Here is some new and informative information relating to floodplain and flooding issues.

- FEMA, NOAA and Partners Encourage Residents to Prepare for Springtime Flooding

- Information Packet for Wisconsin Flood Safety Awareness Week March 14-18, 2011

The purpose of this page is to provide information and resources about floodplain tips, concerns, issues, and mapping in the City of Muskego.  Please check back here often as we will try to update this page as often as necessary to keep the residents of Muskego informed on floodplain issues in the City.

Most floodplain regulations apply to the 1% annual chance (also known as the 100-year) floodplain.  The floodplain is made of of two parts.  The inner portion of the floodplain in known as the floodway.  The floodway is the channel of a river or stream, and those portions of the floodplain adjoining the channel required to carry the regional flood discharge. The floodway is the most dangerous part of the floodplain since it is associated with moving water.  The area of the floodplain outside of the floodway is the floodfringe.   This area is covered by flood water during the regional flood. The floodfringe is generally associated with standing water rather than flowing water.  It is also the part of the floodplain in which some development is allowed subject to the floodplain development standards.

Diagram illustrating the different areas of the floodplain (from the DNR).

There are a few different types of floodplain maps and documents that are applicable in the City of Muskego.

Floodplain Zoning Ordinance - The City is requires to have an adopted Floodplain Zoning Ordinance that meets the requirements of FEMA and the DNR.  Here is a link to the Floodplain Zoning Ordinance:

http://www.ci.muskego.wi.us/Portals/0/docs/Chptr14.pdf

Official Maps Based on FIS - Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) are the Official maps produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that are nationally recognized maps showing the floodplain per the FIS (Flood Insurance Study). These are the maps that are typically used by lenders to determine is a property is located in the floodplain and if flood insurance may be required for a specific home. These maps identify the various types of floodplains within a certain area. There are 17 of these maps that cover the City of Muskego.  These are effective as of November 19, 2008.

FIS Study Document:
Volume 1
Volume 2 (Pages 1-50)
Volume 2 (Pages 51-105)
Volume 3

Maps (FIRMs):
Index Page 1 (Map)
Index Page 2 (Info)
Panels -
55133C0339F
55133C0342F
55133C0343F
55133C0344F
55133C0361F
55133C0362F
55133C0363F
55133C0364F
55133C0452F
55133C0454F
55133C0456F
55133C0457F
55133C0458F
55133C0459F
55133C0476F
55133C0477F
55133C0478F

LOMR -
Unnamed Tributary to Muskego Canal for FIRM panels 55133C0343F and 55133C0344F, effective September 30, 2009

LOMR-F -
Quietwood Creek on Lots 10-15 within the Northfield Green Subdivision for FIRM panel 55133C0361F, effective April 8, 2010

Official Other Studies/Maps - These are still official studies that have been done commissioned by the City or third parties that have not been acknowledged by FEMA, but are still believed to be more accurate than the FIRMs in certain areas of the City.  These maps are typically more restrictive than the FIRMs.  These are not typically used by insurance companies to determine if flood insurance is required or not.  They are usually used by the City sice we believe they are the best information available and all applicable City floodplain regulations apply to these maps, as well as the FIRMs.

Maps:
Muskego Canal
Jewel Creek

Flood Storage Maps - These maps were produced by the DNR as part of the revised 2008 FIRMs. These maps show certain floodfringe areas, as shown on the FIRMs, that have an extra layer of protection to ensure that the floodplain storage capacity is preserved in these specially identified areas.

Maps:
Overview Flood Storage Map
Official Flood Storage Map - Panel #9 (Northern Muskego/Southern New Berlin)
Official Flood Storage Map - Panel #10 (Southern Muskego)

All of the maps and documents listed above are available at the Community Development Department - Planning Services Division inside Muskego City Hall and some are available through FEMA's website.

Letter of Map Change (LOMC) are documents issued by FEMA that can override and/or clarify what the FIRMs may show. There are a few different types of LOMCs.

    - LOMA (Letter of Map Amendment) - These are letter issued by FEMA that identify is a
    specific structure is located in the floodplain or not. FEMA makes these decisions based upon
    elevation data being submitted to them from review. These are the most common type of
    LOMCs issued. These letters do not formally change the maps, but the FEMA issued letter
    supersedes the maps.

    - LOMR-F (Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill) - These are letters, typically with
    maps/exhibits attached, that formally modify the floodplain boundaries for a certain area.
    These are used when is being placed within the FIRM mapped floodplain, outside of the
    floodway.

    - LOMR (Letter of Map Revision) - These are letters, typically with maps attached, that
    formally modify the floodplain boundaries (floodfringe and/or floodway) for a certain area.
    These typically involve a new study being done for a certain area.  These take a bit more
    time and have a larger expense associated with them than LOMAs.

Valid LOMCs - When the new FIRMs and FIS became effective on November 19, 2008, all previous LOMCs became invalid.  On November 20, 2008 FEMA issued a bulk revalidation letter that revalidated any previous LOMC documents that FEMA believed were still valid.  The following document lists the previous LOMC documents that are still valid as part of the new mapping.

LOMC Revalidation Letter

The City is on the process of mapping the locations of the properties that have valid LOMCs documents associated with them.  The goal is to eventually be able to offer all of the LOMC documents via this website.

There are also a few other types of floodplain change documents but these are the three most common types.  For more information and for copies of all LOMC documents are available through the City of Muskego Community Development Department - Planning Division office and through FEMA's website at www.fema.gov.

For more information relating to any floodplain questions, issues, concerns, etc. please feel free to contact the City of Muskego Community Development Department - Planning Services Division.  Staff there will try to assist you in any way they can and point you in the right direction if additional information is required.

You can also always view the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Floodplain Management website at the following address for additional information:

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/topic/floodplains/

And FEMA's website at the following address:

http://www.fema.gov