Eight Step Planning Process for Floodplain/Wetland Management

This page details the Eight Step Planning Process for Floodplain/Wetland Management.

1) Project Location in Floodplan/Wetland 2) Encourage Public Involvement 3) Evaluate Alternatives 4) Access Impacts 5) Minimize Impacts 6) Determine Practicability 7) Provide Public Explanation 8) Comply with Executive Orders

EO 11988: Floodplain Management
EO 11990: Wetland Protection
(Note: See 44 CFR 9.6 for more detailed information.)

STEP #1 Project Location in Floodplain/Wetland

Will the action be located in a wetland and/or the 100-year floodplain or will it have the potential to affect a wetland or floodplain?

• If no, you are finished
• If yes, continue to step #2

STEP #2 Encourage Public Involvement

A public notice must be published at the earliest possible time to provide information about the proposed project (1st Notice). The notice must be disaster-wide & project specific

• Not applicable, you are done
• Applicable, move on to step #3

STEP #3 Evaluate Alternatives

Is there any reasonable alternative to locating the project in a floodplain or wetland?

• If yes, FEMA must locate the action at the alternative site
• If no, continue to step #4

STEP #4 Assess Impacts

If the action must go in the wetlands or floodplain then the full range of impacts associated with the action must be identified.

• Not applicable, you are done
• Applicable, move on to step #5

STEP #5 Minimize Impacts

All potential adverse impacts must be avoided, minimized, or compensated for.

• Not applicable, you are done
• Applicable, move on to step #6

STEP #6 Determine Practicability

Reevaluate the proposed action to determine if it is still practicable in light of its exposure to flood hazards, the extent to which it will aggravate the hazards of others, and its potential to disrupt floodplain and wetland values.

• Not applicable, you are done
• Applicable, move on to step #7

STEP #7 Provide Public Explanation

If FEMA decides to take/fund an action that affects a floodplain or wetland, a 2nd public notice must be published (for a minimum of 15 days) to explain why affecting a floodplain or wetland is the only practicable alternative.

• Not applicable, you are done
• Applicable, move on to step #8

STEP #8 Comply with Executive Orders

Review the implementation and post-implementation phases of the proposed action to ensure that the requirements of the order are fully implemented. Oversight responsibility shall be integrated into existing processes.

• Not applicable, you are done
• Applicable, approval conditioned on review of implementation and post-implementation phases to insure compliance of the Executive Orders

Sample Requirements for Work in State Wetlands, Waterways and Floodplains