Revisions aimed at making Flathead County’s floodplain regulations better align with state regulations were unanimously approved Monday by county commissioners.

Many of the revisions deal with housekeeping changes, such as adding detailed duties and responsibilities of the floodplain administrator, along with more definitions of floodplain-related terms.

“There are no big changes,” county Planning Director Mark Mussman told the commissioners. “It’s a ton of format changes that actually make it easier to find what you’re looking for.”

The county adopted new floodplain maps a year ago. As part of that process the county had a year to revise its regulations to “be more in line with state standards,” Mussman added.

A public hearing before the Planning Board last month drew no public comment.

Development requirements for crawlspaces in Flathead County’s flood fringe or regulated flood hazard area were among the revisions. The new section on crawlspaces also includes foundation wall enclosures. New language in the regulations outlines required dimensions and drainage system requirements for crawlspaces.

A new chapter regarding regulated flood hazard areas within the lake and lakeshore protection zone notes that projects regulated by the county lakeshore rules that have been issued a permit may need to obtain a floodplain development permit for activities the floodplain administrator finds will have a significant impact on the regulated flood hazard area.

Commissioner Phil Mitchell said he continues to have concerns about properties that are erroneously included in flood hazard zones because it’s costly to have that designation removed from those properties.

Mussman said every time the county’s floodplain maps are updated “we have less and less approximate flood hazard areas and more precise areas. The hope is that advances in technology will make maps more accurate in pinpointing exactly which properties are within the flood hazard area.

“Regardless, it’s painted with a wide paintbrush,” Mussman said. “It doesn’t take into consideration elevation changes on property. It then becomes the property owner’s responsibility to say this is not in the floodplain, complain about it, pay higher floodplain insurance or hire a surveyor” to get the property removed from the floodplain designation.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.