Greetings from OKC

This week is the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) annual conference in Oklahoma City. The week has been full of different presentations, workshops, and tours on everything from flood insurance to levee accreditation to no adverse impact floodplain management. And there have been a few sessions for us stormwater people as well.

To start the week off, NeFSMA was formally recognized as a state chapter of ASFPM. We were the only state chapter to join this year. Laurie Carrette-Zook and Paul Woodward accepted the plaque on behalf of NeFSMA. (I do have pictures, but I do not have my cord to download, so watch for them in the next edition of the newsletter.)

I was able to sit in on some national policy discussions on mitigation and urban stormwater management. The most interesting thing I took from the mitigation discussions was how sustainability and mitigation are interconnected. If you build a structure that can be easily damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster, how sustainable is that structure? Even if made from the most environmentally friendly materials, if those materials are being replaced on a frequent basis, the total consumption of materials is far greater than a structure built out of harm's way. One other fact from the mitigation session: On average, every $1 spent on mitigation saves $4 in damages.

The hot topic in the urban stormwater discussion was the idea of "stove piping." Multiple agencies have an interest in water resources, but they don't always take a look around to see what other agencies are doing. The urban stormwater committee will be putting together a white paper in the coming year to address some of these issues.

The last thing I will mention is a speech delivered by Craig Fugate, Administrator of FEMA. He explained that his job is to run an insurance company. Our job as floodplain administrators and managers is to put him out of business.

Lori Laster
2010 NeFSMA Treasurer

Two of NeFSMA's Own Heard on the Radio this Week

On May 5th, two NeFSMA members were heard on local radio doling out their descriptions of how the proposed Haymarket Arena in Lincoln would be impacted by the floodplain and floodplain standards.

You can listen to the podcast of Jack and John in the Morning (1400 KLIN) here: http://www.cyberears.com/index.php/Browse/playaudio/9364

Very nicely done, Carter and Ben! Flood storage mitigation, no-net fill, flood events, and flood standards, and levees are sometimes difficult concepts to communicate to the general public. Your descriptions were very well articulated and understandable by the early morning commuter traffic.

(Notice: NeFSMA does not provide support for or against the proposed Haymarket Arena.)

Jesse Poore

2010 NeFSMA Chair

NeFSMA 2010 Annual Conference Registration

The Nebraska Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association is pleased to announce our second annual statewide Floodplain and Stormwater Management Conference. The conference will be Friday July 30, 2010 at the Ramada Conference Center in Kearney, Nebraska. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Kenneth Dewey, Professor of Applied Climate Science at UNL.

You can register on-line

http://dnrdata.dnr.ne.gov/floodplain/ConferenceRegistration/RegistrationForm.aspx

then send your registration fee to:

Nebraska Floodplain & Stormwater
Managers Association
Attn: Lori Laster,Treasurer
8901 S. 154th St.
Omaha, NE 68138

Or print out th form http://www.dnr.state.ne.us/floodplain/Conference_2010/Registration_Flyer.pdf and send it with your payment to Lori.

We have some great seminars lined up this year including:

• Community Guidance: Policies and Ordinances/Forms and Certificates
• Hydrology and Hydraulics for Flood and Stormwater Management and Design
• New EPA Construction Effluent Guidelines
• Post-Construction Integrated Management Practices
• No Adverse Impact Development in the Floodplain
• Levee Decertification and Recertification
• Tips to Present Highly Technical Data to a Non-Technical Audience
• How to Successfully Secure a Hazard Mitigation Grant.

Attendees will earn 6 CFM credits. Lunch is included in the registration fee. Please register by July 16, 2010.

Jesse Poore

2010 NeFSMA Chair

Want to Understand the Platte River?

Looking for a greater appreciation of the Platte River? Bob Kuzelka has some information about a tour taking place May 10-13. It is sponsored by the University of Nebraska and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. There are still spots open if you or anyone you know are interested in what looks like a great Eco-Tour. For more information, phone OLLI at UNL by phone 402-472-6265 or on the web www.olli.unl.edu.

Maybe it could be a great Mother's Day gift!!!

Tour arrangements are provided by Valden Tours in Lincoln and includes stops at the Lake McConaughy Visitors Center, UNL's Cedar Point Biological Station with John Janovy, Cedar Point wtih Jim Goeke, Spring Creek Headwaters, Bridgeport Community Center with Tom Hayden, Pumpkin Creek (my childhood playground) with Steve Sibray, and on and on and on....

Check out the details at www.olli.unl.edu and get in touch with them if you are interested!

Jesse Poore

2010 NeFSMA Chair