Spencer County

SPENCER COUNTY, INDIANA AND INCORPORATED AREAS

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY NAME NUMBER *CHRISNEY, TOWN OF 180591 DALE, TOWN OF 180589 GENTRYVILLE,

TOWN OF 180394 GRANDVIEW, TOWN OF 180238 RICHLAND, TOWN OF 180637 ROCKPORT, CITY OF 180239 SANTA CLAUS, TOWN OF 180590 SPENCER COUNTY

(Unincorporated Areas) 180237

*No Special Flood Hazard Areas Identified

PRELIMINARY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY NUMBER

18147CV000A

NOTICE TO FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY USERS

Communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program have established

repositories of flood hazard data for floodplain management and flood insurance purposes.

This Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report may not contain all data available within the

Community Map Repository. Please contact the Community Map Repository for any

additional data.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may revise and republish part or all

of this FIS report at any time. In addition, FEMA may revise part of this FIS report by the

Letter of Map Revision process, which does not involve republication or redistribution of the

FIS report. Therefore, users should consult with community officials and check the

Community Map Repository to obtain the most current FIS report components.

Selected Flood Insurance Rate Map panels for this community contain information that was

previously shown separately on the corresponding Flood Boundary and Floodway Map

panels (e.g., floodways, cross sections). In addition, former flood hazard zone designations

have been changed as follows:

Old Zone: New Zone:

A1 through A30 AE

B X

C X

Initial Countywide FIS Effective Date:

i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Purpose of Study 1

1.2 Authority and Acknowledgments 2

1.3 Coordination 3

2.0 AREA STUDIED 4

2.1 Scope of Study 4

2.2 Community Description 5

2.3 Principal Flood Problems 6

2.4 Flood Protection Measures 7

3.0 ENGINEERING METHODS 7

3.1 Hydrologic Analyses 8

3.2 Hydraulic Analyses 9

3.3 Vertical Datum 10

4.0 FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS 11

4.1 Floodplain Boundaries 11

4.2 Floodways 12

5.0 INSURANCE APPLICATION 16

6.0 FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP 17

7.0 OTHER STUDIES 19

8.0 LOCATION OF DATA 19

9.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES 19

FIGURES

Figure 1 - Floodway Schematic 13

ii

TABLES

Table 1 - CCO Meeting Dates 3

Table 2 – Streams Studied By Detailed Methods 4

Table 3 – Streams Studied By Approximate Methods 4

Table 4 – Scope of Study 5

Table 5 – Population of Incorporated Cities and Towns in Spencer County 6

Table 6 – Summary of Discharges 8

Table 7 – Channel and Overbank Roughness Factors 10

Table 8 – Floodway Data Table 14

Table 9 – Community Map History 18

EXHIBITS

Exhibit 1 - Flood Profiles Panel #s

Little Pigeon Creek 01P-02P

Ohio River 03P-05P

Exhibit 2 - Flood Insurance Rate Map Index

Flood Insurance Rate Map

1

FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY

SPENCER COUNTY, INDIANA AND INCORPORATED AREAS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose of Study

This Flood Insurance Study (FIS) revises and supersedes the FIS reports and Flood

Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) in the geographic area of Spencer County, Indiana,

including the City of Rockport, the Towns of Chrisney, Dale, Gentryville,

Grandview, Richland and Santa Claus, and the unincorporated areas of Spencer

County (hereinafter referred to collectively as Spencer County), and aids in the

administration of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster

Protection Act of 1973. This study has developed flood risk data for various areas of

the community that will be used to establish actuarial flood insurance rates and to

assist the community in its efforts to promote sound floodplain management. This

information will also be used by Spencer County to update existing floodplain

regulations as part of the Regular Phase of the National Flood Insurance Program

(NFIP), and by local and regional planners to further promote sound land use and

floodplain development. Minimum floodplain management requirements for

participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are set forth in the

Code of Federal Regulations at 44 CFR, 60.3.

In some states or communities, floodplain management criteria or regulations may

exist that are more restrictive or comprehensive than the minimum Federal

requirements. In such cases, the more restrictive criteria take precedence and the

State (or other jurisdictional agency) will be able to explain them.

Furthermore, the Town of Chrisney does not have special flood hazard areas within

its incorporated limits. However, for the purpose of complete county-wide mapping

of Spencer County, this town is still included in this FIS and FIRMs.

The Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) and FIS report for this countywide

study have been produced in digital format. Flood hazard information was converted

to meet the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) DFIRM database

specifications and Geographic Information System (GIS) format requirements. The

flood hazard information was created and is provided in a digital format so that it can

be incorporated into local GIS and be accessed more easily by the community.

2

1.2 Authority and Acknowledgments

The sources of authority for this Flood Insurance Study are the National Flood

Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973.

Information of the authority and acknowledgements for each of the new studies and

previously printed FIS reports and Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for

communities within Spencer County was compiled and is shown below:

Spencer County

(Unincorporated Areas) The hydrologic and hydraulic analyses for this study

were prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey for the

Federal Insurance Administration for the Federal

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under Inter-

Agency Agreement No. IAA-H-17-72, Project Order I-

18-147-000-22. This study, which was completed in

April 1974, covered all significant flooding sources

affecting the unincorporated areas of Spencer County.

Rockport, City of: The hydrologic and hydraulic analyses for this study

were prepared by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers,

as reported in “Ohio River Profiles” for the Federal

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This study,

which was completed in January 1981, covered all

significant flooding sources affecting the City of

Rockport.

