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The Vermont Statutes Online



Title

10

:
Conservation and Development






Chapter

049

:
PROTECTION OF NAVIGABLE WATERS AND SHORELANDS











 

§

1428. River corridor protection

(a) River

corridor maps. Upon completion of a sensitivity assessment for a river or river

segment under section 1427 of this title, the Secretary shall provide to each

municipality and regional planning commission in which the river or river

segment is located a copy of the sensitivity assessment and a river corridor

map for the municipality and region. A river corridor map provided to a

municipality and regional planning commission shall identify floodplains, river

corridor protection areas, flood hazard areas, and other areas or zones

indicated on a Federal Emergency Management Agency flood insurance rate map,

and shall recommend best management practices, including vegetated buffers,

based on site-specific conditions. The Secretary shall post a copy of the

sensitivity assessment and river corridor map to the Agency of Natural

Resources' website. A municipality with a mapped river or river segment shall

post a copy of a sensitivity assessment and river corridor map received under

this subsection in the municipal offices and on the municipality's website, if

the municipality regularly updates its website. A regional planning commission

shall post a sensitivity assessment or river corridor map received under this

subsection in the commission's offices and on the commission's website. When a

sensitivity assessment or a river corridor map is provided to a municipality,

provided to a regional planning commission, or posted on the Agency website,

the Agency shall provide all information, including the supportive data, in a

digital format.

(b) River

corridor protection area bylaw. The Secretary shall create and make available

to municipalities several alternative model river corridor protection area

bylaws or ordinances for potential adoption by municipalities pursuant to 24

V.S.A. chapter 117 or 24 V.S.A. § 2291. The model bylaws or ordinances shall

use terminology consistent with the National Flood Insurance Program

regulations.

(c) Flood

Resilient Communities Program; incentives. No later than February 1, 2013, the

Secretary of Administration, after consultation with the State agencies of

relevant jurisdiction, shall offer financial incentives through a Flood

Resilient Communities Program. The Program shall list the existing financial

incentives under State law for which municipalities may apply for financial

assistance, when funds are available, for municipal adoption and implementation

of bylaws under 24 V.S.A. chapter 117 that protect river corridors and

floodplains. The Secretary of Natural Resources shall summarize minimum

standards for municipal eligibility for any financial incentives established

under this subsection. (Added 2011, No. 138 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. May 14,

2012.)