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Comprehensive Plan Conservation Element o Regional Policies In its strategic regional policy plan, the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council (TCRPC) has established policies to protect wetlands and deepwater habitats associated with Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs). These policies restrict the alteration, degradation, or destruction of wetlands and deepwater habitats, except in specific instances; call for mitigation through creation, restoration and/or enhancement of wetland functions and values; and require the establishment or maintenance of a buffer zone of natural upland edge vegetation around constructed or preserved wetlands or deepwater habitat on new development sites. o Local Regulations In September 1990, Indian River County adopted a wetlands protection ordinance to implement policies in the County's 1990 comprehensive plan. Because state law pre-empts local governments from requiring wetland mitigation inconsistent with or in addition to state regulation of wetlands, the County defers to state and federal agencies in determining mitigation for wetland impacts regulated through the county wetlands ordinance. • Floodplains Flooding is a temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas. Generally, a floodplain is any land area that is susceptible to flooding from a 100 -year or more storm event (i.e., a storm event producing an amount of rainfall that has a one (1) percent chance of being equaled or exceeded during a given year). The occurrence of flooding is a concern for communities located in low-lying areas, near a waterbody, or along the coast. As depicted in Figure 8. 10, most of the land area of Indian River County lies within the 100 year floodplain. Although flooding can occur throughout the Indian River County area anytime during the year, flooding is most frequent during the rainy season from May to October. In Indian River County, streams and canals in the "inter -ridge" area (between the Ten Mile Ridge near Interstate 95 and the Atlantic Coastal Sand Ridge near U. S. Highway #1), as well as those that discharge into the St. Johns River, are subject to flooding from prolonged heavy rainfall. Many low inland areas, areas proximate to palustrine wetlands, and areas having soils with poor drainage characteristics and/or a high water table are also subject to flooding during wet periods. Generalized floodprone areas within the IRL watershed include: ➢ the Barrier Island, south of the City of Vero Beach; ➢ the Barrier Island, north of the City of Indian River Shores; Community Development Department Indian River County 25