Identify Flood-Prone Areas In Manatee’s Bowlees Creek Watershed

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input as it gathers information to identify flood-prone areas within Manatee County’s Bowlees Creek Watershed.

The district’s public comment period is open through June 24, according to a news release from SFWMD. Preliminary data for flood-prone areas can viewed online here and public comments can be submitted through the same website.

After addressing the public comments, information will be finalized and presented to SFWMD’s governing board for approval to use the data for regulatory purposes. This information is not currently being incorporated into the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps, but may be used in future updates, the district said.

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Information identifying areas prone to flooding can be used by local governments for land-use and zoning decisions, to help manage development in and around floodplains and wetlands, to reduce flood risks, to preserve land and water resources, and for emergency planning, SFWMD said.

It will also provide valuable information to the public for decisions about purchasing and protecting property, the district added.

For more information or to find out which watershed you live in, please visit WaterMatters.org/Floodplain or call the district at 352-796-0515, ext. 4297.