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What not to do: Homesites in a Sacramento Countll, Califomia, subdivision were filled inimediately adjacent to streams and closed fencing was permitted. Nerv floodplain management policies enacted in 1993 prohibit such practices. functions and the greater the potential for floods to affect people and property. Communities must make important choices about 'what kinds of development and other activities will be allowed in floodplains. In the past, such choices "\Tere made with limited information about the impacts such activities would have either on the natural processes of the floodplain or on the risk the development was being subjected to by its proximity to flood threat. In many cases, communities gre\v over a period of decades when there ,.vas very little flooding, hence lulling residents into a false sense of security. With information provided by all levels of government, the nonprofit sector, private initiatives, and the scientific community, local govern- nlents and their citizens today are making more in- formed choices about how the floodplain should be preserved and used. The appropriate tools for preserving floodplain natural functions and protecting people and property depends on the level of existing development in a community. There are four general levels with corresponding considerations. . Urban areas. .Most floodplains in urban areas are fully developed. Options for restoring natural functions include restoration of some natural areas and relocation of structures that are threatened by floods. . Urban Fringe/Sulmrban areas. Floodplains in suburbs and on the urban fringe face the most development pressure. .Management options in these areas include maintaining and adding to open space netv,rorks along watenvays, restoring native vegetation, and mitigating the impact of future development on floodplain functions. ~ , . Rural areas, Rural areas have different floodplain issues than urban and suburban areas inasmuch as agriculture, rather than physical development, predominates most floodplain lands. Management options here involve revegetation of streambanks, erosion control, and reducing nutrient loading in watenvays from fertilizers and agricultural runoff. ,- ~ ~ l , " n , , < . 1I\'ildlands. In very rural and remote areas, flood- plains are still functioning naturally. The objective in managing these floodplains should be to iden- tify and reduce threats to the natural functions of the floodplain (Protecting Ftoodplain Resources 1996, 13-14). ~ ~ ~ o ~ , , POTENTIAL COMMUNITY USES IN THE FLOODPLAIN The dire \varnings about the impact of urban development on floodplains is not meant to suggest that these areas should be totally off limits to people. There are many activities that can take place in floodplains and enhance adjacent communities, neighborhoods, and subdivisions. Open space, parks, and recreation areas are all naturally compatible with floodplains. Across the country, green,'vays and linear open spaces are being planned at the regional and local level (Schwarz 1993). Grecn"vays can accomplish many goals of floodplain management and land-use planning. They: . protect the natural functions of the floodplain; 3 .~ :5 o i " " " < ~ 3 o u ~ , , ~ ~ . ~ , > " i7, Tn this example of good subdivision plwming, residential parcels arc entirely above the 100- YCllr floodplain. tlnd 'wctlands, open space, and trails line the floodplllill corridor. 13