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<br />CHAPTER I <br /> <br />DIGEST AND RECOMMENDATIONS <br /> <br />A. Digest <br /> <br />Background. Responding to the magnitude and continued <br />increase in the Nation's flood losses, the Congress <br />enacted legislation in 1968 providing for new tools to <br />cope with flood risk and called for "A Unified National <br />Program for Floodplain Management" (Public Law 90-448, <br />Section 1302). In 1977 the President issued Executive <br />Order 11988, Floodplain Management, which reinforced <br />the need to strengthen Federal policies to reduce the <br />risk of flood loss; to minimize the impact of floods on <br />human safety, health, and welfare; and to restore and <br />preserve natural floodplain values. <br /> <br />This report recognizes subsequent Congressional and <br />Presidential directives and updates the Unified Program <br />transmitted by the President to the Congress in 1979. <br />This report~ (11 sets forth a conceptual framework for <br />floodplain management; (2) identifies available manage- <br />ment strategies and tools for reducing the risk of <br />flood loss, minimizing the impact of floods on human <br />safety, health, and welfare, and restoring and preserving <br />natural and beneficial floodplain values; (3) assesses <br />the implementation capability and status of existing <br />Federal and State agencies and programs and local units <br />of government; and (4) makes recommendations for <br />continuing efforts toward achieving "A Unified National <br />Program for Floodplain Management." The concepts and <br />strategies of this report are presented from a national <br />perspective and offer guidance to all governmental and <br />nongovernmental interests. <br /> <br />Conceptual Framework. The conceptual framework (Chapter <br />1111 contains general and working principles that relate <br />riverine, coastal, and other floodplains to the total <br />natural, economic and social systems of which they are a <br />part. It also describes the potential for flood losses <br />and environmental harm associated with the use of flood- <br />plains. Each level of government has legal program <br />responsibilities within this framework. The conceptual <br />framework is developed from and based on accepted, broad <br />national objectives for water and related land resource <br />planning. It recognizes that wise use of the Nation's <br />floodplain must be consistent with (1) an explicit con- <br />cern for reduction of flood losses and threats to health, <br />safety, and welfare; (2) the preservation and restoration <br /> <br />1-1 <br />