Living in a Floodplain

Floodplain Management

The goals of the Wisconsin's Floodplain Management Program (PDF) are to:

• Discourage victimization of unwary land and home buyers
• Minimize costs for flood control projects
• Prevent future flood blight areas
• Prevent increased flood levels caused by unwise floodplain development
• Protect life, health, and property
• Reduce tax dollars spent for rescue, relief, and repair of flood damage
• Shorten business interruptions caused by flooding

Department of Natural Resources

Visit the Department of Natural Resources' Floodplain Management for more information about living in a floodplain.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources DNR Flood Map Updates

On June 16th, 2014, Jim Healy Village Administrator and Planning and Zoning Administrator wrote a mailing to approximately 500 Richfield residents as a courtesy to notify them that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Wisconsin DNR are currently in the process of updating the Washington County (Upper Rock and Lower Rock Watersheds) Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMS) and regional Flood Insurance Study (FIS). Although notification of these new changes was published in the Federal Register and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel during the month of April, we've come to learn that nothing was sent by those agencies to individual property owners that may be affected. Residents who received a letter were notified for one or more of the following reasons:

Their property was previously OUTSIDE of the floodplain and now may be INSIDE the floodplain.

Their property was previously IN the floodplain and now may be OUT of the floodplain.

Properties INSIDE the new floodplain may be designated as 'Floodway'. FEMA's flood maps are listed by section below:

• FEMA Map Section 1 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 2 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 3 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 4 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 5 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 6 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 7 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 8 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 9 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 10 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 11 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 12 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 13 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 14 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 15 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 16 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 17 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 18 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 19 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 20 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 21 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 22 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 23 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 24 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 25 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 26 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 27 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 28 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 29 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 30 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 31 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 32 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 33 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 34 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 35 (PDF)
• FEMA Map Section 36 (PDF)

Hardcopies of these maps are also available for personal inspection at Village Hall Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM to 4 PM.

The public comment/appeal period for the proposed floodplain maps ends on July 7, 2014. Questions, comments, or concerns regarding the proposed maps can be direct to:

Mr. Marc Budsberg
C/O Ms. Kristy Hanselman
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Post Office Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
(608)-261-6443
Email Marc Budsberg

Sometime after the close of the comment/appeal period, FEMA will issue and adopt a final map for Richfield. The Village shortly thereafter will be issued a "Letter of Final Determination" which gives the Village six (6) months to adopt the new maps. The proposed map may affect flood insurance rates that homeowners may have or want to obtain through the National Flood Insurance Program. Affected residents may want to contact their insurance agent to determine if purchasing flood insurance now will help reduce your premiums.

Jim Healy

Village Administrator