watauga river basin - North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program

NORTH CAROLINA
FLOODPLAIN MAPPING PROGRAM
COOPERATING TECHNICAL STATE
DRAFT BASIN PLAN — WATAUGA RIVER BASIN
Prepared by the:
State of North Carolina and the
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Draft: March 10, 2006

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Contact Information.................................................................................................. iv
Abbreviations and Acronyms ...................................................................................... v
I. Introduction ...................................................................................................1
Why the State of North Carolina Created the Floodplain Mapping Program.........2
Components of the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program........................2
Floodplain Mapping Program Funding and Work Plan........................................3
Program Benefits............................................................................................4
II. Watauga River Basin Description .....................................................................5
III.
IV.
Scoping Phase for the Watauga River Basin......................................................9
Step 1—Initial Research and Community Coordination .................................... 11
Step 2—Initial Scoping Meetings.................................................................... 12
Step 3—Draft Basin Plan ............................................................................... 14
Step 4—Final Scoping Meetings ..................................................................... 14
Step 5—Final Basin Plan................................................................................ 15
Elevation and Flood Data Development and Digital FIRM Production for
the Watauga River Basin.......................................................................... 16
Base Map..................................................................................................... 16
Topographic Data ......................................................................................... 16
Flood Hazard Data........................................................................................ 17
1. Detailed Study—Riverine............................................................... 17
2. Limited Detailed Study.................................................................. 19
3. Redelineation ............................................................................... 19
4. Use of Effective Information.......................................................... 20
5. Variations from Community-Identified Needs and Priorities ............. 21
Digital FIRMs................................................................................................ 21
V. Community Review and Due Process.............................................................. 22
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
List of Figures
Figure 1. Total Flood Claims and Repetitive Loss Policies...................................1
Figure 2. Three Phases of Development and Production....................................3
Figure 3. Phases of the North Carolina Statewide Floodplain Mapping Program...3
Figure 4. Watauga River Basin Vicinity Map......................................................5
Figure 5. Watauga General Basin Map .............................................................7
Figure 6. Process for Scoping the Watauga River Basin ................................... 10
Figure 7. Components of a Digital FIRM ......................................................... 16
List of Tables
Table 1. Community Information .....................................................................8
Table 2. USGS Gage Information ................................................................... 12
Table 3. Initial Scoping Meetings for the Watauga River Basin......................... 13
Table 4. Summary of Riverine Flooding Sources to be Studied in Detail............ 18
Table 5. Summary of Technical Methods for the Watauga River Basin.............. 20
Table 6. Summary of Digital FIRMs for the
Watauga River Basin ....................................................................... 22
Appendices
Appendix A. Attendance Sheets from Initial Scoping Meetings ........................A-1
Appendix B. Summaries of Community-Identified
Flood Mapping Needs................................................................B-1
Appendix C. Attendance Sheet(s) from Final Scoping Meeting(s)(to be added to
the final basin plan)…………………………………………………………………..…………….C-1
Appendix D. Summary of Flooding Sources to be Studied by
Limited Detailed Methods………………………………………………..…....D-1
Appendix E. Summary of Flooding Sources to be Studied by Redelineation......E-1
Appendix F. Summary of Variations from Community-Identified
Needs and Priorities……………………………………………………………….F-1
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Attachments
1. Community Recommendations – Watauga River Basin
a. Avery County, North Carolina
b. Watauga County, North Carolina
2. Draft Basin Plan – Watauga River Basin
a. Avery County, North Carolina
b. Watauga County, North Carolina
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Date: March 10, 2006
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
CONTACT INFORMATION
Questions or comments about this Basin Plan can be directed to:
Steve Garrett, Community Development Planner II
North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
(919)715-5711 x118 or sgarrett@ncem.org
Questions about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and NFIP mapping can be
directed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’ s Map Assistance Center toll
free information line at 1-877 FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or
map.specialist@dewberry.com.
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
The following abbreviations and/or acronyms are used throughout this Basin Plan.
Abbreviation/Acronym Description
BFE Base Flood Elevation
CGIA Center for Geographic Information and Analysis
CTS Cooperating Technical State
DEMs Digital Elevation Models
DFIRM Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map
DOQs Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FEMA-MCC FEMA’s Mapping Coordination Contractor (Dewberry)
FIS Flood Insurance Study
FIRM Flood Insurance Rate Map
FMIS Floodplain Mapping Information System
GIS Geographic Information Systems
LIDAR Light Detection and Ranging
MENCA Mapping and Engineering Needs Community Assessment
NAVD 88 North American Vertical Datum of 1988
NCEM North Carolina Division of Emergency Management
NCDENR North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural
Resources
NCFMP North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
NFIP National Flood Insurance Program
NGVD 29 National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929
TIN Triangulated Irregular Network
USGS U. S. Geological Survey
UT Unnamed Tributary
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
I. INTRODUCTION
The State of North Carolina, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s
(FEMA’s) Cooperating Technical Community partnership initiative, has been designated
as the nation’s first Cooperating Technical State (CTS). As a CTS, the State has
assumed primary ownership and responsibility of the National Flood Insurance
Program’s (NFIP) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for all North Carolina
communities. This role has traditionally been fulfilled by FEMA.
North Carolina faces extreme hazards and consequence from hurricanes and flooding.
Since 1989, there have been at least 21 federally declared disasters in North Carolina.
Damages from Hurricane Floyd alone have reached $3.5 billion. As a result of Hurricane
Floyd, 4,117 uninsured and under-insured homes were destroyed. Figure 1 below
shows the number of flood claims and repetitive loss policies in the Watauga River Basin
between the years of 1978 and 2004. The State’s vulnerability to hurricanes and
flooding make it crucial that communities and property owners have accurate, up-todate
information about the flood risk. The updated digital FIRMs produced through this
Program will help to protect the lives and property, and contribute to the general well
being, of North Carolina citizens.
County
No. of Policies / Claims
since 1978
Repetitive Loss Structures
/ Claims
Avery 141 / 84 7 / 15
Watauga 274 / 95 5 / 13
Figure 1. Total Flood Claims and Repetitive Loss Policies
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
Why the State North Carolina Created the Floodplain Mapping Program
There are several reasons why the State has initiated this Program; these include the
following:
• Approximately 55% of North Carolina FIRMs were at least 10 years old.
• Approximately 75% of North Carolina FIRMs were at least 5 years old.
• FEMA’s mapping budget is finite; on average, North Carolina received only one
updated flood study for one county per year.
• Many counties and communities have indicated that they do not have the
resources to take on this responsibility.
Components of the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
The North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program involves the following:
• Acquisition of high-resolution topographic data and development of accurate DEMs.
• Development of up-to-date, accurate flood hazard data and floodplain mapping.
• Production of seamless digital FIRM coverage statewide:
- Digital FIRMs will be produced on a statewide basis where all counties and
incorporated communities are seamlessly shown across one set of state maps.
- Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles (DOQs), produced in partnership by the State
of North Carolina and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), will be used as the
primary base map. In areas where there is a locally produced base map that is
more current or accurate than the DOQs, the locally developed map may be
used to supplement or in place of the DOQs as the base.
- Flood Elevations on the DFIRMs will be converted to the North American
Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88).
The North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program, administratively located in the North
Carolina Division of Emergency Management (NCEM) oversees and manages the
Program. NCFMP will work closely with several other state agency partner (North
Carolina Geodetic Survey [NCGS], Center for Geographic Information and Analysis
[CGIA], and the Floodplain Management Branch) to ensure quality map production. In
the production of the Basin Plan, NCFMP has worked in close cooperation with the
Floodplain Management Branch of the NCEM to ensure that all flood hazards and NFIP
issues are addressed. Additionally, after the updated flood data and maps are
produced, NCFMP coordinates with Floodplain Management to conduct training and
outreach to assist communities in utilizing the new data and maps to implement
floodplain management and hazard mitigation activities.
The North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program has also implemented a state-of-theart,
dynamic Floodplain Mapping Information System (FMIS) to analyze, maintain, and
archive maps and associated flood hazard data. The FMIS also serves to present and
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
distribute the mapping data and associated reports to the public via the Internet without
the user needing to have sophisticated Geographic Information System (GIS) software.
An additional component of the Program is a real-time flood forecasting and inundation
mapping capability. The North Carolina Flood Warning System is currently being piloted
in the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse River Basins.
The development of topographic and flood data and production of statewide digital
FIRM panels will have three phases (Figure 2): (1) scoping, (2) flood map production,
and (3) Community Review and Due Process (post-preliminary process).
Scoping
Flood Map
Production
Community
Review and
Due Process
Figure 2. Three Phases of Development and Production
Flood Mapping Program Funding and Work Plan
In August 2000, the North Carolina General Assembly allocated $42.8 million to the
Floodplain Mapping Program. FEMA has contributed an additional $30.65 million toward
the Program as well as in-kind contribution of engineering, mapping, and program
management services. The State has also worked with other Federal partners to secure
additional needed funding. Based on the General Assembly’s directive, work began on
the six eastern river basins as shown in Figure 3 (Phase I—Cape Fear, Lumber, Neuse,
Pasquotank, Tar-Pamlico, and White Oak). Work was initiated on six additional river
basins in 2003 (Phase II—Chowan, Roanoke, Yadkin, Catawba, Watauga, and New).
Work on the remaining five basins (Phase III—Broad, French Broad, Little Tennessee,
Hiawassee, and Savannah) started in the summer of 2005 and the General Assembly of
North Carolina provided an additional $10 million.
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
Figure 3. Phases of the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Program Benefits
The North Carolina Statewide Floodplain Mapping Program will provide many benefits to
North Carolina communities, property owners, and citizens. These include:
• The updated flood hazard data will provide current, accurate information for
North Carolina communities and property owners to make safe siting and design
decisions when rebuilding from flooding disasters, building new structures and
infrastructure, and retrofitting existing structures.
• The use of the updated data by communities for floodplain management will
dramatically reduce long-term flood losses to the State of North Carolina, its
communities, and its citizens.
• Updated flood hazard data will alert those at risk of flooding of the need to
purchase flood insurance protection.
• It will be faster and more cost effective to update digital FIRMs.
• Current, updated base maps and the digital format of the FIRMs will allow users
to make more efficient, precise flood risk determinations.
• The resultant digital FIRMs will be the official NFIP maps; these digital FIRMs will
also be used by communities for floodplain management purposes.
• The digital format of the digital FIRMs will allow use with GIS for analysis and
planning.
• The digital Floodplain Mapping Information System will allow online access to all
map users 24 hours a day without requiring sophisticated GIS software.
• The DEMs being developed will be useful for almost any engineering or planning
application, such as site design, storm-water management, transportation
planning and design, and spill response.
This report summarizes and provides details about the scoping phase that was
completed for the Watauga River Basin and how the results of this scoping effort were
used to develop a plan for developing updated flood data and statewide digital FIRMs
for counties and communities located within the Watauga River Basin. This report also
describes the process and schedule for completing the map production and community
review phases.
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
II. Watauga River Basin Description
The Watauga River Basin, is located within the Blue Ridge Province of the Appalachian
Mountains of western North Carolina. This basin is nestled between the French Broad
and Catawba River Basins to the south and the New River basin to the north. The
watershed drains north to northwest from North Carolina to Tennessee.
Figure 4. Watauga River Basin Vicinity Map
The Watauga River Basin is composed of the headwaters and tributaries of the Elk River
and the Watauga River. The Elk River, the principal tributary of the Watauga River, and
the Watauga River flow into Watauga Lake in Tennessee. The Watauga River and Elk
River are headwater tributaries of the Holston River system and flow northwest from
North Carolina to Tennessee and has approximately 303 streams. These waters flow
into the Tennessee River and eventually into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of
Mexico. Elk Falls, located in Avery County on the Elk River, is 65 feet in height and is
known to have one of the largest and deepest plunge pools of any waterfall in the State.
This is a well known swimming, sunbathing and gathering place for students from the
local colleges.
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
The basin is the second smallest in the state, encompassing only 184 square miles of
watershed. The basin contains approximately 270 miles of freshwater streams and
rivers. The upper portion of the Watauga River and most tributaries support a good
trout fishery; this intergrades with a “cool-water” fishery (smallmouth bass) in the
middle and lower section of the river. Most tributaries are trout streams, although
sedimentation may reduce the quality of the fisheries in some of these streams. The
basin contains approximately 283 miles of freshwater streams and rivers.
The topography of the Watauga River Basin is mountainous and rural. Steep slopes
limit developable land for construction and agricultural uses, which are concentrated in
the valleys. Roads are commonly situated along the flooding sources. According to the
USDA-NRCS National Resources Inventory of 1992 the land cover is approximately 56%
