U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000


Skip to content U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Highway AdministrationU.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration

Bridges & Structures

Additional Guidance on 23 CFR 650A

Attachment 2 - Procedures for Coordinating Highway Encroachments of Floodplains with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Formerly Federal-aid Policy Guide Non-Regulatory Supplement NS 23 CFR, Part 650A,
September 30, 1992, Transmittal 5
See Order 1321.1C FHWA Directives Management

The local community with land use jurisdiction, whether it is a city, county, or State, has the responsibility for enforcing National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations in that community if the community is participating in the NFIP. Most NFIP communities have established a permit requirement for all development within the base (100 year) floodplain. Consistency with NFIP standards is a requirement for Federal-aid highway actions involving regulatory floodways. The community, by necessity, is the one who must submit proposals to FEMA for amendments to NFIP ordinances and maps in that community should it be necessary. Determination of the status of a community's participation in the NFIP and review of applicable NFIP maps and ordinances are, therefore, essential first steps in conducting location hydraulic studies and preparing environmental documents.

Where NFIP maps are available, their use is mandatory in determining whether a highway location alternative will include an encroachment on the base floodplain. Three types of NFIP maps are published: (1) a Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM), (2) a Flood Boundary and Floodway Map (FBFM), and a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). A FHBM is generally not based on a detailed hydraulic study and, therefore, the floodplain boundaries shown are approximate. A FBFM, on the other hand, is generally derived from a detailed hydraulic study and should provide reasonably accurate information. The hydraulic data from which the FBFM was derived is available through the regional office of FEMA. This is normally in the form of computer input data cards for calculating water surface profiles. The FIRM is generally produced at the same time using the same hydraulic model andhas appropriate rate zones and base flood elevations added.

Communities in the regular program of the NFIP generally have had detailed flood insurance studies performed. In these communities the NFIP map will be a FIRM and in the majority of cases, a regulatory floodway is in effect.

Communities in the emergency program of the NFIP usually have not had a detailed flood insurance study completed and, usually, only limited floodplain data is available. In this case the community NFIP map will be a FHBM and there will not be a regulatory floodway.

Other possibilities are:

  1. the community is not in a FEMA identified flood hazard area and thus there is no NFIP map,
  2. a FHBM, FIRM, or FBFM is available but the community is not participating in the NFIP, (3) a community is in the process of converting from the emergency program to the regular program and a detailed flood insurance study is underway, or (4) a community is participating in the regular program, the NFIP map is a FIRM, but no regulatory floodway has been established. Information on community participation in the NFIP is provided in the "National Flood Insurance Program Community Status Book" which is published bi-monthly for each State and is available through the Headquarters of FEMA.

Coordination With FEMA

It is intended that there should be highway agency coordination with FEMA in situations where administrative determinations are needed involving a regulatory floodway or where flood risks in NFIP communities are significantly impacted. The circumstances which would ordinarily require coordination with FEMA are:

  1. a proposed crossing encroaches on a regulatory floodway and, as such, would require an amendment to the floodway map,
  2. a proposed crossing encroaches on a floodplain where a detailed study has been performed but no floodway designated and the maximum 1 foot increase in the base flood elevation would be exceeded,
  3. a local community is expected to enter into the regular program within a reasonable period and detailed flood plain studies are underway,
  4. a local community is participating in the emergency program and base flood elevation in the vicinity of insurable buildings is increased by more than 1 foot. (Where insurable buildings are not affected, it is sufficient to notify FEMA of changes to base flood elevations as a result of highway construction.)

The draft EIS/EA should indicate the NFIP status of affected communities, the encroachments anticipated and the need for floodway or floodplain ordinance amendments. Coordination means furnishing to FEMA the draft EIS/EA and, upon selection of an alternative, furnishing to FEMA through the community a preliminary site plan and water surface elevation information and technical data in support of a floodway revision request as required. If a determination by FEMA would influence the selection of an alternative, a commitment from FEMA should be obtained prior to the FEIS or FONSI. Otherwise this later coordination may be postponed until the design phase.

For projects that will be processed with a categorical exclusion, coordination may be carried out during design. However, the outcome of the coordination at this time could change the class of environmental processing.

Highway Encroachments Which Are Consistent With Regulatory Floodways In Effect

In many situations it is possible to design and construct highways in a cost-effective manner such that their components are excluded from the floodway. This is the simplest way to be consistent with the standards and should be the initial alternative evaluated. If a project element encroaches on the floodway but has a very minor effect on the floodway water surface elevation (such as piers in the floodway), the project may normally be considered as being consistent with the standards if hydraulic conditions can be improved so that no water surface elevation increase is reflected in the computer printout for the new conditions.

Revision of Regulatory Floodway So That Highway Encroachment Would Be Consistent

Where it is not cost-effective to design a highway crossing to avoid encroachment on an established floodway, a second alternative would be a modification of the floodway itself. Often, the community will be willing to accept an alternative floodway configuration to accommodate a proposed crossing provided NFIP limitations on increases in the base flood elevation are not exceeded. This approach is useful where the highway crossing does not cause more than a 1 foot rise in the base flood elevation. In some cases, it may be possible to enlarge the floodway or otherwise increase conveyance in the floodway above and below the crossing in order to allow greater encroachment. Such planning is best accomplished when the floodway is first established. However, where the community is willing to amend an established floodway to support this option, the floodway may be revised.

