Alternatives Analyses for Flood Mitigation Options

1. Alternatives Analyses for Flood Mitigation Options 2012 Flood Risk Management and Silver Jackets Workshop Chad Berginnis CFM, ASFPM Executive Director Steve Ferryman CFM, ASFPM Mitigation Committee Co-Chair Sally McConkey PE, D.WRE, CFM, ASFPM Chair

2. ASFPM Panel Presentation • Overview of Session . . Chad Berginnis • What’s Happening in the Trenches . . Steve Ferryman • Issues and Lessons from an Ohio SHMO and State Floodplain Manager • Data for Mitigation Options Analyses . . Sally McConkey • What can RiskMAP bring to the table? Thoughts from the Ilinois Flood Mapping Manger! • Creating Robust Alternatives Analysis for Flood Mitigation Options - Opportunities & Challenges. . Chad Berginnis • Ecosystem Services Values • Climate Change / Adaptation • Long Term Operations and Maintenance / Financing • Legal Issues that can Drive Options

3. Association of State Floodplain Managers Mission: Mitigate the losses, costs, and human suffering caused by flooding. and Protect the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains.

4. How/When Does Alternatives Analysis Happen? • Formal project planning – USACE projects good example • FEMA mitigation project development • Planning – Mitigation, Comprehensive, Capital Improvements, Post-Disaster Redevelopment • Public meetings / hearings • Regulatory changes, project hearings • After an “event” • Disaster • Court Case • When else?

5. What are the Flood Mitigation Options? • Prevention – Keep hazard risk from getting worse • Property Protection – Modify existing development subject to hazard risk • Public Education & Awareness – Inform people about hazardous areas and mitigation actions • Natural Resource Protection – Reduce effects of hazards & improve quality of environment • Critical Facility Protection / Emergency Services – Actions taken to ensure continuity of emergency services • Structural Projects – Large manmade structures to protect people and property at risk

6. Value of Ecosystem Services Recent economic studies are attempting to better characterize and value a variety of (generally) non-market values of floodplains and watersheds

7. Categories of Ecosystem Services

8. Ecosystem Services: High and Low Dollar per Acre Estimates

9. Final Annual Value of all Ecosystem Services Provided by the Puyallup River Watershed

10. Climate Change / Adaptation • The National Climate Assessment (NCA) evaluates the effects of climate change in the U.S. The NCA builds on an extensive scientific literature and series of recent assessments of the historical and potential impacts of climate change and variability • Last one completed in 2009, next version scheduled to be completed in 2013 • Fundamental shift in focus at least for some sectors – focus on data/tools for the practitioner community • Water resources sector as well as specialty and regional sectors

11. Long Term Maintenance / Financing? • Need to look at both macro and micro scale • Watershed wide flood control service • Small detention/retention basins in neighborhoods, new subdivisions • Three drivers of change of funding from a federal perspective: Massive amounts of infrastructure needing repaired/replaced, federal debt, and no earmarks • Must better align incentives/disincentives for owners to maintain • How do we serve a more self financed world? • Develop sustainable funding sources – PPPs? • Technical assistance

12. Landowner Rights Limited Under the Law No Right to be a Nuisance No right to Violate the Property Rights of Others No Right to Trespass No Right to be Negligent No Right to Violate Laws of Reasonable Surface Water Use; or Riparian Laws No Right to Violate the Public Trust

13. Potential Community Liabilities Construction of a Road Blocks Drainage Stormwater System Increases Flows Structure Blocks Watercourse Bridge Built Without Adequate Opening Permitting development at risk Failure to maintain flood control structure

14. Potential Community Liabilities cont. Grading Land Increases Runoff Flood Control Structure Causes Damage Filling Wetland Causes Damage Issuing Permits for Development that Causes Harm to a Third Party

15. State Liability • Potential Liabilities • State infrastructure construction or improvement, e.g. state highway • Flood Control Measures • Flood Risk Management and Flood Fighting Activities • Mitigation Activities • Notice and other public engagement • Inventory floodplains, levees, dams, and canals • Adopt and invest in capital improvement and maintenance plans • Preserve open space • Promote flood coverage

16. Observations and Conclusions • Complex flood problem = multiple mitigation solutions • Need good data that supports alternatives analysis • Are we spending mitigation planning wisely in this regard? Is the risk assessment data supporting mitigation alternatives analysis • RiskMAP is going to drive a mitigation discussion across the nation – are we, as professionals, ready to deliver? • Alternatives analyses occurs formally and informally • We need to do a better job as professionals assisting communities and states in looking comprehensively at mitigation alternatives