forested, 24% pasture, 8% urban, 8% other (rural transportation & associated rights-ofway,
small water areas [water bodies less than 40 acres in size and streams less than ½
mile wide] and census waters [large water bodies consisting of lakes and estuaries
greater than 40 acres and rivers greater than ½ mile in width] and 4% uncultivated
cropland or agriculture. Land cover in the basin is dominated by forest and pasture
lands. Between 1982 and 1997, land-use identification shows urban and developed land
increased by 8,200 acres and forestlands decreased by 8,000 acres.
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
Figure 5. Watauga General Basin Map
The Watauga River Basin is home to many natural resources including various rock
types, unusual wetlands, and a range of elevations. The two more significant sites in
the Southern Appalachian Mountains are Grandfather Mountain and Roan Mountain
Massif, where rare plants and animals dwell. This basin contains several high quality
mountain bogs. Bogs are defined as wet spongy ground areas or poorly drained, usually
acid, areas rich in accumulated plant material, frequently surrounding a body of open
water, and having a characteristic flora. Mountain bogs are saturated with water most
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
of the year and may have thick layers of moss underlain by peat moss and are acidic.
These bogs are often small and do not make up a significant portion of the landscape;
however they support many atypical plants and animals, including bog turtles.
Consequently about 90% of mountain bogs in North Carolina have been destroyed.
The economy of the Watauga River Basin is largely supported by the presence of a
major state university (Appalachian State University), thriving year-round tourism,
broad-based retail, agricultural and forest products, and transportation-related
businesses. Watauga County has one of the lowest annual unemployment rates in the
State and 45% of the properties are absentee-owned. 1/3 of all new building permits in
the county are attributed to seasonal housing. Boone and Watauga County are home to
at least 35 manufacturing firms which employ up to 300 employees per firm. These
“home-grown” companies manufacture and distribute items such as: leather products,
wood furniture components, indoor metal furniture, candies and mints, log homes, and
specialty paint systems. Avery County, too, has a low unemployment rate (4.3% as
recorded in 2003) and is an agricultural-based county where over 80% of the lands are
farmed. 11% of the County residents work in manufacturing, while 25% are
professionals, 16% work in production, and 20% work in sales.
Flooding in the Watauga River Basin occurs as a result of poorly constructed roads and
flash-flooding caused by the steep terrain.
Avery and Watauga Counties are partially located within the Watauga River Basin and
are summarized in Table 1 below.
Community Name County Participation Status
Date of Current NFIP
Map
AVERY COUNTY AVERY Regular/Participating 9/28/1990
BANNER ELK, TOWN OF AVERY Regular/Participating 1/15/1988
ELK PARK, TOWN OF AVERY Regular/Participating 4/15/1986
LINVILLE AVERY Non-Participating
CROSSNORE AVERY Regular/Participating 8/19/1986
SUGAR MOUNTAIN AVERY Non-Participating
NEWLAND AVERY Regular/Participating 12/4/1984
GRANDFATHER VILLAGE AVERY Non-Participating
BLOWING ROCK WATAUGA Regular/Participating 1/17/1997
BEECH MOUNTAIN, TOWN WATAUGA Regular/Participating 1/17/1997
OF
BOONE, TOWN OF WATAUGA Regular/Participating 1/17/1997
SEVEN DEVILS, TOWN OF WATAUGA Regular/Participating 1/17/1997
WATAUGA COUNTY WATAUGA Regular/Participating 9/21/1998
Table 1. Community Information
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
III.
SCOPING PHASE FOR THE WATAUGA RIVER BASIN
The State worked closely with FEMA and Dewberry, to complete the scoping phase for
the Watauga River Basin counties and communities in the winter of 2003-2004. Stated
simply, “scoping” is determining what areas are floodprone and need to have flood
hazard data developed, what methods will be used to generate that hazard data, and
how the data will be presented on the DFIRMs. For the Watauga River Basin, the
comprehensive scoping phase entailed:
• Researching and inventorying available elevation, flood hazard, and digital base
map data that may be useful for preparing updated digital FIRMs;
• Assessing existing flood hazard data (for example: flood elevation profiles,
floodplain boundaries, floodways, coastal hazard zones) on effective FIRMs for
adequacy;
• Providing outreach to, and receiving input from, counties and communities
regarding their needs for updated DFIRMs;
• Identifying data that needs to be developed or acquired, such as digital base
maps, DEMs, or field surveys of stream channels, hydraulic structures, and
coastal transects;
• Determining the proposed scales and paneling scheme for statewide digital FIRM
production; and
• Developing a schedule for completion of updated flood hazard data and digital
FIRM production.
For flooding sources within the basin, the flood hazard data from the effective FIRMs
were assessed for adequacy in consultation with the impacted counties and
communities. For areas where the existing flood hazard data was deemed to be
inadequate or outdated, a priority level was established and the most appropriate
method of developing updated data was selected based on the:
• Type and extent of manmade and natural changes within the floodplain and/or
watershed;
• Quality of data available; and
• Existing and/or proposed levels of development affected by the flooding source.
The process followed for completing the scoping is shown in Figure 6 and is described
further below.
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
Scoping
Flood Map
Production
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5
Initial
Research &
Community
Coordination
Initial
Scoping
Meeting
Draft
Basin
Plan
Final
Scoping
Meeting
Revise
Draft
Basin
Plan
Technical
& Cost
Proposals
for
Contractors
Finalize
Basin
Plan
Figure 6. Process for Scoping the Watauga River Basin
Distribute
Final Basin
Plan to
Communities
Analysis
and
Mapping
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
Step 1—Initial Research and Community Coordination
The State held two central “kickoff” meetings in 2003 with county and community
floodplain administrators, engineers, and planners on June 30, 2003 in Weldon and on
July 8, 2003 in Statesville. The objectives of the meetings were to overview the State’s
CTS Agreement with FEMA and the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program, inform
the floodplain administrators of the process that will be followed to develop updated
mapping, and encourage them to be an active participant in the process. A
questionnaire regarding the communities’ mapping needs was mailed prior to the
meeting and distributed to those community representatives in attendance. This
questionnaire contained pointed questions designed to help each community
systematically ascertain its flood mapping needs. The county and community officials
were encouraged to complete the questionnaire and submit it either digitally via e-mail
or in a hardcopy delivered by the US Postal Service. Technical support was available for
completion of the questionnaire through the State.
Completed questionnaires were received by the State from the following counties and
communities in the Watauga River Basin: Elk Park and Watauga County
Additionally, the State completed research of community mapping needs as per its
September 2000 Cooperating Technical Community agreement with FEMA, “Assessment
of Community Mapping Needs.” Further, FEMA and Dewberry conducted research of
effective Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and FIRM information and other relevant data
available for each community in the FEMA Flood Mapping Archives and FEMA’s Mapping
Needs Update Support System database. This database contains information on
community mapping needs collected over the past few years through community
surveys.
As part of the initial research, the State and Dewberry also evaluated post-Hurricane
Floyd data, such as gage information, high-water marks, and inundation mapping,
obtained from FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the USGS. The purpose of
this evaluation was to identify areas where actual flooding elevations and inundation
limits experienced did not match the flood hazard data in the effective FIS and FIRM,
thereby indicating a mapping need.
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
Up-to-date analyses for 5 stream gages located in the Watauga River Basin were
obtained from the USGS for Detailed and Approximate Zone A studied flooding sources.
The revised gage analyses were compared with effective FIRM information to determine
the need for restudy of the flooding sources on which these gages are located. As part
of this assessment, the 1% annual chance (100-year) discharge and 1% annual chance
water-surface elevation were compared. Tables 2a and 2b outline this information for 5
stream gages in the Watauga River Basin.
Table 2a. USGS Gage Information
USGS
Detailed Studied Flooding Sources
100-year Discharge (cfs) 100-year WSEL (ft)
Gage Flooding Source Effective Gage Effective Gage
03478910 Cove Creek 5,200 5,722 2,684 N/A
03479000 Watauga River 36,051 39,160 2,632 2,634
N/A – not applicable because stream is currently not studied by detailed methods
*All elevations are referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88)
USGS
Gage
Table 2b. USGS Gage Information
Approximate Zone A Flooding Sources
100-year Discharge
(cfs)
100-year Elevation
(NGVD)
Effective Zone
Flooding
Source Effective Gage Zone A
03480500 Elk River Insufficient Data N/A Zone A
03480540 Peavine Branch 50 N/A Zone A
03481000 Elk River 20,380 2,825 Zone A
N/A – not applicable because stream is currently not studied by detailed methods
*All elevations are referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29)
The results of the initial research and responses to the community questionnaires were
entered into a GIS-enabled scoping database: Mapping and Engineering Needs
Community Assessment (MENCA). This database was used to generate “Initial Scoping
Projects” for each community; these projects were used to conduct the Initial Scoping
Meetings (Step 2).
Step 2—Initial Scoping Meetings
The State held meetings in each county in the Watauga River Basin to present the
results of the initial research to the county and its communities and to discuss their flood
mapping needs. Elected officials, planners, floodplain administrators, emergency
managers, engineers, surveyors and GIS staff were invited from the county and each
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
incorporated community, including those communities that do not participate in the
NFIP. The meetings were held at the County Seat or other readily accessible locations.
FEMA and Dewberry staff attended to provide program and technical support during the
meetings. NCEM Floodplain Management Branch staff attended the meetings to
exchange contact information with community Floodplain Administrators, establish
contact with non-participating communities, and distribute copies of the current North
Carolina model Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance. Table 3 summarizes the initial
scoping meeting dates with each community. Meeting attendance sheets are included
as Appendix A.
Please note that portions of some counties in the Watauga River Basin are contained in
other river basins. The initial scoping meetings were conducted on a countywide basis
and covered all areas of each county and community in the county irrespective of the
basin. Table 3 contains a list of communities with the location and date of initial scoping
meetings held for each community. Only those communities located entirely or partially
within the Watauga River Basin are listed in Table 3.
Table 3. Initial Scoping Meetings for the Watauga River Basin
Community Meeting Location Meeting Date (s)
Avery County – Banner Elk, Elk
Park, Village of Sugar
Mountain, Avery County
Watauga County – Seven
Devils, Blowing Rock, Boone,
Watauga County
175 Linville Street
Newland, NC
971 West King Street
Boone, NC
November 20, 2003
November 19, 2003
At the initial scoping meetings, the State, NCEM Floodplain Management Branch, and
Dewberry representatives met individually, or in groups, with the county and its
incorporated communities’ representatives to:
• Provide a brief overview of the Floodplain Mapping Program purpose, objectives,
and goals;
• Review the research results for each community using the Initial Scoping
Package;
• Discuss the community’s mapping needs and response to the questionnaire; and
• Identify available local data such as base maps, topographic data, ongoing
studies, etc.
In assessing the communities’ flood mapping needs, emphasis was placed on:
• Areas of future development;
• New or proposed crossings, encroachments, and flood controls;
• Historically flooded areas;
• Out-of-date or inadequate data on current FIRMs;
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Cooperating Technical State
• Existing data mismatches with contiguous communities; and
• Out-of-date FEMA analyses (detailed or approximate).
For flooding sources identified in the meeting as having a flood mapping need, the
community was asked to provide input on proposed study priorities and analysis
methods.
Appendix B contains tables summarizing the community-identified flood mapping needs,
suggested type of study, and priorities for each community within the Watauga River
Basin. Attachments A and B depict these community-identified needs and priorities.
Also, as part of the initial scoping effort, CGIA met with county GIS staff to inventory the
availability of local GIS data to identify potential base map data resources for the
Floodplain Mapping Program. Information collected from the survey form was entered
into MENCA for Elk Park in Avery County and Watauga County for the Watauga Basin.
Step 3—Draft Basin Plan
Based on the results of the Initial Scoping Meetings, the State synthesized the research
and the community input. These results were used to develop this Draft Basin Plan for
developing updated flood hazard data for the basin and for producing statewide DFIRM
panels for the affected counties and communities within the Watauga River Basin.
Section IV of this Draft Basin Plan includes a list of flooding sources to be updated
within the basin, including the technical method of update (detailed, limited detailed and
redelineation) and reach limits and stream miles to be updated. Section IV also includes
a comprehensive list of counties for which statewide DFIRM panels will be produced
including digital base map source to be used and proposed DFIRM paneling and tiling
scheme. Lastly, Section IV also includes a projected schedule for completing the basin
studies and statewide preliminary DFIRMs.
Step 4—Final Scoping Meetings
The draft Watauga River Basin Plan is scheduled to be sent to Avery & Watauga
Counties and the communities and posted on the State’s website on or about March 1,
2006. Subsequently, the State will hold a Final Scoping meeting for the Watauga River
Basin counties and communities.
The communities’ Chief Elected Officer, Floodplain Administrators, Planners, Engineers,
GIS staff, Building and Zoning Officials will be invited from each county and incorporated
community in the basin for the Final Scoping Meetings.
The objective of the final scoping meeting is for the State to overview the Draft Basin
Plan, including the proposed scope, schedule for the project, and provide an opportunity
for additional county and community input or suggested changes to the Draft Basin
Draft Basin Plan — Watauga River Basin
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North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
Plan. Individual meetings, for Avery and Watauga Counties, will be scheduled for
community leaders to meet with representatives from the State and Dewberry.
The Final Basin Plan will summarize the comments and/or feedback received during the
Final Scoping Meetings and will include the Final Scoping Meeting Attendance Sheet(s)
in Appendix C.
Step 5—Final Basin Plan
After the Final Scoping Meetings have been held, the Draft Basin Plan will be revised, as
necessary, to produce a Final Basin Plan. The Final Basin Plan will contain specific
information regarding comments that were received and how the Draft Basin Plan was
revised and why.
The State will then request that its Flood Mapping Contractor prepare a technical and
cost proposal to execute the components of the revised draft Watauga River Basin Plan.
After negotiations between the State and the Flood Mapping Contractor if the cost
estimate indicates that the Basin Plan can be executed within the State’s available
budget for the Watauga River Basin, the Basin Plan will be finalized. However, if the
negotiated cost estimate indicates that the Basin Plan cannot be executed within the
State’s available budget, the State may have to modify the scope of the project.
Once the Watauga River Basin Plan is finalized, the Final Basin Plan will be posted on
the State website, www.ncfloodmaps.com, with a description and explanation of any
changes made from the Draft Basin Plan for the public to view and download.
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Date: March 10, 2006 Page 15

