2022 Watershed University Summit

Floodplain Management in the 21^st Century: Human Adjustments to Flooding and the Unified National Program

• Mike Mierzwa, Floodplain Manager, CA Department of Water Resources

• Ricardo Pineda, Retired Annuitant, CA Department of Water Resources

This interactive session will highlight some of the most pivotal floodplain management policy drivers responsible for defining California’s approach to floodplain management, starting with Gilbert White’s 1942 dissertation, and ending with the 2002 California Floodplain Task Force Report. Audience members will then be presented a couple of floodplain management scenarios and asked to discuss how to manage flood risk while practicing floodplain management, with the overall goal being to test best practices and policy needs for managing floodplains and residual flood risk in the 21^st century.

• Presentation (PDF)

Documents:

• A Unified National Program for Floodplain Management by FEMA (PDF: 8 MB; 1986)

• California Floodplain Management Task Force: Final Recommendations (PDF: 0.5 MB; 2002)

• Human Adjustment to Floods by Gilbert White (PDF: 33 MB; 1945)

• Sharing the Challenge: Floodplain Management into the 21st Century by the Interagency Floodplain Management Review Committee (PDF: 3 MB; 1994)

Other resources:

• 8-Step Decision-Making Process

• Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management

Nature-Based Flood Management Solutions: Engineering with Nature

• Todd Bridges, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science, U.S. Army

• David Martasian, Manager, Systemwide Environmental Support Section, CA DWR

Discussion on the evolving needs, future challenges, and past success stories of flood risk management solutions that integrate natural processes to maximize both flood and ecosystem benefits.

• Presentation (PDF)

Documents:

• Ecosystem Floodplain Inundation Potential (ECOFIP) analysis

• President Biden's 2022 Executive Order to Strengthen America’s Forests, Boost Wildfire Resilience, and Combat Global Deforestation

• International Guidelines on Natural and Nature-Based Features for Flood Risk Management

Websites:

• Central Valley Flood Protection Plan

• Conservation Strategy

• Engineering with Nature

• The Delta Plan

• Water Resilience Portfolio

The “Next” Stage in the CRS Transformation

• Rajeev Hada, Project Engineer and CRS Coordinator, City of Palo Alto

• Connie Perkins, Supervising Engineer, CA DWR

• Carl Walker, P.E., CFM, Retired/Consultant, Public Works Department, Roseville, CA

• Patricia Wood, P.E., Department of Public Works, Los Angeles County

In August 2021, FEMA provided the opportunity for the public to provide feedback on transforming the Community Rating System (CRS) under the National Flood Insurance Program. The input sought to better align with the current understanding of flood risk and to incentivize communities to not only manage but also lower their flood risk through floodplain management initiatives. This improvement effort by FEMA is called “CRS Next”, and many agencies in California provided feedback. The panel will discuss these comments and, with assistance from CA DWR, collaboratively brainstorm on how we can achieve these positive changes to the CRS program.

• Presentation (PDF)

Websites:

• Community Rating System resources for California

• CRS Resources

• FEMA's Community Rating System Webpage

• Request for Information on the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System (comment period closed)

• Public comments on CRS Program. Searchable for comments by agencies, geographic area, etc.

National Trends in Nonstructural Solutions: Creative Solutions, New Challenges

• Lea Adams, Chief, Water Resources Division, USACE, Hydrologic Engineering Center

• Danielle Tommaso, Senior Planner, USACE, New York

• Rebecca Verity, West Region Climate Adaptation Practice Leader, GEI Consultants, Inc.

Nonstructural solutions to manage flood risk, including structure elevation, floodproofing, and managed retreat, are gaining momentum nationwide. Integrating such approaches into a flood project can bring additional community benefits and add resilience for long-term community vitality. In this panel, Lea Adams (USACE Hydrologic Engineering Center), Danielle Tommaso (USACE New York District), and Rebecca Verity (GEI Consultants, Inc.) will share current national trends involving nonstructural solutions. They will also present case studies of nonstructural projects from California and beyond and invite audience discussion on the benefits and challenges such projects can pose.

• Presentation (PDF)

Other Resources:

Environmental Justice Guidance for the Army Corps of Engineers