SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Utah Geological Survey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District signed an agreement today to conduct a comprehensive study of potential flood hazards in Utah’s Wasatch Front and Cache Valley.
“The flood maps that we are going to produce are supplementary to Federal Emergency Management Agency flood insurance rate maps,” said UGS Director Richard Allis. “These maps are geologically-based and show debris flow and alluvial fan flooding hazards that are not shown on the FEMA maps,” said UGS Director Richard Allis.
The new maps won’t affect FEMA flood insurance rate maps, and are intended to increase public awareness of flood hazards and eventually inform prudent land-use planning to reduce flood risk in these quickly developing areas.
The maps will be made available online when complete. The study is expected to last about two-and-a-half years and cost $240,000, split evenly between the state and the Corps.
“We’re proud to join Utah in taking proactive steps to reduce the risk and consequences of flooding,” said Col. Mike Farrell, Sacramento District commander. “Awareness is the first step in reducing flood risk, and these efforts are going to make Utah safer and help build resiliency against natural disasters for years to come.”
The study agreement was signed during a meeting of the Utah State Hazard Mitigation Team in Salt Lake City, a coalition of state, local and federal agencies that provides pre- and post-hazard mitigation information and technical assistance to local governments to identify specific mitigation measures and assist in their implementation.
Release no. 14-005