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
IV.
ELEVATION AND FLOOD DATA DEVELOPMENT AND DIGITAL FIRM
PRODUCTION FOR THE WATAUGA RIVER BASIN
The State’s flood mapping contractor will develop digital elevation data, conduct
engineering flood hazard analyses, and prepare floodplain delineations for the flooding
sources in the Watauga River Basin and produce statewide preliminary DFIRMs for the
affected communities within the Watauga River Basin.
Figure 6 shows how the base map, topographic data, and flood data will be used to
“build” a DFIRM. Each component is discussed further in the following sections.
+ +
Base
Topography
Flood Data
=
Digital FIRM
Figure 7. Components of a Digital FIRM
Base Map
Locally produced digital orthophotography will be used as the base map for statewide
DFIRM production, provided that it meets FEMA’s base map standards. If local imagery
is not available, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles
(DOQs), based on 1998 aerial photography, will be used. The base maps will be
supplemented with stream and river centerlines, shoreline, political boundaries, and road
name data from other sources; this may include locally available GIS data. The specific
local GIS data to be used to supplement the DOQs will be determined on completion and
assessment of the CGIA’s GIS surveys as discussed in Section III of this Draft Basin
Plan.
Topographic Data
Watershed Concepts, under contract with the State, acquired digital topographic data of
the Watauga River Basin using airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR). This
LIDAR data was acquired during the Spring 2002-2003 flying season.
The topographic data satisfies a vertical root-mean-square error (RMSE) accuracy
standard of ±25 cm (±1.8) feet accuracy at the 95% confidence limit (or roughly
Draft Basin Plan — Watauga River Basin
Date: March 10, 2006 Page 16

