Stormwater & Floodplain Information

Welcome to the City of Las Cruces Stormwater and Floodzone Information page. It is important to plan ahead for possible storms and flooding. Here you can find helpful information and resources about stormwater in Las Cruces and information on the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). The SFHA is an area where the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP's) floodplain management regulations must be enforced and they are where the mandatory purchase of flood insurance applies.

In this section, you can also get more information on:

• Community Rating System (CRS)
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Flood Maps
• Letters of Maps Change (LOMC)
• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
• Obtaining Elevation Certificates

For flooding and stormwater pollution violations in your neighborhood, you can submit a report to 311/Ask Las Cruces.

Stormwater

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

As authorized by the Clean Water Act, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or man-made ditches. Individual homes that are connected to a municipal system, use a septic system, or do not have a surface discharge do not need an NPDES permit; however, industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters.

MS4

Polluted stormwater runoff is commonly transported through Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s), from which it is often discharged untreated into local waterbodies. To prevent harmful pollutants from being washed or dumped into an MS4, operators must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters.

Flood Zone Information

Community Rating System

Participating communities start off as a Class 10 Community in the NFIP’s Community Rating System (CRS) program and try (through regulating development, drainage maintenance, stormwater management, and various outreach projects) to work their way up to a Class 1 Community. Every time a community moves up a class, the residents with NFIP flood insurance policies get a 5% reduction in their premiums. 

As of October 1, 2020, the City of Las Cruces is a Class 7 Community which gives a 15% discount for those with a High Risk Policy and a 5% for those with a Moderate Risk Policy. 

The reduction should be automatic, but you may want to contact your insurance agent to make sure your policy has been adjusted to reflect the NFIP/CRS discount. Based on the Class 6 Rating, this past year City of Las Cruces NFIP policy holders saved a combined $180,000. The City of Las Cruces honors the State of New Mexico with the best CRS rating in New Mexico. Nationwide only 67 communities out of 1,148 have a lower (or better) rating than the City of Las Cruces.