Chrisney, Town of: No previous FIS.

Dale, Town of: No previous FIS.

Gentryville, Town of: No previous FIS.

Grandview, Town of: The hydrologic and hydraulic analyses for this study

were prepared by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers,

as reported in “Ohio River Profiles” for the Federal

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This study,

which was completed in January 1981, covered all

significant flooding sources affecting the Town of

Grandview.

Richland, Town of: No previous FIS.

Santa Claus, Town of: No previous FIS.

3

New Studies: The hydrologic and hydraulic analyses for approximate

stream reaches of Spencer County were performed by

Morley and Associates, Inc., on behalf of the Indiana

Department of Natural Resources, under Indiana Public

Works Project Number E060020. The Indiana

Department of Natural Resources managed the

production of this study as part of their Cooperating

Technical Partner agreement with the Federal

Emergency Management Agency dated April 29, 2004,

which was defined by the Indiana DNR Mapping

Activity Statement 08-01 dated July 7, 2008 and funded

under agreement number EMC-2008-CA-7017.

Redelineation of the previously effective flood hazard information for this FIS report,

correction to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988, and conversion of the

unincorporated and incorporated areas of Spencer County into the Countywide format

was performed by Morley and Associates, Inc., on behalf of the Indiana Department

of Natural Resources, under Indiana Public Works Project Number E060020. The

Indiana Department of Natural Resources managed the production of this study as

part of their Cooperating Technical Partner agreement with the Federal Emergency

Management Agency dated April 29, 2004, which was defined by the Indiana DNR

Mapping Activity Statement 08-01 dated July 7, 2008 and funded under agreement

number EMC-2008-CA-7017.

1.3 Coordination

The purpose of an initial Consultation Coordinated Officer’s (CCOs) meeting is to

discuss the scope of the FIS. A final CCO meeting is held to review the results of the

study. The dates of the initial and final CCO meetings held for the previously

effective FIS reports covering the geographic area of Spencer County, Indiana are

shown in Table 1. The initial and final CCO meetings were attended by the study

contractor, FEMA (or the Federal Insurance Administration), the Indiana Department

of Natural Resources (IDNR), and the affected communities.

Table 1: CCO Meeting Dates for Pre-Countywide FIS

Community Name Initial CCO Date Final CCO Date

Spencer County * September 1, 1976

(Unincorporated Areas)

Rockport, City of * August 18, 1982

Grandview, Town of * August 18, 1982

*No initial date given in original FIS.

4

For this countywide FIS, an initial CCO meeting was held on December 5, 2007, and

was attended by IDNR, the Spencer County Plan Commission, the Indiana 15

Regional Planning Commission, the Chrisney Town Council, the Town of

Grandview, the Town of Dale, the Town of Santa Claus and the City of Rockport.

The results of the countywide study were reviewed at the final CCO meeting held on

--, and attended by representatives of FEMA, IDNR and________. All problems

raised at that meeting have been addressed.

2.0 AREA STUDIED

2.1 Scope of Study

This FIS covers the geographic area of Spencer County, Indiana, including the

incorporated communities listed in Section 1.1.

All FIRM panels for Spencer County have been revised, updated, and republished in

countywide format as a part of this FIS. The FIRM panel index, provided as Exhibit

2, illustrates the revised FIRM panel layout.

Approximate methods of analysis were used to study those areas having a low

development potential or minimal flood hazards as identified during the initial CCO

meeting. For this study, fifteen (15) stream reaches were studied using approximate

methods. The scope and methods of new approximate studies were proposed and

agreed upon by FEMA, the IDNR, and Spencer County.

This FIS update also incorporates the determination of letters issued by FEMA

resulting in map changes (Letters of Map Change, or LOMCs). No Letters of Map

Revision (LOMRs) exist at this time.

Table 2: Streams Studied by Detailed Methods

Little Pigeon Creek Ohio River

Table 3: Streams Studied by Approximate Methods

Anderson River Baker Creek

Blackhawk Creek Buckhorn Creek

Clear Creek Crooked Creek

East Fork Little Pigeon Creek Ferdinand Run

Hawk Run Honey Creek

Hunley Creek Hurricane Creek

Jackson Creek Little Pigeon Creek

5

Table 3: Streams Studied by Approximate Methods Cont.

Little Sandy Creek Middle Fork Crooked Creek

Nest Run Sandy Creek

Slough Creek Swinging Creek

Willow Pond Ditch

Table 4: Scope of Study

Stream Limits of Approximate Study

Anderson River Mouth to Perry County Line

Blackhawk Creek Mouth to CR 1050 E

Buckhorn Creek Mouth to about 2000’ upstream of

CR 350 E

Crooked Creek SR 66 to CR 1790 N

Crooked Creek Tributary 24 Mouth to Christmas Lake

East Fork Crooked Creek Mouth to CR 1550 N

East Fork Little Pigeon Creek Mouth to US 231

Hooppole Ditch Mouth to CR 500 N

Huffman Ditch SR 66 to CR400 N

Little Pigeon Creek Hendrickson Road to Warrick

County Line (North)

Little Pigeon Creek Warrick County Line (West) to CR 700E

Little Sandy Creek SR 66 to CR 1000 N

Middle Fork Crooked Creek Mouth to CR 1500 N

Sandy Creek SR 66 to CR 1200 N

Slough Creek SR 66 to 6,000 FT Upstream of SR 66

Stream Limits of Detailed Study

Ohio River Warrick Co Line to Perry Co Line

2.2 Community Description

Spencer County is located in southern Indiana and is bordered by Dubois County to

the north, Spencer County to the east, Hancock County, Kentucky to the southeast,

Daviess County, Kentucky to the south, and Warrick County to the west. The total

land area within the county is approximately 398.7 square miles. The largest city and

county seat is Rockport which is located approximately 140 miles south of

Indianapolis and 48 miles north of Louisville Kentucky. Spencer County is served by

Interstate 64, US Highway 231, State Routes 62, 66, 68, 70, 161, 162, 245, and 545.

