The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environment Control, in accordance with National Flood Insurance Program regulation 65.7(b)(1), hereby gives notice of the City of Seaford and Unincorporated Areas of Sussex County, DE intent to revise the flood hazard information, generally located between the confluence with Nanticoke River to Route 18/Cannon Road along Clear Brook. Bucks Branch, Bucks Branch Prong 2, Herring Run, and William H Newton Ditch are also impacted by the revised backwater impact of Clear Brook. Specifically, the flood hazard information shall be revised along Clear Brook from the confluence with Nanticoke River to a point approximately 490 feet upstream of Route 18/Cannon Road. The flood hazard information shall be revised along Bucks Branch from the confluence with Clear Brook to approximately 1,140 feet downstream of Wesley Church Road. The flood hazard information shall be revised along Bucks Branch Prong 2 from the confluence with Bucks Branch to just downstream of Allen Road. The flood hazard information shall be revised along Herring Run from the confluence with Clear Brook to just downstream of Route 20. The flood hazard information shall be revised along William H Newton Ditch from the confluence with Clear Brook to approximately 910 feet downstream of Old Furnace Road.

As a result of the revision, the floodway shall narrow and widen within the City of Seaford and Sussex County, the 1% annual chance water-surface elevations shall increase and decrease within the City of Seaford and Sussex County, and the 1% annual chance floodplain shall widen and narrow within the City of Seaford and Sussex County within the area of revision along Clear Brook. As a result of the revision, there is no change in the floodway along Herring Run within the City of Seaford and Sussex County, the 1% annual chance water-surface elevations shall increase within the City of Seaford and Sussex County, the 1% annual chance floodplain shall widen within the City of Seaford and widen and narrow within Sussex County within the area of revision along Herring Run. As a result of the revision, the 1% annual chance water-surface elevations shall increase within the City of Seaford and Sussex County, the 1% annual chance floodplain shall widen within the City of Seaford and widen and narrow within Sussex County within the area of revision along William H Newton Ditch. As a result of the revision, the 1% annual chance water-surface elevations shall decrease within Sussex County, the 1% annual chance floodplain shall widen and narrow within Sussex County within the area of revision along Bucks Branch. As a result of the revision, the 1% annual chance water-surface elevations shall decrease within Sussex County, the 1% annual chance floodplain shall widen and narrow within Sussex County within the area of revision along Bucks Branch Prong 2 within the area of revision. There is no established effective floodway along William H Newton Ditch, Bucks Branch, and Bucks Branch Prong 2.

Maps and detailed analysis of the revision can be reviewed by appointment at the Department of Natural Resources Environmental Control, Division of Watershed Stewardship at 285 Beiser Blvd., Suite 102, Dover DE 19904. Additional information regarding the update can be viewed at DNREC’s website at the following link: dnrec.delaware.gov/watershed-stewardship/waterways/clear-brook/

Interested persons may call DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship – Gina Tonn, PhD, PE, CFM at 302-739-9921 for additional information from 8AM to 4PM for 4 weeks following this notice.

Related Topics:  flood, flood insurance, floodplain, hazard, nfip, public notice, watershed stewardship