Principle 1: State floodplain management programs need strong, clear authority.
Effective state programs are stable and long-lasting. They are founded on clear legal authority, work cooperatively with local governments and other state and federal agencies, and are supported by adequate resources. Good state-level floodplain management programs allow evolution and improvements in response to changes such as major floods, new research and management techniques, and new federal programs and initiatives.
Whatever form the state/local relationship takes, an effective state floodplain management program provides for strong elements at both state and local levels. Effective state floodplain management programs extend into many facets of state government, and certainly extend far beyond simply performing the duties and responsibilities outlined in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations for “state coordinating agencies.” An effective state program with strong leadership identifies all floodplain-related state and local activities and coordinates with all state agencies and the state legislature to effect programmatic changes. (ASFPM, "Effective State Floodplain Management Programs," 2003)
Note: The table and figure numbers found below follow the order of those in the full 2025 FPM Assessment report [.pdf] and may not be sequential. Tables can be sorted by clicking on column headings. If tables and/or charts do not load, try refreshing the page.
Principle 1 Highlights
Question 2. Statewide Standards and Enabling Authority
- The majority of respondents reported that their state or territory has enabling authority for key environmental and land-use policies (Question 2, Figure P1.1).
- The most widely state-enabled policies reported were floodplain management (95%), public stream or wetland alterations (89%), and disaster recovery planning (89%).
- In contrast, fewer states reported authority for climate change or adaptation planning (43%) and coastal zone management (50%).
- These results suggest that state-enabling authority is more common for traditional land and flood management policies, and more limited for newer issues like climate change adaptation.
Figure P1.1. Results for Question 2 – Currently, does your state have a state-enabling authority for the following policies?
Question 3. Establishment of Statewide Standards
- From 2017 to 2025, there has been a clear shift toward using state legislatures to establish statewide standards for floodplain management, wetlands protection, and hazard mitigation coordination (Question 3, Table P1.2 and Figure P1.2, Figure P1.3, Figure P1.4, and Figure P1.5).
- There was a corresponding decrease in states reporting no statewide standards and Governor’s Executive Orders also played a role, particularly in floodplain management, and their use remained relatively stable or saw modest increases.
Table P1.2. 2017 and 2025 results for Question 3 – How were statewide standards established for the following?
Figure P1.2. 2017 and 2025 results for Question 3 – How were statewide standards established for floodplain management?
Figure P1.3. 2017 and 2025 results for Question 3 – How were statewide standards established for wetlands protection?
Figure P1.4. 2017 and 2025 results for Question 3 – How were statewide standards established for hazard mitigation coordination?
Figure P1.5. 2017 and 2025 results for Question 3 – How were statewide standards established for other floodplain-related matters?
Question 5. Impact on floodplain management efforts
- A large majority (83%) reported that changes in state laws and regulations since 2017 have strengthened their floodplain management efforts (Question 5, Figure P1.6.).
- By comparison, from 2010 to 2017, only 50% of states/territories reported that changes strengthened their floodplain management efforts. This suggests a possible encouraging trend toward strengthened floodplain management regulation at the state level.
Figure P1.6. Results for Question 5 – How have the changes in state laws and regulations affected floodplain management efforts in your state?
Question 8. Enforcement authority
- When asked who has authority to enforce local floodplain management standards? Authority residing with the community is consistently the top response across years (2010, 2017 and 2025), and rose with each round of the assessment suggesting a moderate but steady upward trend in local enforcement authority (Question 8, Table P1.4.).
- In 2025, 63% of respondents indicated that the community has sole authority, up from 53% in 2017 and 40% in 2010.
- "State has final authority" was chosen by only one respondent in 2025, similar to the very low rates in earlier years, indicating that this model remains rare.
Table P1.4. 2017 and 2025 results for Question 8 – Which one of the following best describes who has authority to enforce local floodplain management standards?
Figure P1.7. 2017 and 2025 results for Question 8 – Which one of the following best describes who has authority to enforce local floodplain management standards?
Continue to Principle 2 Highlights
Principle 1 | Principle 2 | Principle 3 | Principle 4 | Principle 5
Principle 6 | Principle 7 | Principle 8 | Principle 9 | Principle 10