The climate in Spencer County ranges from hot and humid in the summertime to cold

during the winter season. Average daytime temperatures during the summer fall

6

around 76.9ºF, while winter temperatures average at approximately 34.2ºF.

Precipitation for Spencer County totals an annual amount of 45.67 inches.

According to U.S. Census Data from the year 2010, the population of Spencer County

was reported to be 20,952. Table 5 lists the population of the incorporated areas in

Spencer County.

Table 5: Population of incorporated cities and towns in Spencer County 2010 Census

Community Population

Chrisney, Town of 481

Dale, Town of 1,593

Gentryville, Town of 268

Grandview, Town of 749

Richland, Town of 425

Rockport, City of 2,270

Santa Claus, Town of 2,481

2.3 Principal Flood Problems

Major flooding in Spencer County primarily occurs along the Ohio River, Little

Pigeon Creek, and the tributaries to those streams. The flood of January-February

1937 was the most disastrous for the Ohio River Basin. Excessive and almost

continuous rainfall most of January caused the river to swell to maximum recorded

stages. This flood interrupted communications and transportation for up to a month.

The flood of 1913 was the second largest in the area; due to large storms following

each other very closely. Floods principally occur during the winter and spring

months, but can occur during any season. Generally, two types of storm events cause

flooding. During the winter and spring, storms of moderate intensity and long

duration, coupled with frozen ground, cause flooding to occur. During the summer,

thunderstorms which have high intensities and relatively short durations can cause

floods. Localized flood problems in the incorporated areas are summarized below:

Dale, Town of: Subject to flooding from tributary of Little Pigeon

Creek.

Gentryville, Town of: Subject to flooding from Buckhorn Creek and its

tributary.

Grandview, Town of: Subject to flooding from the Ohio River and its

tributaries.

7

Richland, Town of: Subject to flooding from Hooppole Ditch and its

tributary.

Rockport, City of: Subject to flooding from the Ohio River and its

tributaries.

Santa Claus, Town of: Subject to flooding from Crooked Creek and its

tributary.

2.4 Flood Protection Measures

The state of Indiana has set regulations concerning development in a flood plain. The

Indiana Flood Control Act of 1945, as amending, requires that the channels and that

portion of the flood plain known as the floodway be kept free and clear of

interference or obstructions which could restrict the flow rate in a significant manner.

The Act stipulates that the Indiana Flood Plain Management Act of 1973 further

requires that flood plain management regulations adopted after July 1, 1974, meet a

minimum set of standards for the delineation and regulation of flood hazard areas

(Reference 1).

3.0 ENGINEERING METHODS

For the flooding sources studied by detailed methods in Spencer County, standard hydrologic

and hydraulic study methods were used to determine the flood hazard data required for this

study. Flood events of a magnitude that are expected to be equaled or exceeded once on the

average during any 10-, 50-, 100-, or 500-year period (recurrence interval) have been

selected as having special significance for floodplain management and for flood insurance

rates. These events, commonly termed the 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year floods, have a 10-, 2-

, 1-, and 0.2-percent chance, respectively, of being equaled or exceeded during any year.

Although the recurrence interval represents the long-term, average period between floods of

a specific magnitude, rare floods could occur at short intervals or even within the same year.

The risk of experiencing a rare flood increases when periods greater than 1 year are

considered. For example, the risk of having a flood that equals or exceeds the 1-percent-

annual-chance flood in any 50-year period is approximately 40 percent (4 in 10); for any 90-

year period, the risk increases to approximately 60 percent (6 in 10). The analyses reported

herein reflect flooding potentials based on conditions existing in the community at the time

of completion of this study. Maps and flood elevations will be amended periodically to

reflect future changes.

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3.1 Hydrologic Analyses

Hydrologic analyses were carried out to establish peak discharge-frequency

relationships for each flooding source studied by detailed methods affecting Spencer

County. Table 6 contains a summary of peak discharges for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-

percent annual chance floods, where applicable, for each flooding source studied in

detail in Spencer County. Peak discharges in the table were compiled based on

information received from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District for

Spencer County and incorporated areas.

Table 6. Summary of Discharges

Peak Discharge (CFS)

10% 2% 1% 0.2%

Flooding Source Drainage Area Annual Annual Annual Annual

And Location (Square Miles) Chance Chance Chance Chance

Ohio River

Cannelton L&D 96,700 640,000 800,000 865,000 1,010,000 Mile 720.5

Newburgh L&D 97,670 646,000 805,000 870,000 1,017,000

Upper Gage, Mile 775.8

Standard and accepted hydrologic methods were used to develop discharge data on

the study streams in Spencer County. These data were coordinated with the Indiana

Department of Natural Resources, the Natural Resources Conservation Service

(formally the Soil Conservation Service), the U. S. Geological Survey and the

Louisville District of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, through a Memorandum Of

Understanding dated May 6, 1976. Discharge curves for the 10%, 2%, 1%, and 0.2%

annual chance floods were developed for each study stream using several different

procedures and compared for consistency.

