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SECTION 10.31 10 3o FLOOD PLAIN ZONING PROVISIONS 10:31 INTRODUCTION (a) Authority: These provisions for flood plain protection are adopted under the authority granted by Sections 59.97, 59.971, 59.99 and 87.30 of the Wisconsin Statutes. (b) Purpose and Intent: The purpose of these provisions is to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of the County; to reduce the hazard of floods to life and property in time of flood; to protect the public against extraordinary expen- ditures for flood control; and to protect the storage capacity of flood plains to assure retention of sufficient floodway area to convey flood flows which can reason - ably be expected to occur.. (c) Severability: If any section, clause, provision or portion of this Section is ad- judged unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the re- mainder of this Section shall not be affected thereby. (d) Abrogation and Greater Restrictions: This Section supersedes Section 10.01 - 10.29 of the Pane County Zoning Ordinance relating to flood plains. However, Section 10.01, 10.29 of the Dane County Zoning Ordinance shall remain in full force and effect to the extent that its provisions are more restrictive. (e) Interpretation: In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this Section shall be held to be minimum requirements and shall be liberally construed in favor of the governing body and shall not be deemed a limitation or repeal of any other powers granted by the Wisconsin Statutes. (f) Warning and Disclaimer of Liability: The degree of flood protection intended to be provided by this Section is considered reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on engineering and scientific methods of study. Larger flood may occur on rare occasions or the flood height may be increased by man -made or natural causes, such as ice jams and bridge openings restricted by debris. This Section does not imply that areas outside flood plain zoning district boundaries or land uses per- mitted within such districts will always be totally free from flooding or flood damages. Nor shall this Section create a liability on the part of or a cause of action against Dane County or any officer or employee thereof for any flood damages that may result for reliance on this Section. (g) Definitions: Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in this Section shall be interpreted so as to give them the same meaning as they have at common law and to give this Section its most reasonable application. (1) Bulkhead Line: A geographic line along a reach of a navigable stream that has been adopted by a municipal ordinance and approved by the Division of Environ- mental Protection pursuant to Section 30.11, Wisconsin Statutes and which allows complete filling on the landward side. (2) Channel: A natural or artificial watercourse of perceptible extent, with definite bed and banks to confine and conduct continuously or periodically flowing water. Channel flow thus is that water which is flowing within the limits of the defined chanpel. (3) Encroachment Lines: Are limits of obstruction to flood flows. These lines are generally parallel to the stream. The lines are established by assuming that - 44 -