Last modified on June 24th, 2025 at 2:09 pm

“Floodplain Buyouts: An Action Guide for Local Governments on How to Maximize Community Benefits, Habitat Connectivity, and Resilience” is a resource produced by the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment and the Environmental Law Institute. This Action Guide is valuable for local governments looking to maximize the benefits of floodplain buyout programs.

The guide aims to provide a framework for thinking through various management options for floodplain acquisition programs. It helps readers understand the acquisition process, the benefits of managing floodplain acquisitions to improve habitats, and how to plan and address challenges effectively.

Key Sections of the Guide

1. Acquiring Property in the Floodplain: Buyout Programs:
   • Explains how FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) supports voluntary property acquisitions, or floodplain buyouts.
   • Introduces the concept of leveraging multiple (non-federal) funding sources for different parts of the acquisition and post-buyout project.
2. Managing Floodplain Acquisitions to Maximize Habitat and Resilience Benefits:
   • Discusses considerations for determining the best-fit post-buyout project.
   • Presents habitat- and community-friendly options based on factors such as open space requirements and the geographical layout of the acquired properties.
3. Making it Happen: Challenges and Issues to Consider:
   • Addresses practical questions that must be asked when planning, presenting, and executing post-buyout projects.
   • Covers topics such as funding, maintenance responsibility, community buy-in, and successful partnerships.
   • Aims to help readers anticipate and overcome challenges commonly faced by communities implementing habitat restoration projects on floodplain acquisitions.