S. 1564 — Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act

This bill eases restrictions for ecosystem restoration projects in designated floodways that meet certain risk criteria. Under current National Flood Insurance Program requirements, such projects are generally prohibited in a designated floodway if the project would increase the area’s base flood elevation. The bill establishes conditions under which a community may permit an ecosystem restoration project within a designated floodway that would result in an increase in base flood elevations. Specifically, the project may be permitted if (1) a professional engineer determines that the cumulative effect of the increase will be not more than 1 foot; (2) no insurable structure or critical infr...