The legislative assembly finds and declares that a large portion of the state‘s land resources is subject to recurrent flooding by overflow of streams and other watercourses causing loss of life and property, disruption of commerce and governmental services, unsanitary conditions, and interruption of transportation and communications, all of which are detrimental to the health, safety, welfare, and property of the occupants of flooded lands and the people of this state. The legislative assembly further finds that public interest necessitates that the floodplains of this state be developed in a manner which will alleviate loss of life and threat to health, and reduce private and public economic loss caused by flooding.

It is the policy of this state and the purpose of this chapter to guide development of the floodplains of this state in accordance with the enumerated legislative findings, to reduce flood damages through sound floodplain management, stressing nonstructural measures such as floodplain zoning and floodproofing, acquisition and relocation, and flood warning practices; and to ensure as far as practicable that the channels and those portions of the floodplains of watercourses which are the floodways are not inhabited and are kept free and clear of interference or obstructions which may cause any undue restriction of the capacity of the floodways.

It is also the policy of this state and purpose of this chapter to provide state coordination and assistance to communities in floodplain management activities, to encourage communities to adopt, administer, and enforce sound floodplain management ordinances, and to provide the department of water resources the authority necessary to carry out and enforce a floodplain management program for the state and to coordinate federal, state, and local floodplain management activities in this state.