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<br />techniques as flood plain management although it will not be done here. <br />In the context of this paper, flood plain management includes all activities <br />related to managing flood losses and is simply the conceptual umbrella for <br />.both structural and nonstructural means for accomplishing management <br />objectives. One of the originators of the term defined it thusly (l6) <br /> <br />"Flood plain management includes all planning and action needed <br />to determin~ implement, and revise plans for the best use of the <br />flood plains and their water resources for the welfare of the <br />nation." <br /> <br />The current interest in nonstructural management measures has its <br /> <br />roots in the historical facts that even though the nation has continued <br /> <br />to invest in large scale physical works to control flooding there has been <br /> <br />a steady increase in the annual damages (l7). This has been due in large <br /> <br />part to unwise use of flood plains that continue to be subject to periodic <br /> <br />inundation. People move onto flood plains protected by structures as if <br /> <br />no further hazard ellisted, which can be viewed as setting the stage for <br /> <br />a possible unprecedented disaster. This is no less true in the flood <br /> <br />plains of minor streams. It is also contended (17) that people have become <br /> <br />accustomed to governmental agencies paying damages when they occur. It <br /> <br />has also become increasingly obvious that natural flood plains have an <br /> <br />important eco 1 ogi ca 1 functi on to perform. Even though these concerns have <br /> <br />resulted in considerable conflict, one author (18) has stated: <br /> <br />"Conflict itself [as generated by the above situation] can lead <br />to new innovations and new technology. For example, in the <br />field of flood control, growing opposition to dams and other <br />struct.ural manipulations of stream flow is not going to <br />reduce the incentive for action produced by the flood <br />losses and potentials. Mechanisms to mobilize this incen- <br />tive which provide relief with less threat of conflict, if <br />not offset by other increases in decision making costs, will <br />have a better chance." <br /> <br />25 <br />