Stone Creek Floodplain Mapping Project

In early 2008, several concerned citizens contacted the County for assistance with floodplain questions along Stone Creek. The original mapping effort for Stone Creek was performed in the early 1980's, and was not accurate in regards to the location of the Eagle-Vail Subdivision. Specifically, there are areas of Elk Lane, Deer Boulevard, and other areas that are shown to be within the regulatory floodplain. In these areas, the regulatory floodplain is completely outside of Stone Creek and Golf Club Creek.

Because of these mapping inaccuracies, many residents were being assessed mandatory floodplain insurance by their lenders, as required under the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994. This resulted in substantially large flood insurance premiums for an area that has a very low probably of flooding; much lower than properties located adjacent to waterways.

LOMAs (Letter of Map Amendments) are a commonly used process to "remove" a structure from a SFHA (Special Flood Hazard Area, also referred to as the regulatory floodplain) if the structure owner believes there is an error or mapping issue with the SFHA. The preparation of a LOMA is detailed on FEMA's website here. LOMAs are typically used for removing a single structure from the SFHA.

Based upon the mapping inaccuracies, it was determined by FEMA that the appropriate method to correct the mapping inaccuracies would be the LOMR (Letter of Map Revision) process and that LOMAs would no longer be accepted. The LOMR process is much more involved, as it requires that the entire stream system be mapped and surveyed, the hydrology and hydraulics be studied, a numerical model be utilized to predict the proposed SFHA, proposed maps created, and then submitted.

A partnering effort was brought to the attention of the EVMD and EVPOA where the funding of the project would be split between the following agencies:

1. Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) - Up to $25,000 Grant; 50% of project cost.
2. Eagle-Vail Metropolitan District (EVMD) - Up to $5,000; 10% of project cost.
3. Eagle-Vail Property Owner's Association (EVPOA) - Up to $5,000; 10% of project cost.
4. Stone Creek Committee (Group of Homeowners, as a subcommittee of the EVPOA) - $6,667; 13.3% of project cost.
5. Eagle County - Up to $8,333; 16.7% of project cost.

In October 2008 a floodplain mapping project was awarded to Matrix Design Group to remap Stone Creek in Eagle-Vail, and submit to FEMA a LOMR (Letter of Map Revision) to revise the inaccurate mapping along Stone Creek. The contract requires that the LOMR be approved no later than April 30, 2010.