Alaska Risk MAP Program Community Risk MAP Studies: Fairbanks North Star Borough Tanana River and Zone A Flood Studies The Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) identified a need for updated flood analysis of the Tanana River and selected Zone A ("Approximate") study areas in the borough. The FNSB applied for funding for this project through FEMA’s Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program and in 2019, FEMA awarded a grant to the FNSB to perform hydrology and hydraulics along the Tanana River and Salchaket Slough. In addition, FEMA provided contract support through its mapping contractor to provide independent quality assurance- quality control of the hydrology and hydraulics, flood risk products, and preliminary map production along with community engagement. The specific Zone A needs were identified in a FEMA Risk MAP meeting held on 27 August 2020, and FEMA funded additional mapping for selected Zone A (Approximate) reaches starting in late 2020. In 2021, FEMA added an additional 222 miles to the original Zone A study area to include the Chatanika River, Chena River, Monument Creek, North Fork Chena River, and Salcha River. The Zone A analysis was initiated in September 2020. FEMA’s mapping contractor obtained 2017-18 LiDAR/DTM datasets from the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Elevation Portal to develop hydraulics and hydrology for the identified areas. In 2021, 215 miles of additional stream reaches were added to the original project extent. A virtual flood Risk Review meeting on the approximate studies and Tanana River study was held with the FNSB on July 6, 2023 to share the resulting data, solicit community feedback, and discuss next steps for the project. Data from these efforts can be viewed at the following locations: FEMA GeoPlatform and Flood Study Data: Zone A Study Draft Map Viewer:Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska - Draft (2022.10.04) - Viewer Flood Study Viewer (Zone A/Tanana):Fairbanks North Star Borough - Flood Study Viewer (2023.01) FNSB Risk MAP Project Portfolio (all projects):Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska - Risk MAP Project Portfolio Flood Study Data Workmaps (Expiration Date: 2/18/2023):Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska - Risk MAP Project Portfolio Project Deliverables (Risk MAP Contacts, Project Area Scope Map, Draft Maps)**: https://www.starr-team.com/starr/RegionalWorkspaces/RegionX/FNSB_AK_DFIRM-PTS_Support_to_CTP/SitePages/Home.aspx The following table illustrates project status and includes major milestones with dates for this project: Meeting/Deliverable Actual or Projected End Date Flood Study Kick-Off Meeting August 27, 2020 BLE Map Release (GeoPlatform) July 21, 2021 Flood Study Kick-Off Meeting September 22, 2021 Draft Map Release – Zone A’s January 24, 2023 Draft Map Release – Tanana River February 18, 2023 Flood Risk Review (FRR) Meeting July 6, 2023 Preliminary DFIRM/FIS Release Fall/Winter 2023* Consultation Coordination Officers (CCO) Meeting Spring 2024* Public Meeting/Workshop Spring 2024* 90 Day Appeal Period Starts Summer 2024* 90 Day Appeal Period Ends Fall 2024* Letter of Final Determination TBD Draft Multi-Hazard Risk Report TBD Risk MAP Resilience Workshop TBD Risk MAP Resilience Workshop TBD Delivery of Final Risk Report and Risk Assessment Database TBD Maps and FIS become Effective TBD *All projected dates are subject to revision as the project progresses Chena Slough Flood Study The Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) identified an updated flood study for Chena Slough as a local mapping need while an effective Flood Insurance Study, dated March 17, 2014, was being finalized. FEMA was unable to include an updated flood study for Chena Slough at that time. Since then, FNSB completed an updated flood study for Chena Slough through FEMA's Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) program. FEMA’s mapping contractor was tasked with performing Quality Assurance/Quality Control(QA/QC) of the flood study, and to incorporate the updated study data into Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for public release and review. Preliminary Flood Insurance Study and FIRM Database Coming Soon! Consultation Coordination Officer (CCO) Meeting After the release of preliminary FIRMs and FIS reports, FEMA holds meetings to present them first to community officials at a Consultation Coordination Officer (CCO) Meeting . Any changes in flood risk will be explained and participants will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the products. This is also the meeting where public outreach needs are discussed. The CCO Meeting is required by 44 CFR 66.5 (f): (f) The community shall be informed in writing of any intended modification to the community's final flood elevation determinations or the development of new elevations in additional areas of the community as a result of a new study or restudy. Such information to the community will include the data set forth in paragraph (e) of this section. At the discretion of the Regional Administrator in each FEMA Regional Office, a meeting may be held to accomplish this requirement. Coming Soon! Region X Service Center Quarterly Reports The following table illustrates project status and includes major milestones with dates for this project: Activity Actual or Projected End Date Flood Study Kick-Off Meeting November 23, 2016 Preliminary DFIRM/FIS Release February 15, 2019 Consultation Coordination Officers (CCO) Meeting April 23, 2019 Public Meeting/Workshop June 20, 2019 90-Day Appeal Period Started September 6, 2019 90-Day Appeal Period Ended December 5, 2019 Letter of Final Determination March 18, 2020 Maps and FIS become Effective September 18, 2020 Contact for More Information Sally Russell Cox State of Alaska Risk MAP Coordinator Division of Community and Regional Affairs Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1650 Anchorage, AK 99501-3569 Phone (907) 269-4588 Fax (907)269-4539 Email: sally.cox@alaska.gov