NJ Flood Hazard Area Control Act

Question 1

Are Floodplains the same as Flood Hazard Areas?

Answer 1

Yes

Question 2

What is a Riparian Zone per the Act?

Answer 2

Areas along rivers and other surface bodies of water EXCEPT:

• Ocean
• Manmade lagoons or basins
• Any oceanfront barrier island, spit or peninsula
• Any piped section of an otherwise regulated water

Question 3

Where are 300-foot Riparian Zones located?

Answer 3

Category 1 waters and upstream tributaries within the same subwatershed (HUC14)

Question 4

What are Category 1 (C1) waters?

Answer 4

• exceptional ecological significance
• exceptional fisheries resource
• exceptional water supply significance
• exceptional recreational significance

Question 5

What are Category 2 (C2) waters?

Answer 5

• All other waters (not C1)

Question 6

Where are 150-foot Riparian Zones located?

Answer 6

• Trout waters
• Waters that flow through critical habitat and all connected tributaries within 1 mile
• Waters that flow through acid producing soils

Question 7

Where are 50-foot Riparian Zones located?

Answer 7

• “All other waters”
• Most common, especially in urban areas

Question 8

What is a Flood Hazard Area?

Answer 8

• area inundated by the flood hazard area design flood
• exists along every regulated water with a drainage area of 50 acres or more

Question 9

What is the difference between the 100-year flood in tidal vs. fluvial?

Answer 9

Tidal: only the 100-year flood hazard

Fluvial: 100-year flood plus a factor of safety

Question 10

How much of NJ lies within a flood hazard area?

Answer 10

35%

Question 11

What are the components of a flood hazard area?

Answer 11

Floodway and Flood Fringe

Question 12

What is a Flood Fringe?

Answer 12

• portion of the flood hazard area outside the floodway
• water movement is slower and shallower
• area where structures displace floodwater storage

Question 13

What is a Floodway?

Answer 13

• area that conveys the majority of floodwater (movement)
• area where structures can obstruct flow
• calculated using 0.2-foot rise in the 100-year flood elevation

Question 14

What activities are regulated by the Flood Hazard Area Control Act?

Answer 14

Permanent changes, generally:

• alteration of topography (excavation, grading, fill…)
• clearing, cutting or removal of vegetation
• creation of impervious surface
• storage of unsecured material
• construction, reconstruction, or enlargement of a structure
• conversion of a building into a private residence or public building

Question 15

Flood Hazard Area Control Act permit types

Answer 15

• Permit-by-Rule (PBR)
• General Permit
• Individual Permit
• Emergency Permit
• Coastal Permit

(only ONE should apply to an activity)

Question 16

What does the Flood Hazard Area Control Act regulate?

Answer 16

• Flood Hazard Areas
• Riparian Zones