The identified floodplain area shall be any areas of Lehigh
Township, classified as special flood hazard areas (SFHAs) in the
Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate
Maps (FIRMs) dated July 16, 2014, and issued by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), or the most recent revision thereof, including
all digital data developed as part of the Flood Insurance Study and
also consist of the following specific areas:
A. FW (Floodway Area).
(1) The areas identified as "Floodway" in the AE Zone in the Flood Insurance
Study prepared by the FEMA. The term shall also include floodway areas
which have been identified in other available studies or sources of
information for those floodplain areas where no floodway has been
identified in the Flood Insurance Study.
(2) For the purpose of this chapter, the floodway is based upon the criteria
that a certain area within the floodplain would be capable of carrying
the waters of the one-percent-annual-chance flood without increasing
the water surface elevation of that flood more than one foot at any
point.
B. FF (Flood-Fringe Area).
(1) The remaining portions of the one-percent-annual-chance floodplain
in those areas identified as an AE Zone in the Flood Insurance Study,
where a floodway has been delineated.
(2) The basis for the outermost boundary of this area shall be the base
flood elevations as shown in the flood profiles contained in the Flood
Insurance Study.
C. FA (General Floodplain Area).
(1) The areas identified as Zone A in the FIS for which no base flood
elevations have been provided. When available, information from other
state, federal and other acceptable sources shall be used to determine
the base flood elevation, as well as a floodway area, if possible.
(2) When no other information is available, the applicant shall determine
this elevation in accordance with hydrologic and hydraulic engineering
techniques. Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses shall be undertaken
only by professional engineers or others of demonstrated qualifications,
who shall certify that the technical methods used correctly reflect
currently accepted technical concepts. Studies, analyses, computations,
etc., shall be submitted in sufficient detail to allow a thorough
technical review by the Township. The precise methodology to be employed
shall be as determined by the Township Engineer.
D. The above-referenced FIS and FIRMs, and any subsequent revisions
and amendments, are hereby adopted by Lehigh Township and declared
to be part of this chapter.
The identified floodplain area may be revised or modified by
the Board of Supervisors where studies or information provided by
a qualified agency or person documents the need for such revision.
However, prior to any such change to the special flood hazard area,
approval must be obtained from FEMA. Additionally, as soon as practicable,
but not later than six months after the date such information becomes
available, a community shall notify FEMA of the changes to the special
flood hazard area by submitting technical or scientific data.
Should a dispute concerning any identified floodplain boundary
arise, an initial determination shall be made by the Township Zoning
Officer or Township Engineer, and any party aggrieved by this decision
may appeal to the Township Zoning Hearing Board. The burden of proof
shall be on the appellant.