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<br />Streambank Erosion <br />Average Annual Damages in $ Thousands <br />r--;;~ . ~ <br />PJ,f;C'NM~t~Red'A.,"r-7 New Engl~,,",. <br />/ '23;600-!. C, I 1,200' L....A'-~-... ~~_qo r!' <br />,J ,/ 1 1_ \,_:----. ~~,><:~ /-' \1' <br />'-..-..-_ i ~Upper MISSISSippi T'"' . ''. r \, <br />1'------- / .. -~ J 5.8(10 .,' I Greal Lakes-/ ',V:;, <br />( I~--____ .r ~__ '" I \ 2,7~~______,~.. <br />I , .I~-, I ~.I ,-'_', . 'I \-..V' <br />\ Great Basin\~ ~-r- Missouri BaSin )\;.~.,-~- \ . <br />'fJ \\ 500 i ---~ 16,600 r I \ /I._.T-s.----::\_ <br />;, .' / r---~~' OhioVallei vi '-~~' <br />'California / \ L I 5;too-, "' .J~ <br />',;:56,200 \ 1'- -colorado BaSin I I ~ r-- .L- /-;_,Middle Atlantic <br />N 4Mo-- - ~..,' 10900 <br />. " , --f--'-------.,-T&M8SSeeVaUey ~'-'; , <br />") , ~ I ' 900T ~ }' <br />.. '],' i I I J--, ~r.:: -" <br />~ I l", Arkansas-Whlte-Red \ '-,_ <br />"I ~',-,-, '93 50g . ~~ <br />-...., _~r-~----,I I' . l <br />r \ Rio Grande Lower MiSSi~Si~~\ --~-'-\ <br />, 10500 ...,.,38.900:-;:- '..... \ . <br />1... . '" TexasGulf~'>~~<0 SoutnAtlanllcGul1 <br />" noo 11,~OO <br />, f' ;'~\I <br />'~. ~aii '~<>""DI i.-i' <br /> <br />r-- <br /> <br />/"---.. <br />CAlaskcl <br />/'-'1~;OOi <br />Lr-",/;/;~ <br />~/d ;;:~ <br /> <br />U.S. Total = $294,600,000 <br /> <br />Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers <br /> <br />Loss of N alural and Cultural Resources <br /> <br />All three types of floodplain resources-water, living, and cultural-are <br />threatened by human use of the floodplain, whether for urban development or <br />seemingly benign agriculture or forest I)'. Furthermore, because floodplains are <br />integrated natural systems, tampering with anyone of the component natural <br />processes may often lead to trouble. Increased runoff resulting from wide- <br />spread clearing of vegetation, destruction of wetlands, dune removal, paving, <br />roofing, and other activities can increase flood peaks, stream erosion, and <br />sediment transfer. Blocking runoff or interrupting the movement of ground. <br />water can raise flood profiles, increase pollution, and interfere with ground- <br />water balances and the distribution of sediment. Fertilizers, septic systems, <br />chemical and petroleum spills, and leached materials from waste disposal <br />areas can degrade the surface and groundv~:ater resources of floodplains. <br />Recreational and commercial river traffic often seriously contributes to stream- <br />bank erosion. Increased sediment can bury food sources and spa\vning areas <br />and pollution can poison plants, animals, and other living things. Develop- <br />ment can remove shelter and food, and prevent fish and other wildlife from <br />moving through their habitat. Erosion of coastal wetlands and filling of \....et. <br />lands destroys habitat. In many cases, developed floodplains do not have the <br />aesthetic and recreational attributes of natural ones. Improper agricultural <br />and forestry practices can be just as destructive of natural floodplain values <br />as poorly planned urban development. <br />The nature of the value of natural floodplains makes the damage to them <br />difficult to quantify, but the losses have been assessed even if no economic <br />value has been assigned. <br /> <br />. Over 90% of the United States' coastal barriers are subject to flooding <br />and erosion because of their seaward exposure, inherent instability, and <br />relatively lmv-lying topography. In spite of these risks, 14% of the area <br />of coastal barriers is urbanized (compared to only 3% of the entire <br />mainland), including Atlantic City, Ocean City, Virginia Beach, and <br />tvliami. This development also interferes with the natural ability of the <br />barriers to absorb storm energies, thereby reducing protection for <br />mainland populations and development as well. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />j.'" <br />The Curps esti7lUlif:s dull in. IN Unilfd States there are <br />574,500 Tm'ks if stream bank with erosion problems- <br />142,100 with serious problems. About 78% if all stream <br />bank erosion Ides place 1.vest of the main. stem if IN <br />A1isrissippi Rh'er. <br /> <br /> <br />Hunum o(wpation. and use of a floodpli;in. threatens its <br />natural resouras in. man] wa)'s. Signifu.:an.t a'llWng these <br />is tlu poten.tial Jor irureased poilutwn. due to impropn <br />waste disposal, spillf, and various forms if rwnpoim <br />foura pollution <br /> <br />- <br />19 <br />