By Sarah Roubik, Corvallis
In 2013, FEMA revised the maps of the floodplain of the Bitterroot River and told our county that we needed to update (not change) our current flood plain regulations by January 2015. They used the aerial photographs from 1995. Since that date, the river has crossed into the flood fringe 34 times.
In July 2014, the state sent the county their version of flood plain regulations which would establish a minimum of regulations that would be required in the state of Montana. Our regulations were more protective of our river and completely acceptable to all agencies with minor updates needed. Our county flood plain administrator basically copied the minimal state regulations with a few minor tweaks. This was done at the last minute due to “procrastination,” Owners of property in the flood plain were notified via a letter on December 2. The general public was notified in a public meeting on December 15.
This change in a policy that has been in existence since 1998 was done very quickly and presented to the public suddenly during the holidays, one month before FEMA required that a simple update (not change) be completed by January 16.
Local agencies that have first-hand experience and scientific data regarding the river were not consulted. They too received the news of the change to our regulations on December 15.
So much for coordination. For a commission that supports coordination with the federal agencies on anything that is done in Ravalli County, they sure didn’t tell a soul about this unilateral decision that they made until the last minute.
They gave lip service to public participation by allowing the public, including scientists with the FWP fisheries, conservation districts and fishing guides to provide facts against this move during the holidays. They continued the meetings into January due to protests. Pages upon pages of data regarding the unique meandering nature of the Bitterroot River and scientific studies showing that the river has and will move into the flood fringe were provided. Hundreds of citizens including owners of river front property begged and demanded that they leave the protections of our precious resource in place. After all of this data, one of the commissioners boldly stated that he heard nothing that would change his mind. Clearly his mind was made up from the beginning.
The flood plain administrator who made these changes and at least one commissioner has land in the flood fringe that is now developable.
The commissioners have loosened our flood plain regulations. They unilaterally decided to allow building in the flood fringe which is part of the flood plain. They will allow sealed (which can leak) septic tanks in the flood fringe. This is in a river that is known throughout the state to migrate extensively every year. It migrates so much in fact that the maps they used to determine the flood fringe location has the river crossing into it 34 times! They have risked our quality of water, our fishing industry and our tourism dollars. They did all of this at the last minute, without consulting a single scientist, or the public until the 11th hour. Is this ok with you? Let us know. B4P@bitterrooters4planning.com.