Kenai River Flood Map Update

Project Background

Since 2011, the Kenai Peninsula Borough has been working to update the regulatory floodplain maps for the Kenai River. This has involved the cooperation of numerous Federal, State, and Local stakeholders. On January 31, 2023, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided the Kenai Peninsula Borough with Preliminary copies of the revised Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report for the Kenai River below Skilak Lake. These proposed map changes, if finalized, will become the new regulatory maps that the Borough will regulate to.

The final, effective maps must be adopted by the Kenai Peninsula Borough by February 28, 2025. Ordinance 2024-35 to do so is scheduled for a public hearing at the KPB Assembly on January 21, 2025. Written comments can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or to the the Assembly via the eComment portal.

Are the maps wrong? Request to remove your property from the floodplain:

Because the regulatory floodplain maps are a snapshot in time, they are static and aren't able to reflect elevation changes that occur throughout the years. This includes things such as river migration or adding fill that "raises" a structure out of the floodplain. 

Recognizing that these situations do happen, FEMA established procedures to change the floodplain designation for these properties. These processes are referred to as a Letter of Map Change (LOMC), and can be done via a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or a Letter of Map Revision-Based on Fill (LOMR-F). Here is a link to the LOMC tutorial.

By going through a LOMC process, an individual who owns, rents or leases property may submit certain mapping and survey information to FEMA and request that FEMA officially removes a property and/or structure from the regulatory floodplain. In most cases, the applicant will need to hire a Licensed Land Surveyor or Registered Professional Engineer to prepare an Elevation Certificate for the property.

It is recommended that applicants submit their LOMA application directly to FEMA through their online portal. Upon receiving a complete application, FEMA will normally complete its review and issue its decision in 60 days.

Look at Your Property: Current vs New Comparison Map Viewer
FEMA's Federal Register Notice
Preliminary FIRM and FIS Report