SLIDE 1
Partner Webinar March 20, 2020
Oregon NFIP Biological Opinion Implementation Planning
SLIDE 2 Erin Cooper, CFM NFIP-ESA Specialist FEMA Region 10 Erin.cooper@fema.dhs.gov
WELCOME!
Celinda Adair NFIP Coordinator Department of Land Conservation and Development Celinda.adair@state.or.us Bonnie Shorin NOAA Fisheries bonnie.shorin@noaa.gov Sara O’Brien Executive Director Willamette Partnership Obrien@willamettepartnership.org Emily Irish Partner, Communications Willamette Partnership irish@willamettepartnership.org
SLIDE 3 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
SLIDE 4 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
SLIDE 5 RESULTS
- Shared understanding of implementation
planning process – past, present, future
- Partner guidance for agency team as they
map out implementation options
SLIDE 6 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
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- Raise your hand during the
session and we’ll unmute you to ask the group, or ask in the Chat function.
LOGISTICS
SLIDE 8 BIOP IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING
- What is the goal?
- Why?
- What already happened?
- What’s next?
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- What is the goal?
- Why?
- What already happened?
- What’s next?
BIOP IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING
SLIDE 10 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)
BACKGROUND
Photo provided by The Wetlands Conservancy
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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.
BACKGROUND
SLIDE 12 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
- f functioning floodplains
- Flood storage
- Water quality
- Fish and wildlife habitat
- Works with the policy and pragmatic
realities of Oregon’s local governments
SLIDE 13 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.
WHAT IS THE GOAL?
SLIDE 14
- What is the goal?
- Why?
- What already happened?
- What’s next?
BIOP IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING
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WHY?
The way we use floodplains affects both public safety and fish populations.
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There are parts of the floodplain where people and development are at much higher risk.
WHY?
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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?
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- 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?
SLIDE 20 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?
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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.
WHY?
SLIDE 22
- What is the goal?
- Why?
- What already happened?
- What’s next?
BIOP IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING
SLIDE 23 Initial Oregon litigation FEMA agrees to consult with NOAA Fisheries 2009 FEMA requests consultation 2011 NOAA provides draft BiOp 2013 2010 Final BiOp released April 2016 DLCD work groups 2016 – 2017 Disaster Recovery Reform Act delays implementation for 3 years 2018
A History of Oregon NFIP BiOp
SLIDE 24 WHAT ALREADY HAPPENED?
Learning from DLCD workgroups…
Photo provided by Clean Water Services
SLIDE 25 Stakeholders helped identify:
- Technical challenges
- e.g., mapping 10-year floodplain
SUMMARY RESULTS OF DLCD WORKGROUPS
SLIDE 26 Stakeholders helped identify:
- Technical challenges
- Pragmatic challenges
- e.g., finding space for flood storage mitigation
SUMMARY RESULTS OF DLCD WORKGROUPS
SLIDE 27 Stakeholders helped identify:
- Technical challenges
- Pragmatic challenges
- Conflicts with existing policy
- e.g., Measure 37/49
SUMMARY RESULTS OF DLCD WORKGROUPS
SLIDE 28 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
SLIDE 29 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
SUMMARY RESULTS OF DLCD WORKGROUPS
SLIDE 30 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
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- What is the goal?
- Why?
- What already happened?
- What’s next?
BIOP IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING
SLIDE 32 Who?
NOAA Fisheries, DLCD) working as a team
Willamette Partnership providing facilitation, technical, and writing support
WHAT’S NEXT?
SLIDE 33 How?
- Meeting ~ monthly to build existing materials
into a menu of options
- 2-3 partner workshops throughout 2020 –
review and feedback
WHAT’S NEXT?
SLIDE 34 What?
with a clear set of implementation
to help communities work with them
WHAT’S NEXT?
SLIDE 35 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?
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Then… NEPA review process. Once completed, anticipate at least 18 months for communities to take any needed action.
WHAT’S NEXT?
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Questions?
BIOP IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING
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Time to break out!!!
BIOP IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING
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- 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
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Have a question? Ask and a facilitator will join your breakout group
BREAKOUT GROUPS
Done and want to rejoin the larger session early? Leave Breakout Room
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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”
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Welcome back!
BREAKOUT GROUPS
SLIDE 43 What do you most want this team to know?
“Raise your hand” if you want to
unmute one person at a time.
Discussion
Photo provided by USFWS
SLIDE 44 Final questions?
Type question in chat
you want to
unmute one person at a time.
Discussion
Photo provided by USFWS
SLIDE 45 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!
SLIDE 46 THANK YOU!
Watch for email outreach from FEMA with meeting notes, feedback, and updates on this work.
