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CHAl'I'ER IV CONCEl'I'UAL MODEL OF THE FLOOD OONTROL DEOSION SOCIAL SYSTEM The sociological system like the hydrologic sys- lem, is modeled by identifying its basic elements and developing linkage functions among them. The as- sumptions made to do so must be plausible without introducing extreme complexity. The conceptual mod- el is shown in Figure 4.1. The public opinion stage in- cludes general socielal or cultural values as well as val- ues specific 10 flood behavior. The governmental agen- cies act in rational goal orientation, coordinative and mission functions. Finally, the conceptual model in. cludes Ihe participative functions of the public within a wide diversification of interest groups, local com- munities and mass media. The mathematical model was buill through a pragmatic, descriptive, linear, systems approach. The elements in the system were derived from interviews with officials in public agencies, individuals from pri- vale engineering fIrms, and individuals selected ran- domly 10 represenl the public. Developing the Conceptual Model Designing a Flow Chari of the Conceplual Model Figure 4.1 diagrams in more delait the broad subsyslems in Ihe preliminary chari of Figure 1.4. Fig- ure 4.1, however, is slill a simplificallon of the real world as it represents the flow of action from one be- havioral process to anolher and oflinkages between the sociological and hydrologic components of the tot- al system. Some processes may occur simultaneously and some agencies may perform more than one of the functions shown; however, all elemenls of the process occur, and Ihey are illustraled in the figure in a logi- cally sequential order. Interruplion of Ihe process produces a recycling or feedback Basic Model Elements in Flood Control An examination of the basic elements ofnon~ emergency flood control aclions shows seven key eval- uation considerations: 1. Flood control ability and the hydrologic sys- tem characteristics 2. Cost 3. Aesthelics 4. Recreation 5. Ecology 6. Acceplance of an aclion by other agencies than Ihe one acling 7. Acceptance of an action by relevanl popula- tions and interests. The first five of these factors are concerned with the characleristics of the proposal for remedial action and Ihe last two are concerned with attitudes. Each factor is discussed below. HFlood control ability," an engineering and hydrologic factor, includes: I) The degree to which a particular action provides a total solution to a flood problem, and 2) the duration of the solution. When combined. these two elements consider the fiood con- trol potential of a particular projecl under given hy- drologic and other conditions and also include impli. cations for both the present and the future. Both the dynamics of retum probabilities and of continuing land use changes must be considered. "Costll needs to be estimated with respect to each agency in order to detennine agency differences in considering economic aspects of projects. A limita- tion may exist on the time, dollars, or other resources available during a certain period preventing certain potential,olutions. Benefit-cosl ratios are oflen used in planning, but the factors considered as benefits and costs vary with the agency and the perceplions of its officials. IIAesthetics" refers to values associated with the appearance of the proposed flood control solution and also its effecls on the aesthetics of other objects or areas. "Recreation" includes both recreation providedhby a proposed solution and the effect of the proposal on other recreation. 41