JANUARY 16, 2025|
Photo – North Platte River in Saratoga – Bigfoot99 file photo
Saratoga officials have begun a process to create a floodway along the North Platte River to ease regulations on the surrounding areas.
During the January 7th Saratoga town council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner asked the governing body to approve a contract with Werner Water Engineering out of Loveland, Colorado.
Following the town’s recent adoption of the more expansive Federal Emergency Management Agency flood plain maps, Penner has been exploring ways to facilitate construction in Saratoga. The public works director proposed establishing a floodway in the center of the North Platte River, explaining that a floodway will make building in areas surrounding the river easier and less expensive.
A floodway is a FEMA recognized area of a river where development is strictly limited to ensure the free flow of water during a flood. The area outside of the floodway, called the flood fringe, may still experience flooding, but isn’t the primary pathway for the water.
By establishing a FEMA-recognized floodway, the town is hoping to convince the federal agency that the North Platte River that runs through the town will remain unobstructed, enabling Saratoga officials to loosen construction restrictions near the river.
Public Works Director Penner said the creation of a floodway may save residents money on permitting and construction costs within the flood zone.
There’s a catch. Penner said he won’t know how effective the floodway will be until the investigation is complete.
Penner added that the process of creating a floodway is cheap and easy. A simple ordinance is all that is required to officially adopt a floodway.
Documents provided by the town show that Werner Water Engineering is charging $200 an hour to create a draft floodway model, with the total cost not expected to exceed $3,200.
The Saratoga town council voted unanimously to begin the floodway creation process.