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
“equivalent” to a 2.2 foot contour interval map) in floodplain areas. All elevations are
referenced to the NAVD 88 and reflect orthometric heights. Variably spaced, bare-earth
digital topographic data in ASCII point file format is combined with imagery (either flown
concurrently with the LIDAR data or using existing digital orthophotos) to establish a
Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) to include selected breaklines used for hydraulic
modeling. Furthermore, uniformly spaced Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), with 20 ft. x
20 ft. or 50 ft. x 50 ft. post spacing, are generated in multiple file formats.
These topographic data will be primarily used for floodplain modeling and mapping for
counties and communities in the Watauga River Basin (described below). However, the
data will also be useful for other State and county engineering and planning applications
using ARC/INFO and other GIS software and will be available through the State’s online
Information Management System described earlier in this plan. It is planned for these
data to be available online in the fall of 2007.
Flood Hazard Data
In developing flood hazard data for each of the flooding sources in the Watauga River
Basin the State’s Flood Mapping Contractor will utilize one of four options available.
These are described below. All flood elevations will be referenced to the NAVD 88. All
analyses and mapping will comply with FEMA’s regulations, guidelines, and specifications
for NFIP mapping.
1. Detailed Study—Riverine
This method entails using the TINs, supplements them with field surveys for channel
bathymetry, bridge/culvert opening geometry, and channel and floodplain
characteristics, to conduct fully detailed hydrologic and hydraulic analyses and floodplain
mapping. This will include analyses of the 10%, 2%, 1%, and 0.2% annual chance
flood peak discharges, water-surface elevations, profiles, and determination of a
floodway. Riverine areas studied in detail will be designated as Zone AE on the updated
digital FIRMs. Flood profiles and base flood elevations will be referenced to NAVD 88.
Tables 4 summarizes the riverine flooding sources and reach descriptions within the
Watauga River Basin that will be studied using detailed methods. The estimated
number of hydraulic structures is an approximation of the number of culverts, bridges,
dams, and weirs along the reach to be studied in detail. These estimates were made
based on the number of major road crossings using CGIA data and from the flood
profiles in the current FIS report. Attachments C and D depict the specific reaches to be
studied in detail.
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Date: March 10, 2006 Page 17

