FLOOD07643

• County: Statewide
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Physical and Economic Feasibility of Nonstructural Flood Plain Management Measures
• Date: 3/1/1978
• Prepared For: US
• Prepared By: US Army Corps of Engineers
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

;:-~;J
~
~
t
f
t
,
\
t
f
(
I
t
(
t
(
[
t
t
I
{
(
i
i
t
l
\
I
~
~
t
\
I
(
I
(
i
i
f
(
t
I
f
t
I
l
~
(
I
"
I
(
I
I
f
I
i
i
f
!

(
I

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

What are the salient findings of this study? They are that,

· Nonstructural measures have an important role alongside structural measures to reduce
our nation's flood losses.

· They are physically and economically. feasible to many flood hazard situations and are
being implemented in numerous communities around the country.

· They have particular applications and limitations which have been identified and which
can be used to evaluate their feasibility in specific flood situations.

· Estimates of flood damage and damage reduced are sensitive to a number of variables and
the importance of the variables has been identified and the magnitude of this sensitivity
has been quantified.

· Knowledge of physical feasibility and economic feasibility can be coupled with presently
available analytic and data management technology to efficiently, effectively, and
economically formulate and evaluate nonstructural plans.

To state that nonstructural measures have an important role alongside structural measures is
nothing new. This has been stated repeatedly by numerous individuals, task committees, and
agencies over the past 30 years. Most recently, recognition of this fact is emphasized and made
mandatory in enactment of the National Flood Insurance Program, Section 73 of the 1974 Water
Resources Development Act, and publication of the Water Resources Council's "A Unified
National Program for Flood Plain Management." The findings of this investigation also reaffirm
this concept.

Every measure investigated was found to be physically and economically feasible in some
flood hazard situation. More importantly, applications of every measure were found in flood
plains around the country. The literature - published papers, reports, etc. - have been an
exceedingly poor indicator of the application of these measures. Individuals and communities
simply act to reduce flood losses and these actions rarely result in a written document. The
resourcefulness and creativity of these actions is often amazing. Nonstructural measures are
feasible because. analyses show this to be true and because they are actually being implemented
by individuals and communities.

The foregoing general conclusion regarding feasibility should not be misunderstood.
Nonstructural measures, like structural measures, have their particular applications and
limitations. Because a reservoir is feasible on a main stem river does not mean it is feasible on a
local tributary. Because flood plain zoning is effective for future development does not mean it
is for existing. This study attempts to define explicitly the physical and economic applications
and limitations of each measure. To do this, both the measure and the flood hazard situation has
to be made explicit. Does nonstructural measure mean raising a structure in-place or relocating
it off the flood plain; temporary closures or land acquisition; a small wall or levee or flood
insurance? Whether a particular measure is feasible, physically or economically, can only be
determined by answering these and other specific questions. The findings of this study are not
being put forth as the end, but only as a beginning or perhaps more accurately as a contribution
to this end.

iii