The responsibility for demonstrating that an alternative floodway configuration meets NFIP requirements rests with the community. However, this responsibility may be borne by the agency proposing to construct the highway crossing. Floodway revisions must be based on the hydraulic model which was used to develop the currently effective floodway but updated to reflect existing encroachment conditions. This will allow determination of the increase in the base flood elevation that has been caused by encroachments since the original floodway was established. Alternate floodway configurations may then be analyzed.

Base flood elevation increases are referenced to the profile obtained for existing conditions when the floodway was first established.

Data submitted to FEMA in support of a floodway revision request should include:

  1. Copy of current regulatory Flood Boundary Floodway Map, showing existing conditions, proposed highway crossing and revised floodway limits.
  2. Copy of computer printouts (input, computation, and output) for the current 100-year model and current 100-year floodway model.
  3. Copy of computer printouts (input, computation, and output) for the revised 100-year floodway model. Any fill or development that has occurred in the existing flood fringe area must be incorporated into the revised 100 year floodway model.
  4. Copy of engineering certification is required for work performed by private subcontractors.

The revised and current computer data required above should extend far enough upstream and downstream of the floodway revision area in order to tie back into the original floodway and profiles using sound hydraulic engineering practices. This distance will vary depending on the magnitude of the requested floodway revision and the hydraulic characteristics of the stream.

A floodway revision will not be acceptable if development that has occurred in the existing flood fringe area since the adoption of the community's floodway ordinance will now be located within the revised floodway area unless adversely affected adjacent property owners are compensated for the loss.

If the input data representing the original hydraulic model is unavailable, an approximation should be developed. A new model should be established using the original cross-section topographic information, where possible, and the discharges contained in the Flood Insurance Study which establish the original floodway. The model should then be run confining the effective flow area to the currently established floodway and calibrate to reproduce within 0.10 foot, the "With Floodway" elevations provided in the Floodway Data Table for the current floodway. Floodway revisions may then be evaluated using the procedures outlined above.

Floodway Encroachment Where Demonstrably Appropriate

When it would be demonstrably inappropriate to design a highway crossing to avoid encroachment on the floodway and where the floodway cannot be modified such that the structure could be excluded, FEMA will approve an alternate floodway with backwater in excess of the 1 foot maximum only when the following conditions have been met:

  1. A location hydraulic study has been performed in accordance with "Location and Hydraulic Design of Encroachments on Floodplains" (23 CFR 650, Subpart A) and FHWA finds the encroachment is the only practicable alternative.
  2. The constructing agency has made appropriate arrangements with affected property owners and the community to obtain flooding easements or otherwise compensate them for future flood losses due to the effects of the structure.
  3. The constructing agency has made appropriate arrangements to assure that the National Flood Insurance Program and Flood Insurance Fund do not incur any liability for additional future flood losses to existing structures which are insured under the Program and grandfathered in under the risk status existing prior to the construction of the structure.
  4. Prior to initiating construction, the constructing agency provides FEMA with revised flood profiles, floodway and floodplain mapping, and background technical data necessary for FEMA to issue revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps and Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps for the affected area upon completion of the structure.

Highway Encroachment On A Floodplain With A Detailed Study (FIRM) In communities where a detailed flood insurance study has been performed but no regulatory floodway designated, the highway crossing should be designed to allow no more than a 1 foot increase in the base flood elevation based on technical data from the flood insurance study. Technical data supporting the increased flood elevation should be submitted to the local community and FEMA for their files. Where it is demonstrably inappropriate to design the highway crossing and meet backwater limitations the procedures outlined under:

Floodway Encroachment Where Demonstrably Appropriate should be followed in requesting a revision of base floodplain reference elevations.

Highway Encroachment On A Floodplain Indicated On An FHBM

In communities where detailed flood insurance studies have not been performed, the highway agency must generate its own technical data to determine the base floodplain elevation and design encroachments in accordance with 23 CFR 650A. Base floodplain elevations should be furnished to the community, and coordination carried out with FEMA as outlined previously where the increase in base flood elevations in the vicinity of insurable buildings exceeds 1 foot.

Highway Encroachment On Unidentified Floodplains

Encroachments which are outside of NFIP communities or NFIP identified flood hazard areas should be designed in accordance with 23 CFR 650A of the Federal Highway Administration. The NFIP identified flood hazard areas are those delineated on an FHBM, FBFM or FIRM.

To Obtain FEMA Publications

  1. National Flood Insurance Program Community Status Book
    Write to FEMA, 500 "C" Street, SW., Room 431, Insurance Operations, Washington, D.C. 20472 and request to be placed on the appropriate State mailing list.
  2. Flood Insurance Study Report and/or FBFM
    Write to FEMA, 500 "C" Street, SW., State and Local Programs Room 418, Washington, D.C. 20472 request:
    1. For future studies,
      To be placed on mailing list to receive all studies and maps as they are completed for a State.
    2. For completed studies,
      1. The study for a particular community (provide number).
      2. All the studies for a particular State. You will received about 50 percent of the completed studies to date.
  3. FHBM or FIRM for a particular community with ID number,
    1. Call NFIP contractor (800)638-6620, (800)492-6605(MD), 897-5900 in D.C., or
    2. Write NFIP, P.O. Box 34604, Bethesda, Maryland 20034.
Updated: 06/27/2017
Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000