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
Table 4. Summary of Riverine Flooding Sources to be Studied in Detail
County/Community Flooding Source Downstream Limit Upstream Limit
Avery County (Banner
Elk)
Avery County
Avery County
Avery County
Avery County (Banner
Elk)
Avery County (Banner
Elk)
Watauga County
Elk River
Shawneehaw Creek
Hanging Rock Creek
Horse Bottom Creek
Sugar Creek
Whitehead Creek
Brushy Fork
Approximately 330 feet
upstream of Elk River
Parkway
The confluence with Elk
Creek
The confluence with Elk
River
The confluence with
Hanging Rock Creek
The confluence with Elk
River
From the confluence with
the Elk River
Approximately 600 feet
downstream of NC HWY
421
At the confluence with
Hanging Rock Creek
Approximately 164 feet
upstream of Villa Cas
Avenue
To Dobbins Road (SR
1337)
Approximately .43 mile
upstream
Approximately .40 mile of
Hardee’s Lane
Approximately 1 mile
upstream of Banner Elk
Highway (NC-194)
Approximately 750 miles
of Adams Cemetary Road
(SR 1375)
Approx.
Reach
Length
(miles)
Estimated
Number of
Hydraulic
Structures
2.09 1
1 10
.97 3
.43 0
.50 2
1.28 7
2.06 7
TOTAL 8.33 30
Note: Flooding Source name in parenthesis is the local name.
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Date: March 10, 2006 Page 18

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
2. Limited Detailed Study
This method entails using the TINs being produced as part of the North Carolina
Floodplain Mapping Program, without adding field-surveyed bathymetric or
bridge/culvert opening geometric data, to conduct hydrologic and hydraulic analyses. In
addition, this method does not include field surveys that determine specifics on channel
and floodplain characteristics. However, bridge and culvert opening data from North
Carolina Department of Transportation maintenance records is incorporated into the
hydraulic analysis models. Limited detailed study will result in the delineation of the 1%
annual chance floodplain boundaries and base flood elevations. These will be
designated as Zone AE on the newly generated DFIRMs. Limited detailed study will also
determine widths of the non-encroachment area at all studied cross sections. The nonencroachment
widths given at modeled cross sections can be used by communities to
enforce floodplain management ordinances that meet the requirement defined in 44 CFR
60.3(c)(10). This information will be provided in the Flood Insurance Study report to
facilitate local floodplain management.
The limited detailed study is a “buildable” product with a supporting engineering model
that can be upgraded to full detailed study at a later date by adding field-surveyed river
or stream channel and bridge/culvert opening geometric data.
All flooding sources currently designated as Zone A on the effective FIRMs that are not
being studied by detailed study methods will be reanalyzed using this limited detailed
study method. In most cases, currently unmapped areas identified by communities as
being a priority will be studied by the limited detailed study method unless they are
otherwise being studied by detailed methods. Attachments C and D depict the specific
reaches to be studied using limited detailed methods.
Additionally, limited detailed study will be considered for unmapped flooding sources,
with an emphasis on those in developed areas with a drainage area larger than 1-square
mile. However, some floodprone areas with lesser drainage areas may also be mapped
based on known hazards, level of development, and community-identified needs.
Appendix D summarizes the flooding sources and descriptions within the Watauga Basin
that will be studied using limited detailed methods.
3. Redelineation
This method involves no new analyses; rather, the effective FIS and FIRM data will be
fitted to the updated base map using the new LIDAR-derived topographic data.
Floodways and cross section locations are digitized from the effective FIRMs and Flood
Boundary and Floodway Map. Flood profiles and base flood elevations are converted
from NGVD 29 to NAVD 88. For coastal areas, the inland limit of the 1% annual chance
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Date: March 10, 2006 Page 19

