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HomeWater CodeDiv. 5Pt. 6Ch. 2§ 9610 Flood Plain Mapping Requirements

§ 9610 Flood Plain Mapping Requirements

Water Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 9610 Flood Plain Mapping Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •The state must create maps showing areas that could flood every 100 or 200 years, using rules from FEMA.
  • •These maps help cities and towns know where floods might happen so they can plan and protect people.
  • •The maps are shared online and updated when needed.
  • •The state won’t get in trouble if the maps aren’t perfect, as long as they tried their best.

Example

If you live near a river in Sacramento, the state’s flood maps will show if your house could be underwater in a big flood.

The maps help your city decide where to build stronger levees or warn people to move to safer ground.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 9610 Flood Plain Mapping Requirements

(a) (1) By July 1, 2008, the department shall develop preliminary maps for the 100- and 200-year flood plains protected by project levees. The 100-year flood plain maps shall be prepared using criteria developed or accepted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). (2) The department shall use available information from the 2002 Sacramento and San Joaquin River Basins Comprehensive Study, preliminary and regulatory FEMA flood insurance rate maps, recent flood plain studies, and other sources to compile preliminary maps. (3) The department shall provide the preliminary maps to cities and counties within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley for use as best available information relating to flood protection. (4) The department shall post this information on the board’s Internet Web site and may periodically update the maps as necessary. (b) By July 1, 2008, the department shall give notice to cities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley outside areas protected by project levees regarding maps and other information as to flood risks available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or another federal, state, or local agency. (c) On or before December 31, 2010, the department shall prepare a status report on the progress and development of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan pursuant to Section 9612. The department shall post this information on the board’s Internet Web site, and make it available to the public. (d) (1) On or before July 2, 2013, and for the purpose of providing information to cities and counties necessary for their determinations relating to level of flood protection, the department shall release flood plain maps that identify at a minimum the facilities of the State Plan of Flood Control and the available data as to the water surface elevation of flooding in urban areas in the event of the failure of the facilities of the State Plan of Flood Control during flooding that has a 1-in-200 chance of occurring in any given year. (2) Concurrent with the release of these maps and for the purpose of assisting local agencies in determining their level of flood protection, the department shall make available levee reliability data for the facilities of the State Plan of Flood Control identified in the maps. (e) The department’s issuance of flood plain maps shall not be subject to the review and approval of the Office of Administrative Law or to any other requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. (f) The state, or any state agency, shall not be liable for any claim based upon the reasonable exercise or performance of a discretionary or ministerial function or duty on the part of a state agency or a state employee or officer in carrying out subdivision (d). (Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 554, Sec. 2. (AB 1965) Effective January 1, 2013.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

informationinsuranceby julyprotectionterminationemergencynetport

Related Statutes

  • § 12314 Flood Protection Project Plans
  • § 144 Stream Gage Network Plan
  • § 1051 Water Rights Investigations
  • § 1058.5 Emergency Water Conservation Rules
  • § 10609.60 Small Water Supplier Drought Plans

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Water Code. Section 9610.
View Official Source