FLOOD01659

• County: Statewide
• Title: Floodplain Management Handbook
• Date: 9/1/1981
• Prepared By: Flood Loss Reduction Associates
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

Man's Use of the Floodplain

Many characteristics of flood-
plains make them attractive for
economic development. They generally
provide excellent areas for agricul-
tural, aquacultural and forestry
production; are pleasing settings for
homes; and provide excellent transporta-
tion corridors that make them
attractive for commercial and indus-
trial use.

The natural processes which take
place on floodplains replenish their
soils and nutrients. Floodplain soils
generally require less fertilization
than upland sites. The often level or
gently rolling terrain of floodplains
also makes agricultural operations
easier. Both surface water and ground-
water are usually easily accessible.
Well-drained, deep soils suitable to
most commercial crops often prevail.

In the past, the major economic
use of floodplains along rivers and
streams was for agriculture. Because of
their generally flat terrain, flood-
plains have also been used extensively
as routes for highways, railroads and
pipelines. Much of the Nation's mining
and manufacturing takes place on flood-
plains because of the easy access to
plentiful supplies of water.

Many of the nation's most
valuable forest resources are located
on floodplains. Bottomland hardwoods,
cypress and other species which can
only flourish near water are important
to the timber indus try and the overall
economy of the country. The use of
floodplain areas for aquacul tural
opera tions has also grown into a large
industry producing rice, fish and other
aquatic crops.

Floodplains along oceans and
lakes are not as well suited to agricul-
ture as those along rivers. However,
they provide the advantage of ready
access to water for transportation,
recreation and fishing.

Floodplains
for recreation
values. Seashore

are
and
and

also important
other aesthetic
lake shore areas,

for example, are traditionally popular
vacation spots. Many hunting, fishing,
picnicking and other recreational
activities also take place either there
or on the floodplains along rivers. The
vegetation on undeveloped portions of
floodplains provides a buffer against
the noise of cities and improves air
quality. Undeveloped floodplains also
provide open space to break the
monotony of urban sprawl. Where they
remain in essentially pristine condi-
tion, floodplains provide a valuable
opportunity to experience a natural
setting.

The aesthetic and social values
of floodplains were not of much concern
when the nation was young. Because of
the lack of mechanized equipment, the
need for easily farmed land and easy
access to water dominated the pattern
of development despite periodic losses
from floods. Cities and industries
traditionally located on floodplains
for a variety of reasons including ease
of transportation, ready availability
of a water supply and level building
sites, a place for disposal of sewage
and, sometimes, a source of power. Many
of today's flood problems have been
inheri ted as a result of early settle-
ment on floodplains. But today's
conditions are radically different.
Modern technology for water supply,
waste disposal and transportation
enables locating most new developments
off the floodplain and safe from flood
damages without a high cost. However,
despite this possibility, and despite
recurring flood losses, floodplains are
still being overused as building sites
for residential and commercial develop-
ments and transportation networks.

The amount of undisturbed flood-
plain land in the United States is
shrinking and flood losses are steadily
increasing. lndiscriminant use of
floodplains for residential, industrial
and commercial uses makes us pay again
and again for such development; first,
through destruction of the floodplain's
natural values; and then repeatedly,
through recurring flood losses.

Reason
natural values

suggests retaining
of floodplains and

the
at

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