ATHENS, Ohio – A flood mapping project in Athens County provides local governments and residents with forward-looking flood and erosion maps to inform projects and planning related to flood hazards, floodplain management, and pathways to risk reduction. Rural Action and BSC Group, in coordination with Athens County, completed the modeling and engagement from August 2025 to June 2026. The project team developed an extended flood hazard map with additional analyses to inform management decisions around infrastructure, emergency operations, and land use.
Flooding is the most significant natural hazard in Athens County, and risks increase as the wettest days get wetter and the biggest storms become more intense. Floodplains are low-lying areas that fill with water when it rains, either from runoff or a stream or river rising beyond its bank. As a result, the floodplain has a higher risk of damage and disruption to property, agriculture, and roads from debris, erosion, and water damage.
During 2025, Athens County and local municipal officials completed a five-year update of the Athens County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. The extended flood hazard datasets from the new study address several priority mitigation actions outlined in the plan, with more steps made possible by the new dataset. Local partners are using model results to proactively reduce flooding impacts to human health, property, and environment. Rural Action Watersheds will use the study results to inform ongoing work on water quality, aquatic habitat, and community infrastructure.
The 100-year extended flood hazard area can be viewed on the Athens County Auditor’s webmap, and all modeling results are available for download on the County’s GIS portal. More information about the project is available on Rural Action’s website.
“The information generated from these models will provide valuable tools for local jurisdictions tasked with guiding land use decisions and hazard mitigation policies in their communities,” explained Connor LaVelle, an employee of the Athens County Regional Planning Commission. “The inclusion of flash flooding risks and erosion hotspots gives a more complete picture of the hazards that should be considered when analyzing site feasibility during the development process.”
Ryan Gilliom, a project specialist on the Rural Action Watersheds team, explained that “community flood resilience goes hand-in-hand with natural resource conservation and ecosystem restoration. Forest, meadows, and connected floodplains reduce the impacts of flooding by slowing floodwater, helping it soak into the ground, and moving water up and out through evapotranspiration.”
The Athens County Planning Office enforces the Athens County Flood Damage Reduction Regulations for the unincorporated areas of Athens County. These regulations were adopted by the Athens County Board of Commissioners to ensure that development within the county’s floodplains does not jeopardize the public health, safety, and general welfare of the surrounding communities. The Athens County Flood Damage Reduction Regulations are available here. The Athens County Hazard Mitigation Plan is available here.