The hydrologic analyses for the Ohio River were performed by the U.S. Army Corps

of Engineers. Frequency discharge data for the entire length of the Ohio River are

available based on an analysis conducted by the Ohio River Division of the Corps of

Engineers in Cincinnati, Ohio. Natural discharge-frequency curves for the Ohio

River were developed in accordance with methods presented in papers by Leo R.

Beard, Statistical Methods in Hydrology. Modified discharge-frequency curves, for

the Ohio River, resulted from routing twelve representative floods for the Ohio River

modified by an upstream Corps of Engineers reservoir system. That system included

reservoirs completed or near completion in 1976 and is considered current in 2002.

Data were plotted opposite original flood data on a grid containing a referenced flow

reduction of natural flow and a new best-fit curve drawn. Total reductions were read

from the new curve at selected natural flow frequencies, and subtracted from natural

flows at those frequencies to obtain new modified-flow values.

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Frequency-discharge data for the lower reaches of Little Pigeon Creek were

developed by comparison with Pigeon Creek and Busseron Creek. These three

drainage basins have similar drainage basin characteristics. Streamflow records are

available for Pigeon Creek and Busseron Creek, from which discharge frequencies

were determined using the standard log-Pearson Type III method.

3.2 Hydraulic Analyses

Analyses of the hydraulic characteristics of flooding from the sources studied were

carried out to provide estimates of the elevations of floods of the selected recurrence

intervals. Users should be aware that flood elevations shown on the Flood Insurance

Rate Map (FIRM) represent rounded whole-foot elevations and may not exactly

reflect the elevations shown on the Flood Profiles or in the Floodway Data table in

the FIS report. Flood elevations shown on the FIRM are primarily intended for flood

insurance rating purposes. For construction and/or floodplain management purposes,

users are cautioned to use the flood elevation data presented in this FIS report in

conjunction with the data shown on the FIRM.

Cross sections for the backwater analyses were obtained from a variety of sources

including: physical survey data, IDNR contour mapping, USGS topographic mapping

and local contour mapping. Locations of selected cross sections used in the hydraulic

analyses are shown on the Flood Profiles (Exhibit 1). For stream segments for which

a floodway was computed (Section 4.2), selected cross section locations are also

shown on the FIRM. Cross sections for the Ohio River were determined from detailed

mapping with bathymetry (1” = 600’ with 5-foot contour intervals), developed for

Corps of Engineers - Ohio River navigation studies.

Water-surface elevations for floods of the selected recurrence intervals were

computed through use of the USACE HEC-2 step-backwater computer program. For

the new approximate study reaches, the USACE HEC-RAS program was used. HEC-

RAS is an updated version of the HEC-2 program used to perform step-backwater

analyses. Water-surface elevations of floods of the selected recurrence intervals were

computed through the use of the USACE HEC-2 step-backwater computer program.

For the new approximate study reaches and the Ohio River, the USACE HEC-RAS

(Version 3.1.3) program was used. For Little Pigeon Creek the U. S. Geological

Survey E-431 program was used.

Flood profiles were prepared for all streams studied by detailed methods and show

computed water-surface elevations to an accuracy of 0.5 feet for floods of the selected

recurrence intervals. For this countywide FIS, flood profiles and approved LOMRs

have been consolidated into continuous stream reaches and adjusted to reflect the

current vertical datum as described in Section 3.3. New profiles have been prepared

for the new detailed studies and for the purposes of incorporating the LOMRs

described in Section 2.1 above. A small section of Little Pigeon Creek, from 100 feet

above to 400 feet below the confluence with Baker Creek is within the county

10

boundaries; but, no flood profile is shown because this section is flooded by

backwater from the Ohio River.

Channel and overbank roughness factors (Manning’s “n” values) used in the

hydraulic computations were chosen by engineering judgment and were based on

field observations of the stream and floodplain areas. Factors were estimated by field

inspection with the aid of “n” value tables and equations. Channel and overbank

roughness factors used in the detailed studies are summarized by stream in Table 7.

Table 7. Channel and Overbank Roughness Factors

Roughness Coefficients

Stream Main Channel Left Overbank Right Overbank

Ohio River 0.029-0.034 0.05 0.05

Little Pigeon Creek 0.05-0.06 0.04-0.1 0.04-0.1

For new approximate study areas, analyses were based on field inspection and

modeling of the stream reaches using USACE HEC-RAS models. Limited structural

measurements or field surveying was performed. Cross section geometry was derived

from topographic mapping from the 2005 statewide orthophotography project.

Starting elevations were assumed to be normal depth. Starting water-surface

elevations for the Ohio River were obtained using gaged data and known elevation-

discharge relationships at those locations.

The hydraulic analyses for this study were based on unobstructed flow. The flood

elevations shown on the Flood Profiles (Exhibit 1) are thus considered valid only if

hydraulic structures remain unobstructed, operate properly, and do not fail.

3.3 Vertical Datum

All FIS reports and FIRMs are referenced to a specific vertical datum. The vertical

datum provides a starting point against which flood, ground, and structure elevations

can be referenced and compared. Until recently, the standard vertical datum in use

for newly created or revised FIS reports and FIRMs was the National Geodetic

Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD29). With the finalization of the North American

Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88), many FIS reports and FIRMs are being prepared

using NAVD88 as the referenced vertical datum.

