Chapter 18.05 — FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT

Article 1. - General Provisions

A. Flood Hazard Areas. The flood hazard areas of the city of Orinda are subject to periodic inundation which could result in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health, safety and general welfare. B. Causes of Flood Losses. These flood losses are caused by uses that are inadequately evaluated, floodproofed or protected from flood damage. The cumulative effect of obstruction in areas of special flood hazards that increase flood heights and velocities also contribute to the flood loss. Obstructions in creeks (e.g., trees, limbs, dams, fences, vegetative and other debris) can cause flooding upstream of the obstruction. (Ord. 04-08 § 2 Exh. A (part))

It is the purpose of this chapter to promote the public health, safety and general welfare, and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specified areas by provisions designed to: A. Protect human life and health; B. Minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control projects; C. Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public; D. Minimize prolonged business interruptions; E. Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, streets and bridges located in areas of special flood hazard; F. Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the second use and development of areas of special flood hazard so as to minimize future flood blight areas caused by flood damage; G.

Insure that potential buyers are notified that property is in an area of special flood hazard; and H. Insure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions. (Ord. 04-08 § 2 Exh. A (part))

In order to accomplish its purposes, this chapter includes methods and provisions to: A. Restrict or prohibit uses which are dangerous to health, safety and property due to water or erosion hazards, or which result in damaging increases in erosion or in flood heights or velocities; B. Require that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction; C. Control the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels, and natural protective barriers which help accommodate or channel floodwaters; D. Control filling, grading, dredging, and other development which may increase flood damage; E. Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally divert floodwaters or which may increase flood hazards in other areas; and F. Prevent natural and machine-made obstructions in watercourses. (Ord. 04-08 § 2 Exh. A (part))