The Johnson Creek Restoration Plan In Action: Willing Seller Program

In 1997, Environmental Services developed the Johnson Creek Willing Seller Land Acquisition Program. The program helps move people and property out of areas that frequently flood.

Restoration projects on land acquired through the program increase flood storage, improve fish and wildlife habitat, restore wetlands and create passive recreational activities for city residents.

Environmental Services offers willing sellers fair market value for their property. Owners are under no obligation to sell to the city. The city places deed restrictions on purchased properties designating them as open space in perpetuity and ensuring no future expenditure of federal disaster assistance funds for the property.

The Johnson Creek Willing Seller Land Acquisition Program is an implementation strategy for the 2001 Johnson Creek Restoration Plan, which addresses nuisance flooding, water quality problems, and fish and wildlife declines as related issues. The plan identifies common solutions to restore natural floodplain functions.

Environmental Services land-banks acquired properties while designing floodplain management projects and securing funding. The city uses many of the properties to create constructed wetlands, floodplain terraces and open space for flood management, habitat and passive recreation.