a review of Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) # 06087C0357F effective date September 27, 2017. The FIRM shows the project area as being within the regulatory floodway of Aptos Creek, Zone AE (the area with a 1-percent probability of flooding every year), or Zone VE (areas subject to inundation by the 1-percent-annual-chance flood event with additional hazards due to storm-induced velocity wave action). Established Base Flood Elevations in the project area range from 15 to 18 feet referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988.  A map showing the project area and its location within the floodplain is available for public inspection. Any party interested in receiving a copy of the map should contact the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer at the contact information included below.

Interested persons may submit comments or obtain additional information about FEMA’s proposed action by writing the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer at FEMA, 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200, Oakland, California 94607 or fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov, or calling (510) 627-7027. All requests should be received no later than November 14, 2019.