All flood elevations shown in this FIS report and on the FIRM are referenced to

NAVD88. Structure and ground elevations in the community must, therefore, be

referenced to NAVD88. It is important to note that adjacent communities may be

referenced to NGVD29. This may result in differences in Base Flood Elevations

(BFEs) across the corporate limits between the communities.

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In this revision, a vertical datum conversion of -0.34 feet was calculated at the

centroid of the county and used to convert all elevations in Spencer county from

NGVD29 to NAVD88 using the National Geologic Survey’s VERTCON online

utility (VERTCON, 2005).

(NGVD29 – 0.34 = NAVD88)

For more information on NAVD88, see the FEMA publication entitled Converting

the National Flood Insurance Program to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988

(FEMA, June 1992), or contact the Vertical Network Branch, National Geodetic

Survey, Coast and Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration, Rockville, Maryland 20910 (Internet address

http://www.ngs.noaa.gov).

Temporary vertical monuments are often established during the preparation of a flood

hazard analysis for the purpose of establishing local vertical control. Although these

monuments are not shown on the FIRM, they may be found in the Technical Support

Data Notebook associated with the FIS report and FIRM for this community.

Interested individuals may contact FEMA to access these data.

The horizontal coordinate system used for the production of the digital FIRMs is the

Transverse Mercator projection, Indiana State Plane coordinate system, referenced to

the North American Datum of 1983 and the GRS 1980 spheroid.

4.0 FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS

The NFIP encourages State and local governments to adopt sound floodplain management

programs. Therefore, each FIS provides 1-percent-annual-chance flood elevations and

delineations of the 1- and 0.2-percent-annual-chance floodplain boundaries and 1-percent-

annual-chance floodway to assist communities in developing floodplain management

measures. This information is presented on the FIRM and in many components of the FIS

report, including Flood Profiles, and the Floodway Data table. Users should reference the

data presented in the FIS report as well as additional information that may be available at the

local map repository before making flood elevation and/or floodplain boundary

determinations.

4.1 Floodplain Boundaries

To provide a national standard without regional discrimination, the 1-percent-annual-

chance flood has been adopted by FEMA as the base flood for floodplain

management purposes. The 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood is employed to indicate

additional areas of flood risk in the community. For each stream studied by detailed

methods, the 1- and 0.2-percent-annual-chance floodplain boundaries have been

delineated using the flood elevations determined at each cross section. Between cross

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sections, the boundaries were interpolated using topographic mapping from the 2005

statewide orthophotography flight.

The 1- and 0.2-percent-annual-chance floodplain boundaries are shown on the FIRM

(Exhibit 2). On this map, the 1-percent-annual-chance floodplain boundary

corresponds to the boundary of the areas of special flood hazards (Zones A, AE, V,

and VE); and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance floodplain boundary corresponds to the

boundary of areas of moderate flood hazards. In cases where the 1- and 0.2-percent-

annual-chance floodplain boundaries are close together, only the 1-percent-annual-

chance floodplain boundary has been shown. Small areas within the floodplain

boundaries may lie above the flood elevations but cannot be shown due to limitations

of the map scale and/or lack of detailed topographic data.

For the streams studied by approximate methods, only the 1-percent-annual chance

floodplain boundary is shown on the FIRM (Exhibit 2).

4.2 Floodways

Encroachment on floodplains, such as structures and fill, reduces flood-carrying

capacity, increases flood heights and velocities, and increases flood hazards in areas

beyond the encroachment itself. One aspect of floodplain management involves

balancing the economic gain from floodplain development against the resulting

increase in flood hazard. For purposes of the NFIP, a floodway is used as a tool to

assist local communities in this aspect of floodplain management. Under this

concept, the area of the 1-percent-annual-chance floodplain is divided into a floodway

and a floodway fringe. The floodway is the channel of a stream, plus any adjacent

floodplain areas, that must be kept free of encroachment so that the 1-percent-annual-

chance flood can be carried without substantial increases in flood heights. Minimum

Federal standards limit such increases to 1.0 foot, provided that hazardous velocities

are not produced. The floodways in this study are presented to local agencies as

minimum standards that can be adopted directly or that can be used as a basis for

additional floodway studies.

The State of Indiana, however, per Indiana Code IC 14-28-1 and Indiana

Administrative Code 312 IAC 10, has designated that encroachment in the floodplain

is limited to that which will cause no significant increase in flood height. As a result,

floodways for this study are delineated based on a flood surcharge of less than 0.15

feet. The floodways in this study were approved by the IDNR, and are presented to

local agencies as minimum standards that can be adopted directly or that can be used

as a basis for additional floodway studies.

The floodway presented in this FIS report and on the FIRM was computed for certain

stream segments on the basis of equal conveyance reduction from each side of the

floodplain. Floodway widths were computed at cross sections. Between cross

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sections, the floodway boundaries were interpolated. The results of the floodway

computations have been tabulated for selected cross sections (Table 8). In cases

where the floodway and 1-percent-annual-chance floodplain boundaries are either

close together or collinear, only the floodway boundary has been shown.

The area between the floodway and 1-percent-annual-chance floodplain boundaries is

termed the floodway fringe. The floodway fringe encompasses the portion of the

floodplain that could be completely obstructed without increasing the water-surface

elevation of the 1-percent-annual-chance flood more than 0.14 feet at any point.

