Even so, it's not the threat of flooding and potential property damage that is troubling the couple right now. 

“We’re concerned that it’s going to devalue our property and make it harder to sell,” Vickie Branom said. “We’re not really concerned that it’s going to flood.”

At an open house in Caldwell Tuesday night, the Federal Emergency Management Agency answered questions about the new floodplain map proposed for the Boise River system in the Treasure Valley. The open house is the first of three planned for the region and an important step in the process in updating the maps. 

The Branom's said they went to the meeting uncertain how their property would be impacted by new boundaries being proposed by federal officials and whether they, and others who live in their East Middleton subdivision, would have to buy flood insurance. The Branom's property is bordered by Mill Creek Slough, which the new maps identify as a flood risk. 

After seeing the maps and talking with federal officials, Roger Branom said his plan now is to apply for a certificate for an exemption to buying flood insurance, which is a requirement for homes that are backed by federal loans but fall within a floodplain. 

Properties located in the floodplain have around a one percent chance of flooding any given year, government officials said. Maps re-drawn from FEMA propose adding more than 3,900 acres and removing 2,041 acres in Canyon County. A little more than 22,000 acres in the previous maps remain in the government's new maps. The floodplain risk study is designed to help communities plan for and mitigate disasters.

The new maps offer a trade off for property owners in the county. Some areas previously included in the flood plain have been removed, while areas once left out are now part of the new map. While some areas added fall within cities or urban areas in Canyon County, most of the newly added acreage is in unincorporated areas of Canyon County, primarily agricultural land, according to Patricia Nilsson, Canyon County Development Services Director.

Nilsson said rural property owners should be aware that any structures that fall within the new floodplain boundaries could be subject to county code enforcement rules if there is anything that could pose a threat to public health during flooding.

“We can’t have people storing stuff on there that could flood away,” she said, identifying potential problems such as lumber or agricultural products.

Regional FEMA flood engineer David Ratté encourages people who live in and around the newly proposed flood zones to be fully aware of the risks.

“If they are outside of the mapped flood zone, they still may be at risk of flooding because, despite how technical or credible or data is, we can’t predict what mother nature will do all of the time.”

Ratté said for those living outside of the flood zone, discounted flood insurance is available through FEMA.

The federal agency is now taking public comment on the proposed floodplain maps. Federal officials said a 90-day appeal process will begin in April.