Flood Plain Management Services

Under the authority provided by Section 206 of the 1960 Flood Control Act (PL 86-645), as amended, the Corps can provide the full range of technical services and planning guidance that is needed to support effective flood plain management. General technical assistance efforts under this program includes determining: site-specific data on obstructions to flood flows, flood formation and timing; flood depths, stages or floodwater velocities; the extent, duration and frequency of flooding; information on natural and cultural flood plain resources; and flood loss potentials before and after the use of flood plain management measures. Types of studies have been conducted under the FPMS program include: flood plain delineation/hazard, dam failure analyses, hurricane evacuation, flood warning, floodway, flood damage reduction, stormwater management, flood proofing and inventories of flood prone structures.

Cost Sharing Requirements. Efforts under this program are generally conducted at 100 percent federal expense, except in those instances where the requestor is another federal agency or a private party. In those cases the work is conducted on a 100 percent cost recovery basis.

Study Process. The process for FPMS assistance begins after a state, regional, local government, or Native American Indian tribe requests Corps assistance under the program. When funding is available, the Corps will work with the requesting organization to develop a scope of work and assemble the appropriate study team for the effort being requested. At their option, the requesting organization may provide voluntary contributions toward the requested services to expand the scope or accelerate the provision of those services. All requestors are requested to furnish available field survey data, maps, historical flood information, etc., to help reduce the cost of services.

Study Cost

FPMS assistance is 100 percent federally funded.

Other Federal agencies and private parties must pay 100 percent of the costs of all FPMS efforts.

Final Design/
Construction Costs

The program does not give the Corps the authority to complete detailed final designs or construction activities.


How to Request Assistance.
Requests for assistance should be in the form of a letter that includes the location and nature of the problem to be investigated. The request should be submitted by a state, local government agency to Mario Beddingfield, USACE Galveston District, 2000 Fort Point Road, Galveston, TX 77550. For more information call 409-766- 3179.

Sample Request Letter for Flood Plain Management Services Assistance