Typical relationships between the floodway and the floodway fringe and their

significance to floodplain development are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Floodway Schematic

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WIDTH2

SECTION

AREA

MEAN

VELOCITY REGULATORY

WITHOUT

FLOODWAY

WITH

FLOODWAY INCREASE

(FEET) (SQ. FEET) (FT/SEC) (FEET, NAVD) (FEET, NAVD) (FEET, NAVD) (FEET)

OHIO RIVER

A 769.00 19923/6516 311230 2.8 384.6 384.6 384.7 0.1

B 768.00 18723/6084 273386 3.2 384.9 384.9 385.0 0.1

C 767.00 14983/2883 252122 3.5 385.3 385.3 385.4 0.1

D 766.50 13560/2233 234349 3.7 385.5 385.5 385.6 0.1

E 766.00 12386/1700 230461 3.8 385.7 385.7 385.8 0.1

F 765.00 11025/1126 214845 4.0 386.0 386.0 386.1 0.1

G 764.00 13106/2421 237306 3.7 386.3 386.3 386.4 0.1

H 763.00 14622/3517 289489 3.0 386.8 386.8 386.9 0.1

I 762.00 16560/4991 323635 2.7 387.2 387.2 387.3 0.1

J 761.00 15265/7616 298526 2.9 387.5 387.5 387.6 0.1

K 760.00 15224/10776 276429 3.1 387.8 387.8 387.9 0.1

L 759.00 17280/15317 316435 2.7 388.2 388.2 388.3 0.1

M 758.00 20019/17589 397983 2.2 388.5 388.5 388.6 0.1

N 757.00 20833/18507 424787 2.0 388.7 388.7 388.8 0.1

O 756.00 20634/18202 429511 2.0 389.0 389.0 389.1 0.1

P 755.00 19780/17203 383171 2.3 389.1 389.1 389.2 0.1

Q 754.00 18750/15837 394374 2.2 389.4 389.4 389.5 0.1

R 753.00 16640/13975 359960 2.4 389.5 389.5 389.6 0.1

S 752.00 14350/10208 298948 2.9 389.8 389.8 389.9 0.1

T 751.00 14292/6762 272242 3.2 390.0 390.0 390.1 0.1

U 750.00 14022/3300 257558 3.4 390.3 390.3 390.4 0.1

V 749.00 13018/859 256132 3.4 390.7 390.7 390.8 0.1

W 748.00 14798/1009 260589 3.3 391.1 391.1 391.2 0.1

X 747.00 16475/238 302511 2.9 391.6 391.6 391.7 0.1

Y 746.00 17040/1110 304384 2.9 391.9 391.9 392.0 0.1

Z 745.00 14889/1183 267288 3.3 392.1 392.1 392.2 0.1

AA 744.00 13119/1189 248186 3.5 392.4 392.4 392.5 0.1

AB 743.00 11986/506 232572 3.7 392.8 392.8 392.9 0.11 Miles Below Pittsburgh2 Total Width / Width Within County Boundary

WATER SURFACE ELEVATION

TA

BL

E 8

FLOODWAY DATAFEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

SPENCER COUNTY, IN

AND INCORPORATED AREAS

FLOODING SOURCE FLOODWAY

CROSS SECTION DISTANCE1

1- PERCENT ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

OHIO RIVER

15

WIDTH2

SECTION

AREA

MEAN

VELOCITY REGULATORY

WITHOUT

FLOODWAY

WITH

FLOODWAY INCREASE

(FEET) (SQ. FEET) (FT/SEC) (FEET, NAVD) (FEET, NAVD) (FEET, NAVD) (FEET)

OHIO RIVER

AC 742.00 12073/807 245026 3.6 393.2 393.2 393.3 0.1

AD 741.00 14862/5245 270240 3.2 393.6 393.6 393.7 0.1

AE 740.00 12570/6573 245742 3.5 393.9 393.9 394.0 0.1

AF 739.00 9674/7433 224297 3.9 394.3 394.3 394.4 0.1

AG 738.00 8470/6549 211877 4.1 394.6 394.6 394.7 0.1

AH 737.00 8498/5523 218451 4.0 395.0 395.0 395.1 0.1

AI 736.50 8029/4618 207417 4.2 395.1 395.1 395.2 0.1

AJ 736.00 7776/3375 195127 4.4 395.3 395.3 395.4 0.1

AK 735.50 7302/3012 211572 4.1 395.6 395.6 395.7 0.1

AL 735.00 7237/3201 222253 3.9 395.8 395.8 395.9 0.1

AM 734.50 7134/3091 210576 4.1 396.0 396.0 396.1 0.1

AN 734.00 6810/3398 181846 4.8 396.0 396.0 396.1 0.1

AO 733.50 5535/3410 162262 5.3 396.2 396.2 396.3 0.1

AP 733.00 4168/1520 133707 6.5 396.2 396.1 396.2 0.1

AQ 732.50 4532/201 140256 6.2 396.3 396.3 396.4 0.1

AR 732.00 6748/31 166597 5.2 396.9 396.9 397.0 0.1

AS 731.50 8028/349 188539 4.6 397.3 397.3 397.4 0.1

1 Miles Below Pittsburgh2 Total Width / Width Within County Boundary

WATER SURFACE ELEVATION

CROSS SECTION DISTANCE1

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

FLOODING SOURCE FLOODWAY1- PERCENT ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

TA

BL

E 8

FLOODWAY DATA

SPENCER COUNTY, IN

AND INCORPORATED AREAS OHIO RIVER

16

5.0 INSURANCE APPLICATIONS

For flood insurance rating purposes, flood insurance zone designations are assigned to a community

based on the results of the engineering analyses. These zones are as follows:

Zone A

Zone A is the flood insurance risk zone that corresponds to the 1-percent-annual-chance floodplains

that are determined in the FIS by approximate methods. Because detailed hydraulic analyses are not

performed for such areas, no BFEs or base flood depths are shown within this zone.

