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<br /> <br />. minimize the potential for flood damage by limiting <br />development; <br /> <br />. help contain urban growth by restricting <br />development in environmentally sensitive areas; and <br /> <br />. provide residents \vith recreational opportunities <br />(e.g., hiking, jogging, bicycling, and skating), <br />allm'\Ting a greater number of people to enjoy these <br />areas than is typically possible \",hen floodplains and <br />waterfronts are privately developed. <br /> <br />River valleys and floodplains are also a significant <br />component of our national heritage in that they served as <br />transportation routes for N"ative Americans and early <br />settlers. Heritage corridors are linear landscapes that <br />possess a distinctive collection of cultural resources and <br />have a focus that combines historic preservation, adap- <br />tive reuse of historic structures for tourism, and environ- <br />mental enhancement (Schv\o'arz 1993). Vv'hen done jointly, <br />greem.vay planning and heritage corridor planning along <br />\\'aten\'ays and in floodplains can open up previously <br />unavailable avenues for historical tourism and recre- <br />ational opportunity \vhile minimizing flooding threats. <br /> <br />THE BROAD RANGE OF FLOODPLAIN <br />PROTECTION TOOLS <br />There are many tools a community can employ to <br />protect the natural functions of the floodplain. These <br />include methods for floodv..rater storage and conveyance, <br />water-quality maintenance, ground\-vater recharge, and <br />protection of habitats and cultural resources. <br />Depending on the action recommended, the tools can <br />be implemented by state, regional, or local government, <br />private developers, or property owners. Ideally, the <br />tools would be incorporated into a comprehensive <br />floodplain management strategy and also addressed in <br />the comprehensive land-use plan. Some of the tools <br />\vould be implemented through specific land-use or <br />environmental regulations (Le., subdivision controls, <br />environmental overlay zones), and others involve <br />broader policy options that would affect multiple <br />programs and regulations. <br />Here we offer the full range of tools advocated by <br />FE!\1A. Chapter 3 ,vill address how a community can <br />implement those tools that specifically relate to <br />subdivision design and regulation. There are additional <br />tools recommended by FE:v!A that pertain to <br />agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry. Those \vill not be <br />addressed in this report. <br /> <br />Flood Storage and Conveyance <br />. Minimize floodplain fills and other actions that <br />require fills, such as construction of dwellings, <br />factories, highways, etc. <br /> <br />. Require that structures and facilities near wetlands <br />provide for adequate flo",,' circulation <br /> <br />. Use minimum grading requirements and save as <br />much of the site from compaction as possible <br /> <br />14 <br /> <br />. Relocate nonconforming structures and facilities <br />outside the t100dplain <br /> <br />. Return sites to natural contours <br /> <br />. Preserve natural drainage when designing and <br />constructing bridges and roads <br /> <br />. Prevent intrusions on and destruction of \"vetlands, <br />beach and estuarine ecosystems, and restore <br />damaged dunes and vegetation <br /> <br />Water.Quality Maintenance <br />. Maintain wetland and floodplain vegetation buffers <br />to reduce the build-up of sediments and the delivery <br />of chemical pollutants to the ,vater body <br /> <br />. Support agricultural practices that minimize nutrient <br />flows into water bodies <br /> <br />. Control urban runoff and point and nonpoint <br />discharges of pollutants <br /> <br />. Support methods used for grading, filling, soil <br />removal, and replacement, etc. to minimize erosion <br />and sedimentation during construction <br /> <br />. Restrict the location of potential pathogenic and toxic <br />sources on the floodplain, such as sanitary landfills <br />and septic tanks, heavy metal wastes, etc. <br /> <br />Groundwater Recharge <br />. Require the use of permeable surfaces 'where <br />practicable and encourage the use of detention/ <br />retention basins <br /> <br />. Design construction projects that eliminate, reduce, <br />or hold back runoff <br /> <br />. Dispose of spoils and solid \,vaste materials so as not <br />to contaminate groundwater and surface \-vater or <br />significantly change the land contours <br /> <br />Living Resources and Habitats <br />. Identify and protect 'wildlife habitats and other <br />vital ecologically sensitive areas from <br />disruption <br /> <br />. Require topsoil protection programs during <br />construction <br /> <br />. Restrict wetlands drainage and channelization <br /> <br /> <br />. Reestablish damaged floodplain ecosystems <br /> <br /> <br />. Manage timber harvesting and vegetation removal <br /> <br />Cultural Resources <br />. Provide public access to and along the waterfront for <br />recreation, scientific study, educational instruction, etc. <br /> <br />. Locate historical and cultural resources and preserve <br />them from harm <br />