The Southwest Florida Water Management District, commonly known as Swiftmud, is working to identify flood-prone areas in parts of Pasco County during two upcoming open houses.
The events will take place at River Ridge High School, 11646 Town Center Road in New Port Richey, on April 29 and May 1. Start time each day is 4 p.m.
The open houses are focused on residents who live within the Pithlachascotee River/Bear Creek watershed, which covers most of northern and western Pasco.
Swiftmud representatives will present preliminary flood information, explain the basis behind the findings, and gather additional information that may be used to identify areas that are prone to flooding. That information will then be finalized and presented to Swiftmud’s governing board, and could possibly be used for future updates to the Federal Emergency Management Agency digital flood insurance rate maps.
The information is typically used by local governments for land use and zoning decisions, to help manage development in and around floodplains and wetlands, to reduce flood risks, to preserve land and water resources, and for emergency planning. It also can be used by residents in decisions about purchasing and protecting property.
For information, or to find out which watershed you live in, visit WaterMatters.org/FloodRisk, or call Swiftmud at (352) 796-7211, ext. 4297.
