We’ve compiled basic information about biological, physical, and other natural and social systems that affect floodplains. In addition, each chapter contains a case history to illustrate lessons learned about floodplain management. We hope you enjoy and benefit from it.
This subject is constantly evolving because of changes in our natural and social environments. Our book raises many questions and we invite you visit our web site at www.floodsnewapproaches.com and share case studies or projects that help advance the practice of floodplain management.
Thank you, Bob Freitag, Susan Bolton, Frank Westerlund and Julie Clark
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“Rivers will do what rivers do.”
Floodplain Management: A New Approach to a New Era outlines a new paradigm for flood management, one that emphasizes cost-effective, long-term success by integrating physical and biological systems with our societal capabilities. It describes our present flood management practices, which are often based on dam or levee projects that do not incorporate the latest understandings about river processes. And it suggests that a better solution is to work with the natural tendencies of the river: retreat from the floodplain by preventing future development (and sometimes even removing existing structures); accommodate the effects of floodwaters with building practices; and protect assets with nonstructural measures if possible, and with large structural projects only if absolutely necessary.
Rivers will do what rivers do. Historic flooding of the Mississippi River shows that our approach to flood control hasn’t worked and can have effects far beyond the limited area of a floodplain. The consensus of scientists around the world is that we are in a period of rapid global climate change, which makes working with rivers–instead of against them–increasingly important. Some places will get more intense rainstorms, while others may get less frequent summer rains. Still other areas may get winter storms with less snow and more rain, producing immediate runoff instead of storing water for spring. These coupled with increases in ground cover and other changes may increase flooding, and, in some cases, may also increase drought.
We are inviting you to share cases studies or projects that demonstrate a rethinking of traditional approaches. Our book offers examples. Do you know of others? Examples where:
- Levees have been removed or relocated
Levee systems often prevent our exploitation of natural beneficial functions such as storing water, processing pollutants, increasing productivity of the land. Where have levees been removed or relocated away from the channel? Where has water been routed over floodplains and not restricted to channels?
- Communities have designed built environments that accommodate surface flooding
We cannot and should not eliminate all overland flooding. Are there examples of communities adapting to and living with flooding?
- Natural upland depressions and retention opportunities have been exploited
Snow and ice do a great job of storing water: assuring summer flows and tempering winter discharges. What projects have proven successful through changes in landcover, development of off channel depressions, spreading water throughout the floodplain, expanding the floodplain… to replacing functions being lost?
- Communities have adopted managed tools that limit quick flush alternatives
Where have downstream interests supported beneficial upstream actions? Where have buildings (especially large “Box” structures) been elevated without the use of fill?