Zone AE

Zone AE is the flood insurance risk zone that corresponds to the 1-percent-annual-chance floodplains

that are determined in the FIS by detailed methods. In most instances, whole-foot BFEs derived from

the detailed hydraulic analyses are shown at selected intervals within this zone.

Zone X

Zone X is the flood insurance risk zone that corresponds to areas outside the 0.2-percent-annual-

chance floodplain, areas within the 0.2-percent-annual-chance floodplain, and areas of 1-percent-

annual-chance flooding where average depths are less than 1 foot, areas of 1-percent-annual-chance

flooding where the contributing drainage area is less than 1 square mile, and areas protected from the

1-percent-annual-chance flood by levees. No BFEs or base flood depths are shown within this zone.

17

6.0 FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP

The FIRM is designed for flood insurance and floodplain management applications.

For flood insurance applications, the map designates flood insurance risk zones as described in

Section 5.0 and, in the 1-percent-annual-chance floodplains that were studied by detailed

methods, shows selected whole-foot BFEs or average depths. Insurance agents use the zones and

BFEs in conjunction with information on structures and their contents to assign premium rates for

flood insurance policies.

For floodplain management applications, the map shows by tints, screens, and symbols, the 1-

and 0.2-percent-annual-chance floodplains, floodways, and the locations of selected cross

sections used in the hydraulic analyses and floodway computations.

The current FIRM presents flooding information for the entire geographic area of Spencer

County. Previously, separate FIRMs were prepared for each identified flood prone incorporated

community and for the unincorporated areas of the county. Historical data relating to the maps

prepared for each community are presented in Table 9.

18

*Chrisney, Town of N/A None N/A None

Dale, Town of TBD None TBD None

Gentryville, Town of July 11, 1975 None September 16, 1988 None

Grandview, Town of January 23, 1974 July 9, 1976 July 18, 1983 None

Richland, Town of January 3,1975 ** None May 1, 1978 ** None

Rockport, City of December 7, 1973 September 23, 1976 July 18, 1983 None

Santa Claus, Town of TBD None TBD None

Spencer County January 3, 1975 None May 1, 1978 None

(Unincorporated Areas)

*No Special Flood Hazard Areas Identified

**Dates From Spencer County, IN

TA

BL

E 9

COMMUNITY NAME INITIAL IDENTIFICATION

FLOOD HAZARD

BOUNDARY MAP

REVISIONS DATE

FIRM EFFECTIVE DATEFIRM REVISIONS

DATE

COMMUNITY MAP HISTORY

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

SPENCER COUNTY, IN

(AND INCORPORATED AREAS)

19

7.0 OTHER STUDIES

This FIS report either supersedes or is compatible with all previous studies on streams studied in

this report and should be considered authoritative for purposes of the NFIP.

8.0 LOCATION OF DATA

Information concerning the pertinent data used in the preparation of this study can be obtained by

contacting the Flood Insurance and Mitigation Division, Federal Emergency Management

Agency, Region V, 536 S. Clark Street, 6th

Floor, Chicago, IL 60605

9.0 BIBLIORAPHY AND REFERENCES

1. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Flood Insurance Study, Spencer County, IN

(Unincorporated Areas), November 1, 1977. Washington, D.C.

2. Federal Emergency Management Agency, Flood Insurance Study, City of Rockport, Indiana,

January 18, 1983. Washington, D.C.

3. Federal Emergency Management Agency, Flood Insurance Study, Town of Grandview,

Indiana, January 18, 1983. Washington, D.C.

4. Geobytes City Distance Tool. Accessed at http://www.geobytes.com/CityDistanceTool.htm.

5. U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, accessed at http://www.census.gov/

6. “Historic Census for Indiana Incorporated and Census Designated Places from 1900 to 2000”

STATS Indiana, Indiana Business Research Center, Indiana University Kelley School of

Business, accessed at

http://www.stats.indiana.edu/population/PopTotals/historic_counts_cities.asp

7. Indiana Administrative Code 310 IAC 10 Flood Plain Management accessed at

http://www.in.gov/legislative/iac/T03120/A00100.PDF

8. Indiana Code IC 14-28-1, Flood Control Act, accessed at

http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title14/ar28/ch1.html

9. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water, Coordinated Discharges of

Selected Streams in Indiana, accessed at

http://www.in.gov/dnr/water/surface_water/coordinated_discharges/index.html

10. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water, General Guidelines For The

Hydrologic-Hydraulic Assessment Of Floodplains In Indiana, December 2002.

11. Knipe, David, and Rao, A. R. Estimation of Peak Discharges of Indiana Streams by Using the

Log Pearson III Distribution, Purdue University, School of Civil Engineering, Joint

Transportation Research Program, Project No. C-36-620, File No. 9-8-15, 2005.

12. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Climatic Data Center, Monthly

Station Normals of Temperature, Precipitation, and Heating and Cooling Days, 1971-2000,

Climatography of the United States No. 81, 2002.

13. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hydrologic Engineering Center ,Computer Program HEC-2

Water Surface Profiles, Davis, California, November 1976.

20

14. U.S. Amy Corps of Enginees, Hydrologic Engineering Center, Computer Program HEC-RAS

River Analysis System, Davis, California, 2004.

