Why Floodplain Management?

From the Association of State Floodplain Managers (http://www.floods.org/NoAdverseImpact/whitepaper.asp):  "Flood damage in the United States continues to escalate. From the early 1900s to the year 2007, flood damage increased six-fold, and now averages over $6 billion annually, even when Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma (2005) are not included. This has occurred despite the investment of billions of dollars in structural flood control and the application of many other structural and non-structural measures over these many decades. Even in the face of increasing flood losses, we continue to intensify development, and to do so in a manner in which flood-prone or marginally protected structures suddenly become susceptible to damage because the actions of others in and around the floodplain and watershed have worsened the flood hazard.

Current national standards for floodplain management allow development activity to divert flood waters onto other properties; to reduce the size of natural channel and overbank conveyance areas; to fill essential valley storage space; and to alter water velocities—all with little or no regard for how these changes affect other people and property in the floodplain or elsewhere in the watershed. The net result is that our own actions are intensifying the potential for flood damage. The current course is one that will result in continually rising costs over time, is not equitable to those whose property is affected, has been shown to be economically and environmentally unsustainable, and is a pattern of conduct generally not supported by the courts."

From FEMA (http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1419):  "As scientific understanding of ecosystems grows, the importance of conserving and restoring the natural resources and functions of floodplains is increasingly recognized. Historically effective floodplain management was recognized as a necessary task to reduce the loss of life and property. However, floodplain areas are now also recognized as having an intrinsic value of their own as a part of the interconnected ecosystem and an influential role in increasing a community's quality of life."

In Athens, Ohio, we have had a recent flurry of development on our floodplains.  While these new developments may provide employment today in our Appalachian region, it is important to consider the sustainability and long-term economic health of such developments.  We must weigh these factors (employment, economic sustainability & long-term economic health) together with the benefits provided by natural floodplains (safety through storage of flood waters, habitat for wildlife, recreation area for residents, beauty) to make comprehensive decisions about the management of our floodplains.  It is not enough to consider each new development individually, as this leads to underestimating the impact of the combined effect of many developments.