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represent a range in population, area. flood type, and geographic location. Table 1 tabulates these characteristics. Population growth rates in the case study areas were higher than the national rates of growth. This indicates that there are development pres- sures in the case study areas and that floodplain regulations have the potential to affect future development. If the case study areas would have been remotely located static communities, the effects of floodplain regulation would be small. Prior to the field visits to the case study areas, census material, aerial photos, and flood hazard information were as- sembled and evaluated. During the field visit this information was supplemented by data extracted from records, files, reports, and by direct observations. Information gathered in the field related to: community goals; social, economic, and environmental characteristics; trends in development patterns; growth trends; land use patterns and pressures, the perception of the flood risk; the extent and character of flood damages, the history of adjustments to floods; and the evolution of floodplain policies, including attitudes toward structural flood control measures. In addition, assessments of land use changes over time were made to gain insights into the compatibility of actual development decisions and articulated development policies. Interviews were held in each study area with a panel of community informants and identified community influentials.l In- cluded among the community informants and influentials were mayors, city managers, tax assessors, planners, zoning administrators, building inspectors, bankers, realtors, builders, floodplain resi- dents, newspaper editors, and representatives of voluntary organi- lTerry N. Clark, Community Structure and Decision Making: Comparative Analyses (San Francisco: Chandler Publishing Company, 1968) pp. 471-473. -5-