Daines Introduces Bill to Cut Red Tape, Support Floodplain Ecosystem Restoration
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced a bipartisan bill to reduce burdensome regulations and support floodplain restoration. The “Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act” will create a new expedited pathway for ecosystem restoration projects that meet low-risk criteria, streamlining approval for important restoration work while still upholding flood safety standards.
“Critical ecosystem restoration projects across Montana have been abandoned due to FEMA’s onerous and costly ‘No Rise’ rule. This commonsense, bipartisan bill will reduce unnecessary burdens on important conservation and restoration work, while continuing to keep our communities safe from flooding,” said Daines.
Read the bill text HERE.
Background:
Under current Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) policy, any proposed development in a regulated floodway must prove that it will not increase the base flood elevation (BFE) of the area. This requirement is commonly referred to as the “No Rise” rule. While important for protecting communities from increased flood risks, it has had major unintended consequences on important environmental restoration in Montana and around the country. The “Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act” will create a new pathway only for ecosystem restoration projects that result in less than a one-foot increase in BFE and has no adverse impact to critical infrastructure.
Statements of Support:
“We support the common sense solutions included in the Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act, which will help enable restoration projects and comprises important progress on No Rise reform. MACD would like to thank both Senator Daines and Senator Murray for their thoughtful work on this issue.”— Montana Association of Conservation Districts
“Ecosystem restoration projects are a vital tool to address landscape recovery and habitat restoration, especially after major weather events. The FloodplainEnhancement and Recovery Act would make it easier for local communities to develop effective and necessary restoration projects by streamlining the approval process for ecosystem restoration projects. NACD appreciates the clarity and flexibility provided in this legislation and looks forward to seeing how local conservation districts will have an even greater impact in areas in need of restoration.” – Jeremy Peters, CEO, National Association of Conservation Districts.
“As a headwaters state, the improvements these small restoration projects make to small streams in Montana add up to big water quality and habitat benefits for the watersheds and streams and rivers downstream. We support No Rise Reform.”—Lewis and Clark Conservation District
“High Plains Conservation District (formerly Cascade Conservation District) located in north central Montana wholeheartedly supports the Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act. This commonsense legislation allows local land stewards the ability to manage and restore floodplain ecosystems which promotes hardy resiliency while lessening catastrophic damage during a natural disaster. The best communities are those where the local citizens can effectively reduce burdens to government systems such as the National Flood Insurance Program. We greatly appreciate all efforts to ensure best management practices of natural resources are accessible and affordable to landowners and managers.”— High Plains Conservation District
“Many conservation districts in Montana have had to shrink, delay, or even abandon stream restoration projects due to complications and increased costs caused by floodplain permitting and its engineering requirements. These requirements are unnecessary and burdensome in rural Montana where there is no potential for impact on structures or other properties. The Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act is a great step in the right direction for resolving this issue.”— Missouri River Conservation Districts Council
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Contact: Matt Lloyd, Gabby Wiggins