Flood Damage Reduction Program

Pat Lynch, Flood Damage Reduction Program Manager
(651) 259-5691

Mission

DNR Waters will work with local units of government by providing financial, planning, and technical assistance to reduce recurring flood damages by promoting the sound management and appropriate use of floodplain and riparian areas.

Description

The Flood Damage Reduction Grant Assistance Program (FDR) was created by the Minnesota Legislature in 1987 to provide technical and financial assistance to local government units for reducing the damaging effects of floods. Under this program the state can make cost-share grants to local units of government for up to 50 percent of the total cost of a project. The goal of existing regulations and programs for flood damage reduction is to minimize the threat to life and property from flooding. In addition to property loss, people can be killed or injured fighting flood waters. The efforts of local governments to enforce their zoning ordinances and to sponsor projects and acquire or relocate flooded buildings have helped to reduce risk to lives and flood damages.

Available grants

Currently, two different classes of grants are available through the FDR program. Small grants are for projects with a total cost of less than or equal to $300,000 (state share less than $150,000). Small grants are made directly by the DNR from funds appropriated by the Legislature. Large grants are for projects with a total cost greater than $300,000 (state share greater than $150,000). Large grant applications are received and prioritized by the DNR and then presented to the governor and the Legislature for consideration in a capital bonding bill. A project will be funded based on its rank after prioritization (see FDR guide book) and the amount of program funding made available by the Legislature.

If a presidential disaster declaration has been issued in Minnesota, the Federal Emergency Management Agency pays for 75 percent of the cost of structural acquisition with the remaining 25 percent to be provided by the local governments. The FDR program will pay half the local share leaving the local government unit with only a 12.5 percent share. The FDR program will also pay for half of the 35 percent nonfederal share of federal flood hazard mitigation projects.

Also see Grant Assistance Program Information Sheet (0.4 Mb).

Repetitive loss

The repetitive flooding damage in certain areas of Minnesota has necessitated a program to mitigate the possibility of future damages. Since the FDR Program was instituted in 1987, a significant number of projects have been completed to minimize the threat of loss of life and property damage from flooding. Funds have been provided for floodplain analysis, structural acquisition, flood proofing, emergency levee analysis, storm sewer construction, and watershed analysis. Because of the way projects are prioritized, it is very important that the grant application thoroughly define the project and any alternatives that were also considered. Working with the DNR area hydrologist will improve your community's chances of presenting a successful project for grant assistance. If you have comments or questions about the priorities or procedures, please bring them to the attention of your DNR area hydrologist or the FDR coordinator at (651) 259-5691.

Examples of FDR Projects

In 2001, the FDR program produced the booklet titled "Flood Damage Reduction: What Minnesota Has Done and Still Needs to Do" (1.2 Mb). (The FDR Projects map on page 12 of the document was revised in 2004.) Check out this booklet to view pictures of flooding events in Minnesota, as well as to view pictures of the recovery and mitigation work undertaken by those communities and co-funded by the FDR program. Typical FDR projects include acquisitions, relocations, levees, floodwalls and other flood reduction measures. See a list of FDR projects funded .

Additional Links

Floods in Minnesota
Floodplain Management Program
Flood Safety and Cleanup
Flood Damage Reduction: Grant Assistance Program Information Sheet (0.4 Mb)
Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management : a major funding partner with DNR on Flood Projects.

Staff

Pat Lynch, Flood Damage Reduction Program Manager, (651) 259-5691, pat.lynch@dnr.state.mn.us