855773644-LEED-v5-BD-C-Reference-Guide-Launch-Edition - Page 066

Extracted Content

Floodplains New developments must not be located on floodplains. The project team must determine the extent of flood hazard areas and identify them on a flood hazard map. Local governments, flood management agencies, and other local entities such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) [29], may assist teams in using GIS or geospatial data to identify the location of floodplain area. [30] Projects with the development footprint of the site must be located entirely outside any floodplain that has 1% or more of a chance of flooding for locations that are both addressed and not addressed by a flood hazard map. A 1% annual-chance flooding, also known as 100-year floodplain, means that there is a 1% chance that flood water will reach or surpass base flood elevation in any given year, and that structures built within this area are at a high risk of flooding. Building outside this zone reduces the likelihood of flood damage.

Notable habitats Notable habitats refer to areas with threatened or endangered and imperiled species. These areas are home to diverse plants, animals, and organisms with high ecological value and are vulnerable to human actions, such as forests and coastal regions. These biodiversity-rich zones provide human beings with what they eat, from the microorganisms that enrich the soil where crops grow, to the pollinators that provide fruits and nuts, and the fish that serve as the main sources of animal protein for billions of people. [31] These habitats play an essential role in maintaining ecological balance and supporting biodiversity, so projects must take action to protect them.

Threatened or endangered species Teams must avoid locating development footprints on land that contain species listed as endangered or threatened that are listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act or local equivalent.

Projects must also avoid land identified as a habitat for species or ecological communities classified by NatureServe.

Water bodies and wetlands The development footprint cannot be within 100 feet of a water body or 50 feet of a wetland. The only exception is if there are minor improvements within the buffer area that allow human interaction, and the improvements do not significantly alter the existing vegetation and hydrology of the area. Avoiding development on water bodies and wetlands is essential for

29 “Home page”, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), accessed March 31, 2025, https://www.fema.gov. 30 “Flood Maps”, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), accessed March 31, 2025, https://fema.gov/flood-maps. 31 “Why is biodiversity important - with Sir David Attenborough”, The Royal Society, (2021, October 11), https://youtube.com/watch?v=GlWNuzrqe7U.

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 56