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
floodplain will be redelineated using the TINs; intermediate coastal zones will only be
adjusted to convert the mapping to NAVD 88. The inland limit of the VE Zone may be
adjusted based on the location of the inland limit of the primary frontal dune as shown
in the TINs.
Areas where this technique is used will be designated as Zone AE or VE on the updated
DFIRMs. This technique is useful for riverine, lacustrine, and coastal flooding sources
where the effective FIS engineering analyses are adequate but the topographic data
used to delineate the floodplain boundaries is not sufficiently detailed or up-to-date.
The redelineation method will be used for all flooding sources within the Watauga River
Basin that are currently studied in detail on current FIRMs and that are not being
restudied in detail as part of this Basin Plan.
Appendix E summarizes the flooding sources and descriptions within the Watauga Basin
that will be redelineated.
4. Use of Effective Information
This method involves no new analyses or floodplain mapping; rather, the effective FIS
and FIRM data will be digitized “as is” and fitted to the updated DFIRM. Use of this
method is normally limited to areas of known flooding not associated with a coastal or
riverine flooding source (isolated ponding and swamp areas, for example) that are
designated as Zone A on the effective FIRM where conventional hydrologic and/or
hydraulic modeling methods could not be used to determine a 1% annual chance water
surface elevation. Table 6 lists the specific communities within the Watauga River Basin
that will be depicted on the updated DFIRM using the effective 1% annual chance
floodplain boundaries from the effective FIRM. This method will not be used in the
Watauga Basin Plan mapping.
Table 5 summarizes the estimated number of linear miles for each method to be applied
in the Watauga River Basin. Attachments C and D depict the technical methods to be
applied to each flooding source within the Watauga River Basin based a combination of
Community Requests and State Recommendations.
Table 5. Summary of Technical Methods for the Watauga River Basin
Technical Method
Detailed Study—Riverine
Limited Detailed Study*
Redelineation
Total
Estimated Linear
Miles
8.05 miles
48.23 miles
30.57 miles
86.85 miles
*There may be additional studies conducted to perform limited detailed studies on effective approximate
studies.
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Date: March 10, 2006 Page 20

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
The Watauga River Basin Study, which will include completion of the DEMs and
preparation of updated flood hazard data, is scheduled to be completed by in 2006
Variations from Community-Identified Needs and Priorities
In some Basin Plans, it was necessary to deviate from the needs and technical methods
identified by a county or community. The State used a quantitative ranking system to
address all community needs identified for detailed study based on several factors.
These factors included:
• The age of the effective FIRM analyses (studies based on older analyses receive a
higher ranking)
• Likely flood mapping impacts (the greater the anticipated change to the flood
elevation and/or floodplain boundary, the higher the ranking)
• Level of development (areas of more dense existing or anticipated development
receive a higher ranking)
• Historical flood information (if gage data, high-water marks, inundation mapping,
or community experience indicate a mapping problem, the higher the ranking)
• Mismatches with contiguous communities (significant mismatches in flood
elevations and/or floodplain boundaries between adjacent communities receive a
higher ranking)
• Whether any mitigation planning has been developed or is in the process of being
developed (if so, the community receives a higher ranking)
Appendix F summarizes the areas where the flood data development described above as
part of this Draft Basin Plan differs from the community-identified needs and priorities.
Digital FIRMs
Using the base maps and flood hazard data described above, DFIRMs will be produced
in seamless statewide format, including the unincorporated areas of each county in the
Watauga River Basin and its incorporated communities on one set of DFIRM panels.
The DFIRMs will depict flood hazard and related data (floodplain and floodway
boundaries, base flood elevations, cross sections, and flood insurance zone
designations) and non-engineering reference features (road names and locations,
stream and river centerlines, shorelines, corporate boundaries, airports, schools, and
bench marks).
Because the counties within the Watauga River Basin are partially located in adjacent
river basins (French Broad and New), completion of the final effective statewide DFIRMs
will be dependent on completion of the basin studies for the adjacent basins. However,
when the Watauga River Basin Study is completed, statewide preliminary DFIRMs will be
issued for the portions of counties and communities within the Watauga River Basin.
(The community review and due process phases are discussed in more detail in
Section V of this Draft Basin Plan.)
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Date: March 10, 2006 Page 21

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
DFIRM panels will be tiled using the NCFMP tiling scheme and will be produced at either
1”=500’ (for panels with detailed study or urban areas) or 1”=1,000’ (for panels with
only limited detailed study or rural areas). Table 6 summarizes the number and scale of
DFIRM panels, the proposed schedule, and other basins affecting each county (Panel
Information will be provided in the Final Basin Plan).
Table 6. Summary of Digital FIRM Panels for the Watauga River Basin
County
Avery
Watauga
Total
DFIRM
Panels
*
Panels
@ 1”=
500’*
Panels
@ 1”=
1,000’
*
Projected
Preliminary
Date for
Watauga
Portion
Other Basin(s)
Projected
Preliminary
Date
*Includes total estimated DFIRM panels in county, not including adjacent basins. Also includes multi-county
panels that are also counted for contiguous counties.
V. COMMUNITY REVIEW AND DUE PROCESS
As discussed in Section IV of this Basin Plan, when the Watauga River Basin Study is
completed, statewide preliminary DFIRMs will be issued to the impacted counties and
communities for the portion of the county within the Watauga River Basin. As shown in
Table 6 in Section IV, the statewide preliminary DFIRM panels for the Watauga River
Basin are anticipated to be issued by the fall of 2007. Subsequently, a preliminary
DFIRM meeting will be held for county and community officials to present the results of
the Watauga River Basin Study and statewide preliminary DFIRM panels, answer
questions, and explain administrative procedures. Shortly after the preliminary DFIRM
panels are issued, a statutory 90-day appeal period will be initiated to allow counties,
communities, and/or citizens to submit technical or scientific data to FEMA and the State
to refute or contest new or revised base flood elevations and base map data shown on
the preliminary DFIRMs and otherwise provide comments on the preliminary DFIRMs.
Any and all appeals will be evaluated and resolved by FEMA in close coordination with
the State, Dewberry, and the State’s Flood Mapping Contractor.
As the contiguous basin studies impacting a split-basin county are completed, statewide
preliminary DFIRM panels will be issued for the remaining portion(s) of the county. A
preliminary DFIRM meeting will be held for those basins and the statutory 90-day appeal
period will be provided and all appeals will be evaluated and resolved.
After issuing preliminary DFIRM panels for all areas of a county and evaluating and
resolving all appeals and community comments, the statewide preliminary DFIRM panels
will be finalized. FEMA’s Map Service Center will print and distribute the official DFIRMs
to be used for flood insurance rating purposes. Additionally, the State will post the final
Draft Basin Plan — Watauga River Basin
Date: March 10, 2006 Page 22

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
statewide DFIRMs on its Floodplain Mapping Information System for distribution and
access to communities and the public via the Internet.
During the community review and due process phase, many counties and communities
will need to update their floodplain management ordinances; the communities will be
given a 6-month period to adopt the updated DFIRMs and incorporate the DFIRMs into
their ordinances. The NCEM Floodplain Management Branch and FEMA will coordinate
this effort with the counties and communities that need to update their ordinances.
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Date: March 10, 2006 Page 23

