The Scappoose Drainage Improvement Company's (SDIC) Levee System is being accredited by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This process involves mandated Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) revisions.

About the Project:

The FIRM for a community depicts the floodplain which is the area that has been determined to be subject to a 1-percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year (also referred to as the 1-percent annual-chance flood and the 100-year flood). The FIRM is used to determine flood insurance rates and to help the community with floodplain management.

The SDIC Levee system is in the process of being accredited by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as meeting specific federal design, operation and maintenance standards which reduce flood risk. As a step in this process, in December 2019, SDIC received the final report from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) certifying the SDIC levee system for 5 years and recommending to FEMA to maintain levee accreditation status.  The SDIC levee system was again certified by USACE in 2024.

Columbia County, The City of Scappoose and the SDIC are required as part of the federal levee accreditation process to submit a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) application to FEMA to include consideration of new flood data for lands inside the SDIC levee system. These FIRM revisions are based on best available data and analysis by a professional engineer and will be reviewed by FEMA. Concerns with the proposed revisions can be considered during the 90-day public comment period.

Maps showing the FIRM revisions can be reviewed below:

Columbia County anticipates final map adoption in 2025 and there are many steps in the process that will occur prior to map adoption. Those with questions are encouraged to review the FAQs page below.

Frequently Asked Questions related to Flood Insurance Rate Maps - Scappoose Drainage Improvement Company