The board of directors of a watershed district may designate a specific reach in the channel of any watercourse within the territorial boundaries of the district as a restricted channel, when the construction or alteration of structures or obstructions within such channel will restrict its capacity so as to constitute an unreasonable hazard to the safety of life and property in times of flood, or designate any area outside the banks of a restricted channel as a restricted floodway when such area is reasonably necessary to the efficiency of a restricted channel as a means of carrying off flood waters. Such designation of a restricted channel or restricted floodway shall be made in the following manner:

(A) The board shall adopt a resolution stating its intent to designate a specific reach in a channel of a watercourse as a restricted channel or a specific area as a restricted floodway. Such resolution shall contain a description of the reach of the channel to be designated as a restricted channel or description of the area to be designated as a restricted floodway and the reasons of the board for making such designation.

(B) The board shall cause such resolution to be published as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code or once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties in which such restricted channel or restricted floodway is located, together with a notice of the time and place where a hearing will be held by the board on the question of designating such channel as a restricted channel or such area as a restricted floodway . The board also shall give not less than ten days notice of said hearing by first class mail to all owners of property within the area proposed to be designated as a restricted floodway. The date of such hearing shall be not less than ten days after the completion of the publication provided for by this division.

(C) The board shall hold a hearing at the time and place designated in the notice published under division (B) of this section at which time indorsements of and objections to the designation of such channel as a restricted channel or such area as a restricted floodway shall be heard.

(D) The board may, after the completion of the hearing under division (C) of this section and after finding that the construction or alteration of structures or obstructions or relocation, alteration, restriction, deposit, or encroachment within the designated reach of such channel will restrict its capacity so as to constitute an unreasonable hazard to the safety of life and property in times of flood, adopt a resolution designating the reach of the channel described in the resolution of intent adopted under division (A) of this section or any modification thereof as a restricted channel.

(E) In like manner the board may, after completion of a hearing under division (C) of this section and after finding that the construction or alteration of structures or obstructions or change of grade within a designated floodway area will restrict its capacity or efficiency as a means of carrying off flood water so as to constitute an unreasonable hazard to the safety of life and property in times of flood, adopt a resolution designating the area described in the resolution of intent adopted under division (A) of this section, or any modification thereof, as a restricted floodway.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Effective Date: 12-14-1967 .