Floodplain Mapping

La Plata County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) so county residents can qualify for flood insurance underwritten by FEMA.  To remain part of the National Flood Insurance Program, local governments are required to adopt regulations that meet or exceed FEMA’s minimum requirements.  In addition to providing the minimum requirements, FEMA also assists local governments by promulgating Flood Insurance Studies and associated Flood Insurance Rate Maps for each participating local government. These maps assist local property owners, insurance agencies and financial institutions in determining flood hazard zones, and they provide technical, hydrological data that is used to administer floodplain management regulations and assure compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program.  La Plata County’s floodplain management regulations are in Chapter 78 of the La Plata County Land Use Code, "Floods." 

In May 2018, La Plata County began the effort to improve the County’s floodplain maps with funding from FEMA  and the Colorado Water Conservation Board.  New technology and aerial mapping processes have created better accuracy in determining the limits and depths of flood waters in the study area.  

La Plata County sponsored a presentation and virtual open house, to provide information to residents on these more accurate and updated floodplain maps.  This floodplain map modernization program will ultimately result in the adoption of new and more accurate floodplain maps for use with La Plata County’s floodplain management regulations and to assist local property owners, insurance agencies and financial institutions in determining flood hazard zones in La Plata County. 

Revised mapping and hydrological data has been provided for La Plata County watersheds including rivers and drainages.  Visit www.coloradohazardmapping.com for additional information.

For those individuals who are unable to attend the open house, all maps and technical data can be viewed on the FEMA website at https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/prelimdownload/searchResult.action.

For additional information, call the La Plata County Building Department at (970) 382-6250.

View Preliminary Flood Data View Web Mapping Application
Disclaimer: Preliminary Data are for review and guidance purposes only. By viewing Preliminary Data and maps, the user acknowledges that the information provided is preliminary and subject to change. Preliminary Data, including new or revised FIRMs, FIS reports, and FIRM Databases, are not final and are presented on the Flood Data Viewer for review only. Additionally, Preliminary Data cannot be used to rate flood insurance policies or enforce FEMA floodplain requirements.