Minimum Flood Corridor

The City of Lincoln’s minimum flood corridor requirements are intended to protect and preserve natural stream corridors along channels that drain greater than 40 acres. Preserving the natural channel provides protection of adjacent development from stream erosion, improves water quality, reduces flooding, and preserves wildlife habitat. Preservation of these corridors also reduces stormwater infrastructure costs and can enhance the properties values along these corridors.

Requirements

In new growth areas, and in existing urban areas outside the FEMA floodplain, the preservation of a minimum flood corridor is required along all channels that drain areas greater than 40 acres. For such drainage areas the following apply:

• Between 40 acres and less than or equal to 100 acres, the buffer width shall be 90 feet centered on the channel
• Between 100 acres and less than or equal to 200 acres, the buffer width shall be 100 feet centered on the channel
• Between 200 acres and less than or equal to 300 acres, the buffer width shall be 120 feet centered on the channel
• For 300 acres and greater, the buffer width shall be equal to the channel bottom width, plus 60 feet plus six times the channel depth and centered along the channel

See Section 10.3 "Minimum Flood Corridor" of the Flood and Water Quality Protection Manual for additional requirements for preservation of corridor, allowable encroachments, and sequencing and mitigation for encroachments.

Minimum Flood Corridor Map

View Map

This map shows the location and width of the minimum flood corridor inside the city limits and out to the city’s Tier 1 growth area.

There may be locations not shown on the map that still meet the requirements of the minimum flood corridor. The final location and width will be determined at the time of zoning and/or subdivision.