Lummi Code of Laws Title 15A: Flood Damage Prevention Code

To reduce the vulnerability to flooding on the Reservation, the Lummi Nation adopted floodplain management regulations in 1997 in the form of the Flood Damage Prevention Code. Lummi Code of Laws (LCL) Title 15A regulates Special Flood Hazard Areas on the Reservation and establishes standards for development and construction in those areas.

Title 15A adopts the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) by reference.

Title 15A is administered by the Lummi Planning Department; the Water Resources Division provides technical assistance concerning the permitting process and regulation implementation.

LCL Title 15A can be accessed from the Laws and Regulations page or by clicking here.

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

Following the adoption of LCL Title 15A, the Lummi Nation joined the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which makes flood insurance available to all residents of the Reservation. Participating communities must adopt and enforce ordinances that meet or exceed FEMA requirements to reduce the risk of flood damage. Federal financial assistance requires the purchase of flood insurance for buildings located within the floodplain, a requirement that affects nearly all mortgages financed through commercial lending institutions.

The NFIP is a program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which issues Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). The first FIRMs for the Reservation were published in January 2004.The FIRMs identify the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) on the Reservation.

The Water Resources Division and the GIS Division of the LNR are available to answer questions about the location of properties in relation to the Special Flood Hazard Areas.

The Lummi Nation joined the Community Rating System (CRS) in May 2010. Communities are rated by FEMA depending on the floodplain management practices that are implemented beyond the minimum mandated for membership in the NFIP and by public education efforts. The Lummi Nation is currently classified as a Class 7 CRS community, which entitles Reservation residents to a 15 percent discount on flood insurance policy premiums for property located in Special Flood Hazard Areas and outside those areas if they use the Lummi Nation Community ID (No. 530331) to purchase flood insurance.

Lummi Indian Reservation specific flood information can be found in the two documents below:

More information and outreach documents prepared for the community and a summary presentation can be found in Available Documents. Additional FEMA flood information can be found below and at: https://www.floodsmart.gov/

Flood Damage Reduction Plan (FDRP)

The Lummi Nation Flood Damage Reduction Plan (FDRP) was adopted by the LIBC in November 2001. It addresses riverine and coastal flooding on the Reservation and identifies management policies and a mitigation strategy.

The FDRP was integrated into the Lummi Nation Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan in 2004.

Annual Progress Reports prepared for the Community Rating System recertifications are available in Available Documents.

Links to Real Time and Predicted Flood Hazards and Other Useful Information.

• Real Time Nooksack River Water Level at Ferndale, Washington.
• 5 - Day Forecast for Nooksack River Water Levels at Ferndale, Washington.
• Northwest River Forecast Center 10 - day River Water Level Forecasts (to get to the Nooksack River at Ferndale, use NKSW1in the 'Search by NWS ID:' box, and then hover mouse over, and/or click on highlighted site on map to see the forecast).
• National Weather Service Zone Forecast (via University of Washington). Scroll down to 'Western Whatcom County - Including the cities of Bellingham, Blaine, Lynden.'
• Western Washington National Weather Service Watches and Warnings (via University of Washington).
• Tsunami Preparedness.