§ 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.)