15. U.S. Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, Water Resources Investigation 35-75,

Statistical Summaries of Indiana Streamflow Data, February 1976.

16. U.S. Geological Survey, Surface-Water Data for Indiana, Peak-Flow Data for Spencer County.

http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/in/nwis/peak.

320

330

340 340

350 350

360 360

370 370

380 380

390 390

400 400

410 410

6.00 7.00 8.00 9.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00 18.00 19.00

ELE

VA

TIO

N IN

FEET

(N

AV

D 8

8)

STREAM DISTANCE IN MILES ABOVE MOUTH

FED

ER

AL

EM

ER

GEN

CY

MA

NA

GEM

EN

T A

GEN

CY

SP

EN

CER

CO

UN

TY

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AN

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CO

RP

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AT

ED

AR

EA

S

FLO

OD

PR

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LES

LIT

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PIG

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REEK

01P

A B C D

E

F G H I

J

K

L M N

O P

Q

R

ST

AT

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OA

D 1

61

LEGEND

0.2% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

1% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

2% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

10% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

STREAM BED

CROSS SECTION LOCATION

CO

UN

TY

BO

UN

DA

RY

340

350

360 360

370 370

380 380

390 390

400 400

410 410

420 420

430 430

19.00 20.00 21.00 22.00 23.00 24.00 25.00 26.00 27.00 28.00 29.00 30.00 31.00 32.00

ELE

VA

TIO

N IN

FEET

(N

AV

D 8

8)

STREAM DISTANCE IN MILES ABOVE MOUTH

FED

ER

AL

EM

ER

GEN

CY

MA

NA

GEM

EN

T A

GEN

CY

SP

EN

CER

CO

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TY

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AN

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CO

RP

OR

AT

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AR

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S

FLO

OD

PR

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LES

LIT

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PIG

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REEK

02P

S T

U

V

W

LEGEND

0.2% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

1% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

2% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

10% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

STREAM BED

CROSS SECTION LOCATION

LIM

IT O

F D

ET

AIL

ED

ST

UD

Y

260

280

300 300

320 320

340 340

360 360

380 380

400 400

420 420

440 440

770 769 768 767 766 765 764 763 762 761 760 759 758 757

ELE

VA

TIO

N IN

FEET

(N

AV

D 8

8)

STREAM DISTANCE IN MILES BELOW PITTSBURGH

FED

ER

AL

EM

ER

GEN

CY

MA

NA

GEM

EN

T A

GEN

CY

SP

EN

CER

CO

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TY

, IN

AN

D IN

CO

RP

OR

AT

ED

AR

EA

S

FLO

OD

PR

OFI

LES

OH

IO R

IVER

03P

A B C D E F G H I J

K L M N

OW

EN

SB

OR

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OC

K &

DA

M N

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6

LEGEND

0.2% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

1% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

2% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

10% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

STREAM BED

CROSS SECTION LOCATION

CO

UN

TY

BO

UN

DA

RY

260

280

300 300

320 320

340 340

360 360

380 380

400 400

420 420

440 440

757 756 755 754 753 752 751 750 749 748 747 746 745 744

ELE

VA

TIO

N IN

FEET

(N

AV

D 8

8)

STREAM DISTANCE IN MILES BELOW PITTSBURGH

FED

ER

AL

EM

ER

GEN

CY

MA

NA

GEM

EN

T A

GEN

CY

SP

EN

CER

CO

UN

TY

, IN

AN

D IN

CO

RP

OR

AT

ED

AR

EA

S

FLO

OD

PR

OFI

LES

OH

IO R

IVER

04P

O P Q R S T U V W

X Y Z

U.S

. H

IGH

WA

Y 2

31

CIT

Y O

F R

OC

KP

OR

T

CO

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EN

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F H

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MA

N D

ITC

HC

OR

PO

RA

TE L

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S

LEGEND

0.2% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

1% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

2% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

10% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

STREAM BED

CROSS SECTION LOCATION

CO

RP

OR

AT

E L

IMIT

S

CIT

Y O

F R

OC

KP

OR

T

240

260

280 280

300 300

320 320

340 340

360 360

380 380

400 400

420 420

744 743 742 741 740 739 738 737 736 735 734 733 732 731

ELE

VA

TIO

N IN

FEET

(N

AV

D 8

8)

STREAM DISTANCE IN MILES BELOW PITTSBURGH

FED

ER

AL

EM

ER

GEN

CY

MA

NA

GEM

EN

T A

GEN

CY

SP

EN

CER

CO

UN

TY

, IN

AN

D IN

CO

RP

OR

AT

ED

AR

EA

S

FLO

OD

PR

OFI

LES

OH

IO R

IVER

05P

AA AB AC AD AE AF AG AH AI AJ AK AL AM

AN AO AP AQ AR AS

TO

WN

OF

GR

AN

DV

I EW

CO

NFL

UEN

CE O

F G

OO

SE C

REEK

CO

RP

OR

AT

E L

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S

CO

NFLU

EN

CE O

F B

IG S

AN

DY

CR

EEK

CO

NFLU

EN

CE O

F C

RO

OK

ED

CR

EEK

CO

UN

TY

BO

UN

DA

RY

LEGEND

0.2% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

1% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

2% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

10% ANNUAL CHANCE FLOOD

STREAM BED

CROSS SECTION LOCATION

CO

RP

OR

AT

E L

IMIT

S

TO

WN

OF

GR

AN

DV

I EW