By: FREDA R. SAVANA The Intelligencer
A proposal to expand the amount of land along the Delaware River
that's defined as flood plain in hopes of reducing the impact of
future floods has riverside property owners concerned about its
impact on them.
"Expanding the flood plain to include the
500-year flood event more than doubles the area of the flood
plain," said Mick Drustrup, an Upper Black Eddy resident. "It's
as if I had a cut on my finger and I put a cast on my arm."
Drustrup represents property owners on a subcommittee of the
Delaware River Basin Commission's flood advisory committee.
The 20-member group has offered a laundry list of
recommendations on how to reduce the devastating effects of
flooding on homes, businesses and agriculture. In a recent
report, it said expanding the boundary of the regulated flood
plain is needed to better protect those who live and work along
the river.
But the greater coverage area - broadening it to account for
a 100-year flood to the 500-year flood - isn't supported by some
landowners along the river, who challenge the social and
economic impact of such a change.
Thousands of people in the Delaware Valley who have never
been flooded would be subjected to possible new regulations,
Drustrup said.
While any new regulations would affect each property
differently based on its geography, Drustrup said no new
development would be permitted in the flood plain.
In addition to expanding the flood plain, recommendations
also call for an enlarged floodway. The floodway is the inner
portion of the flood prone area nearest the river.
For riverfront property owners in that section, no new
building would be permitted and homeowners could not expand
their properties' footprint.
"You could not build a mother-in-law's suite or an extra
room," said Drustrup. "If you had another lot you planned to
build your retirement home on, you won't be allowed. What are
you supposed to do with the property now, it's valueless."
He and other river-property owners have formed the Group of
Thirteen, a citizen's organization concerned about what it
believes would be "unnecessary and overly burdensome"
restrictions. According to Drustrup, an enlarged flood plain
would hurt riverfront property values and greatly restrict
commercial waterfront development.
In Milford, N.J., for example, he said, plans to develop the
old paper mill would be thwarted if the flood plain is extended.
The committee's report recommends one of two options for the
DRBC to consider.
One proposal calls for defining the flood plain as 1 percent
of the annual chance of peak flow, also known as the 100-year
flood.
The second option suggests defining the regulatory flood
plain by 0.2 percent annual chance of peak flow, often referred
to as the 500-year flood plain.
Despite the differences on this issue, others on the
subcommittee said it was a largely cooperative effort, with a
common goal.
"We all want to peacefully coexist along the river," said
George Donovan, president of the Central Bucks Chamber of
Commerce and a subcommittee member. Although further regulation
may cause conflict for some, Donovan said he saw "an effort to
lay aside personal concerns for the betterment of all."
Maya K. van Rossum, director of the Delaware Riverkeeper
Network and a member of the committee, agreed.
"Overall the committee recognized the need for improved flood
plain regulation. Continuing to build (in the flood plain) is
neither wise, nor safe," she said.
The DRBC's flood advisory committee will submit its report to
the full DRBC board for review at its September meeting.
Freda R. Savana can be reached at 215-345-3061 or fsavana@phillyBurbs.com.