The Southwest Florida Water Management District is hosting a meeting May 22 at Wesley Chapel High School to gather information about flood-prone areas in Pasco County.
The meeting is geared toward people who live in the New River/Upper Hillsborough River watershed, which encompasses a good portion of southeastern Pasco County. Representatives of the agency, more commonly known as Swiftmud, will present preliminary flood-prone area information, explain the basis behind the findings, and gather additional information that may be used to identify areas prone to flooding, according to a release.
There also will be time for public comment.
The area in question is not part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps that were made public a year ago, but Swiftmud officials said the information they collect at the May 22 meeting could be used in future updates to those maps.
Otherwise, the flood information is 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 provide information to the public for decisions about purchasing and protecting property, Swiftmud officials said.
The high school is located at 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel.
For information on how to find out which watershed you live in, visit WaterMatters.org/FloodRisk, or call Swiftmud at (352) 796-7211, ext. 4297.
