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VOLUME 1 OF 1 TOWN OF AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS HAMPSHIRE COUNTY Community Community Name Number Amherst, Town of 250156 Hampshire County Notice This preliminary FIS report includes only revised Flood Profiles and Floodway Data tables. See “Notice to Flood Insurance Study Users” page for additional details. REVISED PRELIMINARY 6/11/2019 Federal Emergency Management Agency FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY NUMBER 250156V000A 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) may not contain all data available within the repository. It is advisable to contact the community repository for any additional data. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may revise and republished part or all of this FIS at any time. In addition, FEMA may revise part of this FIS 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 repository to obtain the most current FIS report components. Selected Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panels for this community contain information that was previously shown separately on the corresponding Flood Boundary and Floodway Map (FBFM) 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 This FIS report was revised on (TBD). Users should refer to Section 9.0, Revisions Description, for further information. Section 9.0 is intended to present the most up-to-date information for specific portions of this FIS report. Therefore, users of this FIS report should be aware that the information presented in Section 9.0 supersedes information in Sections 1.0 through 8.0 of this FIS report. Initial FIS Report Effective Date: June 15, 1983 Revised FIS Report Dates: TBD TABLE OF CONTENTS Volume I 1.0 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Purpose of Study ............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Authority and Acknowledgements ................................................................................. 1 1.3 Coordination ................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 AREA STUDIED .............................................................................................................. 2 2.1 Scope of Study ................................................................................................................ 2 2.2 Community Description .................................................................................................. 2 2.3 Principal Flood Problems ................................................................................................ 3 2.4 Flood Protection Measures ............................................................................................. 4 3.0 ENGINEERING METHODS .......................................................................................... 4 3.1 Hydrologic Analyses ....................................................................................................... 4 3.2 Hydraulic Analyses ......................................................................................................... 6 3.3 Vertical Datum ................................................................................................................ 7 4.0 FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS ................................................... 8 4.1 Floodplain Boundaries .................................................................................................... 8 4.2 Floodways ....................................................................................................................... 9 5.0 INSURANCE APPLICATIONS.................................................................................... 11 6.0 FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP ............................................................................. 13 7.0 OTHER STUDIES .......................................................................................................... 15 8.0 LOCATION OF DATA .................................................................................................. 15 9.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES ..................................................................... 15 10.0 REVISION DESCRIPTIONS ........................................................................................ 17 10.1 First Revision (TBD) .................................................................................................... 17 a. Acknowledgments .................................................................................. 17 b. Scope .................................................................................. 17 c. Hydrologic Analyses .................................................................................. 18 d. Hydraulic Analyses .................................................................................. 18 e. Manning .................................................................................. 18 f. Floodplain Mapping Updates .................................................................................. 21 g. Vertical Datum .................................................................................. 21 h. Bibliography and References .................................................................................. 22 APPENDIX A ........................................................................................................................... 31 i Volume 1-continued FIGURES Page Figure 1 Floodway Schematic ………………………..…….…….…………. 10 TABLES Table 1 Summary of Discharges …………………………………………… 6 Table 2 Community Map History 14 Table 3 Flooding Sources Restudied Or Newly Studied By Detailed Methods 19 Table 4 Flooding Sources Restudied Or Newly Studied By Approximate 19 Methods Table 5 Summary of Peak Discharges Studied By Detailed Methods 20 Table 6 Floodway Data Table 23 APPENDIX A Figure 2 FIRM Notes to Users ………………………………………………… 31 Figure 3 Map Legend for FIRM ………………………………………………. 34 EXHIBITS Exhibit 1 – Flood Profiles Eastman Brook Panels 01P-02P Fort River Panels 03P-08P Hop Brook Panels 09P-10P Mill River Panels 11P-13P Muddy Brook Panels 14P-15P Plum Brook Panels 16P-17P Unnamed Tributary to Fort River Panel 18P Unnamed Tributary to Mill River Panel 19P Exhibit 2 – Flood Insurance Rate Map Index (Published Separately) Flood Insurance Rate Map (Published Separately) ii FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY TOWN OF AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose of Study This Flood Insurance Study investigates the existence and severity of flood hazards in the Town of Amherst, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, 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. 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 those on which these federally-supported studies are based. In such cases, the more restrictive criteria take precedence and the state (or other jurisdictional agency) shall be able to explain them. 1.2 Authority and Acknowledgements The source of authority for this Flood Insurance Study is the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973. The hydrologic and hydraulic analyses in this study represent a revision of the original analyses by Camp, Dresser, and McKee, Inc., for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, under Contract No. EMW-C-0277. The hydrologic and hydraulic analyses in the updated study were performed by Whitman & Howard, Inc. This work was completed in July 1981. 1.3 Coordination In June 1979, streams requiring detailed study were identified at an initial Consultation and Coordination Officer's (CCO) meeting attended by representatives of the FEMA, the Town of Amherst, and Whitman & Howard, Inc. (the study contractor). During the course of the study, specific information on peak discharge• frequency relationships, flood control channel and dam improvements, previous flood hazard evaluations, recent and impending floodplain development, and the extent of historical flooding were obtained, reviewed, and discussed with various community officials, residents, and the state coordinator. 1 On January 5, 1983, the results of the study were reviewed at a final cco meeting held with representatives of the FEMA, the town, and the study contractor. 2.0 AREA STUDIED 2.1 Scope of Study This Flood Insurance Study covers the incorporated area of the Town of Amherst, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The following streams were studied by detailed methods: the Mill River from the downstream corporate limits to Mill Street; the Fort River from the downstream corporate limits to Pelham Road; Plum Brook