Know Your Flood Hazard

Is your residence or property you own in a flood-prone area? Type in an address to see if a location is within the Special Flood Hazard Area and the determined risk zone.

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There are more than 4,000 acres of floodplain and approximately 3,000 individual parcels that are partially or entirely located within the floodplain in the City. Salem features the Willamette River, smaller tributaries, and streams that are susceptible to annual flooding events that pose threats to life and safety and cause significant property damage.  In Salem, there are three main causes of flooding:

• High River Levels. Widespread rain and/or snowmelt raise the level of the Willamette River, which in turn causes the creeks that flow into the river to backup and overtop their banks. 

• High Creek Levels. Cloudbursts with high intensity, high volume rainfall can occur over relatively small areas, generating runoff that overwhelms one or more creeks and their tributaries causing localized flooding.

• Blocked System. Finally, flooding can occur when the runoff exceeds the capacity of a component of the drainage system—such as an inlet, pipe, pond, or culvert—because the component is either too small for the flow or it is blocked by an obstruction.

The streams that are prone to flooding as shown on the local floodplain map include:

• Battle Creek
• Claggett Creek
• Croisan Creek
• Gibson Creek
• Glenn Creek
• Mill Creek
• Mill Race
• Powell Creek
• Pringle Creek
• Shelton Ditch

Floodplain Maps and Studies

FEMA produces Flood Insurance Studies and FIRM. These resources describe flood hazards based on the best available science and information available. They serve as the basis for determining when floodplain development and insurance requirements apply to structures. You can request copies of all FIRM panels and flood insurance studies maintained by the City.

Access FEMA floodplain maps online to find all flood hazard mapping products created under the National Flood Insurance Program.

Floodplain Management Plan

As a key element of Salem's Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, the Floodplain Management Plan identifies flood hazards throughout the community, evaluates the problems caused by those hazards, reviews possible mitigation activities, and creates an action plan to mitigate those flood hazards. The plan is also integral to the City's participation in FEMA's Community Rating System, which reduces annual flood insurance premiums citywide.

Services and Information

The City provides a wide range of floodplain information and services to the community including maps, boundary verification, and flooding data. Some of the services the City provides are:

• Establishing if the property is located within the FEMA mapped SFHA
• Verifying Flood Insurance Rate Map information for the property, including zone, panel number, and effective map dates
• Providing base flood elevation and flood depth data for property, if available
• Determining natural floodplain function areas that should be protected, such as wetlands
• Providing regulatory floodplain development provisions that apply to a property
• Maintaining the flood damage history for specific properties, if available

Staff is available to make site visits to review flood, drainage, and sewer problems as well as to provide local watershed information and describe how flooding occurs in areas around the city.

Additional Resources

City of Salem, Community Development, Planning
503‑588‑6173
City Planners can provide information about protection of vegetation and trees along waterways and tree removal.

City of Salem, Emergency Preparedness
503‑588‑6211
For assistance in an emergency, call 911. Contact us to learn more about preparing for a disaster or for information on the City's emergency management program.

City of Salem, Public Library
503‑588‑6052
The library collection contains floodplain publications and other floodplain-related information.

City of Salem, Public Works Dispatch
503‑588‑6311
Call dispatch if you discover problems with a street or your water / sewer service (i.e. broken pipe, pothole, environmental spill, clogged street drain).

City of Salem, Public Works, Development Services
503‑588‑6211
Contact Development Services to speak with a Floodplain Manager or if you have questions about the interactive floodplain map.

Mid Willamette Valley High Water Watch
503-588-6333
Watch View current stream levels and rainfall data in near real-time from a number of sites across the City.

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
1‑888‑379‑9531
The Floodsmart website provides information about the National Flood Insurance Program, answers questions about flood insurance, and provides assistance to find local insurance agents that offer flood insurance.

Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL)
503‑378‑3805
DSL reviews and issues removal/fill permits for development activities in waterways and wetlands.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
503‑808‑4510
To find out more information about the USACE Flood Risk Management Program.