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PREFACE PloDding in the SOllthcd$t portio" of5014,I1 DiJkotl1 has bCI."1 both "ClItf? ami ,IIronic, and its long history has bee" well dOCllmcmed. If solutions to this ollgoi,tg floodiNg problem wac simple or evide,,!, in all probability they wOllld have been implemetlted by flOW, BUI the solutions are IIot simple, /lor IIrc they always obvious or affordable. THIS NEW FlOOD MmGATION PlANNING process auempts to overcome those obstacles,not onlyforthefloods that in. undated this area in 1993. but also in response to the long-standing pattern of recurrent flood- ing throughout the Vermillion River Basin. The multi-objective mitigation plan. ning proctsS,. of which this plan is the first product, is a unique and innovative attempt by two federal agencies to work together on flooding in the VermiUion Basin. The Federal Emergency Management Agencyk Mitigation Division brings to me planning process flood mitigation techniques, mitigation funding. and a strong. existing state-federal partner- ship. The National Park Service's Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program brings expertise in facilitated planning and con- sensus building. local citizen "bottom-up" planning. and experience in greenway and river corridor design. The two agencies havt melded these complementary components to create a process that has become known as "multi-objective hazard mitigation planning." These words imply identifying and implementing a broad spectrum of activities to reduce the effects of flooding in the Basin, while at the same time seeking out ways to enhance the overall quality of life for its resi- dents. The process is designed to: . Make use of existing programs, studies, and other resources. . Build upon the public and private sources of funding that already exist. . Focus on chronic flooding problems throughout a water-related geo- graphic unit. . Utilize a multi-disciplinary, multi. objective, multi-agency, bottom-up partnership to solving problems. . Build local consensus, local citizen commilment. and cooperation among local units of government to solve a common problem. . The process: . Does not replace existing Interagency Hazard Mitigation Teams or their activiries; . Creates no new top-down, single-purpose or one-dimensional programs; . Imposes no new top-down federal or state regulations; and . Does not propose single-agency, multi-purpose projects. It is envisioned that the result of this process will be to bring to bear all of the planning. engineering, and financial resources available to solve a common problem. while at the same time advancing other local goals and objec- tives identified by the citizens. Bob Cox Mitigatinn Division Federal Emergency Mano.gemrnt Agency, Region VIII