FLOOD01659

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

Planning and carrying out a
comprehensi ve floodplain management
program usually requires the coopera-
tive participation of all levels of
government and the pri va te sector for
four main reasons:

. The various types of management and
flood loss reduction measures differ
with respect to the legal authorities
and the technical and financial
capabilities required for implementa-
tion and operation. Many can only be
used effectively by cne particular
level of government or by an
individual property owner.

. Some of the measures cause impacts in
downstream, upstream or adjacent
areas that need to be considered by
all affected parties.

. Management of floodplains involves
tradeoffs between social and economic
costs and benefits that need to be
weighed by each level of government
and by individuals.

. Most measures also affect, to some
degree, the natural values of the
floodplain that are an important
public resource.

Most flood problems occur
man has chosen poorly in
where to build.

because
deciding

A framework plan, A Unified
National Program for Flood plain Manage-
ment, has been developed by national
experts to guide a coordinated nation~
wide attack on problems 'of ,flooding and
environmental disruption of flood-
plains. It describes various measures
to promote wise use of floodplains and
their related water resources while
reducing flood losses and preserving or
restoring the natural values of flood-
plains. It also describes the kinds of
local actions necessary to make a
floodplain management program success-
ful.

Purpose

This handbook is intended to help
local government officials, community
interest groups and the public to
understand and apply floodplain manage-
ment measureS. It provides background
information and suggestions for:

. Determining whether there are unwise,
hazardous and environmentally disrup-
tive uses of floodplains, whether
floods pose a problem in a particular
area and, if so, their type and cause.

. Assessing the adequacy of any exist-
ing floodplain management program.

. Assessing the rela ti ve importance and
priority of supplementing existing
programs or establishing new programs
to mitigate losses and improve flood-
plain management.

. Selecting floodplain
techniques for detailed
and organizing an
response.

management
consideration
appropriate

. Assessing the social and economic
costs and benefits of various flood-
plain management techniques.

. Obtaining information and assistance
from federal and state agencies and
other sources in planning, implement-
ing and operating a floodplain
management program.

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