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<br />senl advantage for flood control bene fils. For exam-
<br />ple, they may be reluctant to sacrifice property along
<br />stream banks as righl-<:>f-way for flood control through
<br />such melhods as channelizalion or slreamside park
<br />development.
<br />
<br />Flood conlrol planning is thus difficult because
<br />of the many varied technological, economic, and so-
<br />cial aspecls that must be bala!1ced in a management
<br />scheme. The dynamic nalure of Ihe physical syslem
<br />adds further complexity. The compuler model of
<br />lhis study attempts to capture Ihe complexily of this
<br />hydrologic-sociologic system and thereby provides a
<br />means for evaluating flood conlrol a1lernatives such
<br />as retention dams, lined channels, natural channels,
<br />storm sewers, and other control measures.
<br />
<br />The Need for Social Behavioral
<br />Inpuls in a Syslemic Approach
<br />
<br />Current procedures for planning for urban flood
<br />conlrol do nol adequately consider all the needs of mod-
<br />ern sociely. According to federal policy, decisions
<br />should be based on sound social and environmental as
<br />well as lechnological and economic considerations
<br />(Principles and Slandards of the Waler Resources Coun-
<br />cil, 1973; Social Assessment Manual of the Bureau of
<br />Reclamalion, Filzsimmons et aI., 1975. as well as
<br />others). Under a democratic form of government, the
<br />decision procedure for adjusting the physical system
<br />to achieve particular social goals or objectives requires
<br />public involvement. Simultaneously, the condition
<br />oflhe physical syslem, past and present, affects anum-
<br />ber of parameters of the social system.
<br />
<br />The two major dimensions of flood control ex-
<br />amined in this research were the physical or hydrologic
<br />factors and Ihe social aspects. Perturbalions in either
<br />dimension cause changes throughout the entire system.
<br />For example, a dam constructed to provide flood con-
<br />lrol reduces the risks associaled with floodplain devel.
<br />opment while simultaneously affecling Iransporlation,
<br />farming, aesthetics, ecology, and recreation within and
<br />near the reservoir area as well as in the flood plain. A
<br />modification at any point in either dimension initiates
<br />a series of adjustments, some of which may be positive
<br />and olhers negalive. Both physical and social impacts,
<br />direcl and indirecl, need to be anticipated in deciding
<br />whelher or not 10 make the modification.
<br />
<br />Urban development has complex ramificatlous
<br />in both the hydrologic and social dimensions. High
<br />population densities, for example, increase impervi.
<br />ous areas, magnify the severity of flooding, and alter
<br />the ecological balance as weli as endanger human life
<br />and properly. In a fiood management program for a
<br />melropolitan area, it should be possible also to pro-
<br />vide, simultaneously, greater recreational opportuni-
<br />ties, increased aesthetic benefits, enhanced land values,
<br />
<br />increased water supplies, a modified micro-clirnate,
<br />and a carrier for mWlicipal wastes.
<br />
<br />The physical and economic aspecls of urban
<br />drainage are fairly well understood while the social
<br />aspects are traditionally accorded little consideralion.
<br />The importance of the social dimension, however, is
<br />becoming recognized. W. R. D. Sewell (1969: 3)
<br />noted:
<br />
<br />Social guides comprise a wide variety of
<br />influences that encourage or discourage develop-
<br />ment taking place in particular ways. They in-
<br />clude informal influences such as social mores,
<br />customs, and attitudes, and formal influences
<br />such as laws, policies, and administrative arrange-
<br />ments. Knowledge of the effects of such factors
<br />is essential to sound water resources planning.
<br />
<br />In order to incorporate these influences into an
<br />objective planning model, it is necessary 10 identify
<br />them and denne them so they can be quantified. In
<br />this sludy various physical and soclal processes and
<br />the way they interact within Ihe total system have
<br />been conceplualized; and from Ihese conceptualiza-
<br />tions, signifIcant variables have been Identified and
<br />measured. Equations for describing the relationships
<br />in the conceptual model have been developed, tested,
<br />and integrated 10 form a model. This model provides
<br />a framework for considering extra-economic benefits
<br />in urban flood-conlrol planning that should facilitate
<br />the design of effective solutions 10 flood control prob-
<br />lems that will be acceptable and Ihereby greatly lessen
<br />the time, money, and dissatisfaction involved in flood.
<br />control implementation.
<br />
<br />Objectives
<br />
<br />The research objectives of this study are:
<br />1. To define a hydrologic and a related soclal
<br />system and identify and specify its socio-
<br />logical and in leracling hydrological com-
<br />ponents.
<br />2. To develop conceptual models of the socio-
<br />logical and hydrologic subsystems.
<br />3. To delermine appropriate mathemalical
<br />expressions for representing observed rela-
<br />tionships within Ihe physical and social
<br />systems.
<br />4. To formulate mathematical equations for
<br />each part of the lolal process.
<br />5. To develop delailed field data for the cali.
<br />bralion and testing of the equations of the
<br />model.
<br />6. To apply the model to a real situation and
<br />simulate various values for the variables.
<br />
<br />The Study Area
<br />
<br />The study site selected 10 provide a real setting
<br />for model development and testing is a part of the
<br />
<br />2
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