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
APPENDIX A
ATTENDANCE SHEETS FROM INITIAL SCOPING MEETINGS
Avery County – November 20, 2003
Name Title/Agency Phone
David Vance
Avery County Emergency
Management Coordinator
(828) 733-8210
Robert Wiseman Avery County Manager (828) 733-8204
Gary Benfield
Jason Vance
Bill Cook
David Webb
Butch Sholar
Ordinance Administrator/Planning &
Zoning, Avery County
High Country Council of
Governments
Town Administrator, Town of
Banner Elk
Public Works Director, Village of
Sugar Mountain
Assistant Emergency Management
Coordinator, Avery County
(828) 733-8204
(828) 265-5434
(828) 898-5398
(828) 898-5822
(828) 733-8210
James Seaberg GIS Director, Avery County (828) 733-7001
Connie Guinn Town Clerk, Town of Elk Park (828) 733-9573
Mary M. Shaw
NFIP Planner, NCDEM
(919) 733-8000
x226
Joan Craft Dewberry (703) 849-0511
Ed Curtis
Scoping & Outreach Coordinator
NCFMP
(919) 715-8000
x369
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Date: March 10, 2006 Page A-1

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
Watauga County – November 20, 2003
Name Title/Agency Phone
David Law Town Manager, Town of Seven Devils (828) 963-5343
Kevin Rothrock
Planning Director, Town of Blowing
Rock
(828) 295-5240
Frank Hayes Land Surveyor, Appalachian PLS & C (828) 264-0290
George Cole Planning Supervisor, Town of Boone (828) 262-4540
James Perry
Environmental Planner, Town of
Boone Planning & Inspections
(828) 262-4540
Jimmy Warren Planning & Inspections, Watauga Co. (828) 265-8043
Randy Woodrow Planning & Inspections, Watauga Co. (828) 265-8043
Rick Sacbibit Dewberry (703) 849-0414
Mary M. Shaw NFIP Planner, NCDEM (919) 733-8000 x226
Joan Craft Dewberry (703) 849-0511
Ed Curtis
Scoping & Outreach Coordinator,
NCFMP
(919) 715-8000 x369
Draft Basin Plan — Watauga River Basin
Date: March 10, 2006 Page A-2

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
Appendix B
SUMMARIES OF COMMUNITY-IDENTIFIED FLOOD MAPPING NEEDS
The tables on the following pages provide summaries of flood mapping needs that have been identified by the counties and/or
communities.
Avery County and Incorporated Areas—Community-Identified Mapping Needs
Identifier Flooding Source Community Type of Study Priority Ranking Effective Zone
Avery County and Town of
A
Elk River
Detailed Study High 1 A
Banner Elk
B
Hanging Rock Creek Town of Banner Elk Detailed Study High 2 AE with Floodway
C Shawneehaw Creek Avery County Detailed Study High 3 AE without Floodway
D Whitehead Creek Town of Banner Elk Detailed Study High 4 X
E Sugar Creek Town of Banner Elk Detailed Study High 5 AE with Floodway
F Linville River Avery County Detailed Study High 6 AE with Floodway
G UT Town of Crossnore Limited Detailed Study Medium 7 X
H Clark Branch Town of Crossnore Limited Detailed Study Medium 8 X
I Little Elk Creek Trib 6 Town of Elk Park Limited Detailed Study High 9 X
J Little Elk Creek Trib 6.1 Town of Elk Park Limited Detailed Study High 10 X
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Date: March 10, 2006 Page B-1

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
Watauga County and Incorporated Areas—Community-Identified Mapping Needs
Identifier Flooding Source Community Type of Study Priority Ranking Effective Zone
B Brushy Fork Watauga County Detailed Study High 1 AE without Floodway
*All other requests in this county are in contiguous River Basins and will be listed in their respective Basin Plans.
**Requests are ranked and listed in their respective basin plans (See New, Yakin or French Broad Basin Plans for additional requests
in Avery and Watauga Counties)
Draft Basin Plan — Watauga River Basin
Date: March 10, 2006 Page B-2

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
County or
Municipality
AVERY
Appendix D
SUMMARY OF FLOODING SOURCES TO BE STUDIED BY LIMITED DETAILED METHODS
Flooding Source Downstream Limit Upstream Limit
Beech Creek
The confluence with the Watauga
River
AVERY Buckeye Creek The confluence with Beech Creek
WATAUGA
Cove Creek
Approximately 1.2 miles
downstream of Silverstone Rd
(SR 1306)
The confluence with Buckeye
Creek
Approximately 0.9 mile upstream
of the confluence with Beech
Creek
Approximately 1 mile upstream of
Mabel School Road
Approx.
Reach
Length
(miles)
Estimated
Number of
Hydraulic
Structures
2.54 1
0.86 2
4.80 9
AVERY Cranberry Creek The confluence with Elk River
Approximately .49 mile upstream
of SR 1169
2.10 4
AVERY Curtis Creek The confluence with Elk River Alton Palmer Road 1.12 1
AVERY Fall Creek The confluence with Elk River
Approximately 0.78 mile
upstream of the confluence with
Elk River
0.78 0
AVERY
Avery County
Elk River
Elk River
The Avery/Carter County (TN)
boundary
Approximately .30 mile
downstream of Marlen Lane
AVERY Hanging Rock Creek Dobbins Road (SR 1337)
The Banner Elk municipal
boundary
Upstream to the Sugar Mountain
municipal boundary
Approximately 1 mile upstream of
Dobbins Road
10.60 15
.40 2
1.4 5
Draft Basin Plan — Watauga River Basin
Date: March 10, 2006 D-1

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
County or
Municipalit
y
Appendix D
SUMMARY OF FLOODING SOURCES TO BE STUDIED BY LIMITED DETAILED METHODS (CONTINUED)
Flooding Source Downstream Limit Upstream Limit
AVERY Horney Branch The confluence with Elk River
AVERY
Horse Bottom Creek
Approximately 65 feet
downstream of Guignard Lane
AVERY Little Elk Creek The confluence with the Elk River
AVERY Little Elk Creek Trib 3
AVERY Little Elk Creek Trib 6
AVERY (Elk
Park)
AVERY
AVERY
AVERY
AVERY
AVERY
Little Elk Creek Trib 6.1
Puckett Branch
Shawneehaw Creek
Shawneehaw Creek
Trib 2
Shawneehaw Creek
Trib 3
Trivett Branch
The confluence with Little Elk
Creek
The confluence with Little Elk
Creek
The confluence with Little Elk
Creek 6
The confluence with Horney
Creek
Approximately 528 feet upstream
of Shawneehaw Heights
The confluence with
Shawneehaw Creek
The confluence with
Shawneehaw Creek
The Avery/Carter County (TN)
boundary
Approximately .29 mile upstream
of Banner Elk Highway (194)
Approximately .20 mile upstream
of SR 1355
Approximately 1.2 miles
upstream of US-19 East
Approximately .20 mile upstream
of US-19E
Approximately .80 mile upstream
the Elk Park municipal boundary
Approximately 233 feet upstream
of Woodland Hills Drive (SR
11711)
Approximately .20 mile upstream
of Edgar Tufts Road (SR 1328)
Approximately .25 mile upstream
of Balm Hwy (NC 194)
Approximately 236 feet upstream
of SR 1334
Approximately 254 feet upstream
of Shoemaker Road (SR 1333)
Approximately 1.2 mile upstream
of Dark Ridge Road (SR 1310)
Approx.
Reach
Length
(miles)
Estimated
Number of
Hydraulic
Structures
0.57 2
1.2 5
2.7 8
.70 3
1.7 5
0.90 5
1.1 3
0.90 5
0.20 2
0.24 2
1.30 6
Draft Basin Plan — Watauga River Basin
Date: March 10, 2006 D-2

