Tuscarawas County Floodplain Program


What is a Floodplain?

The floodplain is that part of the stream that conveys the excess water of a stream or river during a flood event. Improper development within the floodplain can cause significant loss of property and possibly of life. The proper care of the floodplain can be very beneficial to the environment by:

 

  • protecting fish and wildlife habitat

 

  • protecting wetlands

 

  • storing and conveying flood waters

 

  • reducing flood water velocities

 

  • reducing flood water peaks

 

  • enhancing the quality of the surface waters

 

  • promoting groundwater and aquifer recharge

 

  • providing higher quality recreational opportunities for those within the community


What is the SWCD doing to manage the floodplain of Tuscarawas County?

The County Commissioners have adopted floodplain regulations. The SWCD manage the floodplain according to these regulations by: 

issuing permits for development in floodplain areas of Tuscarawas County. 


  • providing Flood zone determinations and Base Flood Elevation (BFE) for residents and businesses. 

 

  • performing Substantial Damage and Substantial Improvement Determinations for the structures (if a flood event occurs).

 

  • investigating violations of the floodplain ordinance and initiating corrective action(s).

 

  • the maintaining of floodplain management records for the county.

 

  • educating community members and local officials about floodplain management. 


Contact

Any activity in the floodplain is subject to a permit, from filling along a stream bank to the development of a home and/or business. And it must be noted that there are no exemptions to the permit.


Agricultural development is not exempt. Neither is mining, landscaping, or other activity of man. “Why is that?” one may ask. Simply because if a flood comes on your property, whatever is not properly developed and/or tied down will most likely end up on your neighbor’s property, possibly damaging his property as well as yours.

 

 Anyone with questions regarding the floodplain or what can or cannot be done in the floodplain can contact Lee Finley, District Resource Specialist with the Tuscarawas Soil and Water Conservation District, at 330-339-7976 

More information

More information on floodplains can be found through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Their website is:


https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/rules-and-regulations/rules-for-landowners/floodplains


They can be contacted at:


Floodplain Management Program

2045 Morse Road, Bldg. B-3

Columbus, Ohio 43229-6693

614-265-6750

Other links

To determine if your property is in a Flood hazard area, you can contact this office or go to the FEMA Map Service center website and enter your address.


Search FEMA Floodplain Maps - https://msc.fema.gov/portal/search#searchresultsanchor


Tuscarawas County Floodplain Application - Floodplain Development Permit


Tuscarawas County Floodplain Regs - Floodplain Regulations


Request For Floodplain Assessment Of Parcel - Floodplain Request Form


Revised Beaver Dam Creek Flood Maps


Eastern Section - FloodMap39-157CO170D


Central Section - FloodMap39-157CO252D


Western Section - FloodMap39-157CO260D