1. FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT AND THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS Paul Bourget Directorate of Research and Development Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (202) 761-1849 paul.g.bourget@usace.army.mil

2. Floodplain Management Defined “Floodplain management is a decision making process the goal of which is to achieve wise use of the nation’s floodplains. ‘Wise use’ is any activity or set of activities that is compatible with the risk to natural resources (natural and beneficial functions to floodplains) and human resources (life and property).” (Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force)

3. Causes of Floods Riverine Floods Estuarine and Coastal Floods Rain Snow & ice-melt Ice jams Combined rain & ice- melt Landslides Dam failures Estuarine interactions between stream-flow & tidal conditions Earthquakes Coastal storm surges Basin factors (variable) Channel Factors Drainage network factors Estuary shape Coastline configuration Offshore gradient of water depth Flood-Intensifying Factors Basin factors (stable)

4. Barriers, barrages & dams River channel improvements Dikes, levees, embankments Flood protection & drainage projects Flood abatement Flood-proofing Flood forecasting & warning Disaster preparedness, planning Response (Incl. evacuation) Public awareness raising Land use & planning control Acquisition of flood land & Property relocation Flood insurance Social security measures (e.g., compensation) Flood exposure reduction measures (modify human behavior and use) Flood risk reduction measures Flood vulnerability reduction measures Structural adaptions Non-structural adaptions (Source: D.J. Parker) The Range of Options to Mitigate Inland Flooding

5. Remote Sensing and GIS: –Watershed delineation –Landuse characterization –Topographic and resource mapping Hydraulic Engineering and Modeling: –River flow modeling –Flood inundation forecasting –Environmental enhancements for streams and rivers –Stream bank restoration and stabilization Environmental and Water Quality Management: –Water quality assessments and pollutant loading analyses –Water quality monitoring –Watershed modeling –Invasive plant management Water Resources Development: –Hydropower assessment, planning and design The Corps’ Technology Contribution Possesses the capability to provide international assistance through training, the transfer of key technologies and direct support. Key areas relate to:

6. Sample Corps International Initiatives GIS training for Moldova NATO-sponsored assessment of the Upper Tisza Basin (Eastern Europe) Proposed basin-wide study for the Niger River Proposed development of a water control model for Lithuania Proposed basin-wide study for the Nile River Proposed development of an inundation model and workshop for the Save and Limpopo Rivers