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
County or
Municipality
Appendix D
SUMMARY OF FLOODING SOURCES TO BE STUDIED BY LIMITED DETAILED METHODS (CONTINUED)
Flooding Source Downstream Limit Upstream Limit
AVERY Trivett Branch Trib 2
AVERY Trivett Branch Trib 5
AVERY
AVERY
AVERY
Ut1
Ut2
Ut
The confluence with Trivett
Branch
The confluence with Trivett
Branch
The Avery/Carter County (TN)
boundary
The Avery/Carter County (TN)
boundary
The Avery/Carter County (TN)
boundary
Approximately .40 mile upstream
of Joe Parlier Road (SR 1379)
Approximately .50 mile upstream
of the confluence with Trivett
Branch
Approximately 0.60 mile
upstream of the Avery/Carter
County (TN) boundary
Approximately 0.60 mile
upstream of the Avery/Carter
County (TN) boundary
Approximately .60 mile upstream
of the Avery/Carter County (TN)
boundary
Approx.
Reach
Length
(miles)
Estimated
Number of
Hydraulic
Structures
.50 2
.50 0
.61 1
.61 1
.60 1
AVERY Whitehead Creek The confluence with Elk River The Banner Elk Hwy (NC 194) .28 2
WATAUGA
Laurel Fork
Approximately 1.1 mile upstream
of Baird's Creek Road (SR 1114)
WATAUGA Laurel Fork Trib 8 The confluence with Laurel Fork
WATAUGA Watauga River The NC/TN State boundary
Approximately 0.40 miles
upstream of Baird’s Creek Road
(SR 1114)
Approximately 1.22 miles
upstream of the confluence with
Laurel Fork
Approximately 0.40 miles
upstream of US 321
0.40 0
1.22 5
7.4 4
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Date: March 10, 2006 D-3

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
Appendix D
SUMMARY OF FLOODING SOURCES TO BE STUDIED BY LIMITED DETAILED METHODS
TOTAL 47.95 97
Draft Basin Plan — Watauga River Basin
Date: March 10, 2006 D-4

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
County or
Municipality
AVERY County
Watauga County
Watauga County
Watauga County
Watauga County
Watauga County
Flooding
Source
Elk River
Brushy Fork
Cove Creek
Dutch Creek
Laurel Fork
Watauga
River
Appendix E
SUMMARY OF FLOODING SOURCES TO BE STUDIED BY REDELINEATION
Downstream Limit
Approximately 1 mile downstream
of Hardee’s Lane
From the confluence with Cove
Creek
The confluence with the Watauga
River
The confluence with the Watauga
River
The confluence with the Watauga
River
Approximately .95 mile upstream
of Laurel Creek Road (SR 1123)
Upstream Limit
Approximately .50 mile
upstream of Glover Factory
Lane
Approximately 600 feet
downstream of NC HWY 421
Approximately 1.2 miles
upstream of Silverstone Road
(ST 1306)
Approximately 433 feet
upstream of Dutch Creek
Road (SR 1134)
Approximately 1.2 mile
upstream of Baird’s Creek
Road (SR 1114)
The Watauga/Avery County
boundary
Approx.
Reach
Length
(miles)
Estimated
Number of
Hydraulic
Structures
1.1 1
1.36 2
5.58 13
2.48 3
2.10 3
17.95 18
Total 30.57 40
Draft Basin Plan — Watauga River Basin
Date: March 10, 2006 E-1

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
APPENDIX F
SUMMARY OF VARIATIONS FROM COMMUNITY-IDENTIFIED NEEDS AND PRIORITIES
Community
County
Flooding
Source
Reach Description
Community
Need and
Priority
Community
Recommendation
Technical
Method in
Basin Plan*
Reason for
Variation
Unincorporated
Areas & Banner
Elk
Avery
Whitehead
Creek
From the Banner Elk
Highway to a point
approximately .5 mile
upstream of Banner Elk
Highway
None
None
Detailed
Study
Sound
engineering
practice/solution
to possible tie-in
problem
Unincorporated
Areas
Avery
Whitehead
Creek
From the confluence
with the Elk River to a
point approximately .3
mile upstream of the
confluence with the Elk
River
None
None
Detailed
Study
Reach would not
meet the drainage
area distance
requirement/
combined with
upstream portion
scoped for new
detailed study
Unincorporated
Areas
Avery
Sugar Creek
From the Banner Elk
municipal boundary to a
point upstream
approximately .3 mile
upstream of the Banner
Elk municipal boundary
None
None
Detailed
Study
Reach would not
meet the drainage
area distance
requirement/
combined with
upstream portion
scoped for new
detailed study
Draft Basin Plan — Watauga River Basin
Date: March 10, 2006 F-1

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
Cooperating Technical State
APPENDIX F
SUMMARY OF VARIATIONS FROM COMMUNITY-IDENTIFIED NEEDS AND PRIORITIES (CONTINUED)
Community
County
Flooding
Source
Reach Description
Community
Need and
Priority
Community
Recommendation
Technical
Method in
Basin Plan*
Reason for
Variation
Unincorporated
Areas
Avery
Horse Bottom
Creek
From the confluence
with Hanging Rock
Creek to a point
upstream approximately
.4 mile upstream of the
confluence with
Hanging Rock Creek
None
None
Detailed
Study
Sound
engineering
practice/solution
to possible tie-in
problem
Unincorporated
Areas
Avery
Horse Bottom
Creek
Approximately 75 feet
downstream of
Guignard Lane to a
point approximately
775 feet upstream of
Guignard Lane
None
None
Limited
Detailed
Study
Reach would not
meet the
drainage area
distance
requirement;
reach extended
Unincorporated
Areas
Avery
Hanging Rock
Creek
From Dobbins Road to
a point approximately
1,000 feet upstream of
Dobbins Road
None
* State’s Recommendation and the method that will be used to study the reach
None
Limited
Detailed
Study
Reach would not
meet the
drainage area
distance
requirement;
reach extended
Draft Basin Plan — Watauga River Basin
Date: March 10, 2006 F-2