Transcript Setting the Stage for A Flood Risk and Resource Management Strategy What Do We Want to Accomplish? The Gilbert F.

Setting the Stage for A Flood Risk and
Resource Management Strategy
What Do We Want to Accomplish?
The Gilbert F. White National Flood Policy Forum
Managing Risks to Humans and Floodplain Resources
March 9-10, 2010
Washington DC
Doug Plasencia, P.E., CFM
ASFPM Foundation Events Committee Chair
Vice President Michael Baker Jr. Inc.
Question #1
 Has a century of work in flood protection
resulted in an outcome that we would wish to
continue into the future in its current form?
Observation #1
 As a nation, water resources development has
been our defacto floodplain and coastal policy
for nearly a century.
 Will this policy approach be satisfactory for
the future?
Question #2
 Should we be concerned about the extent and
condition of our floodplain and coastal
resources?
Observation #2
 The ability of floodplain
resources to provide
fisheries, clean water,
habitat, and other
functions for our future
is in question.
 What adjustments are
necessary to ensure our
resources are sufficient
for the future?
The Need for a Resource Conservation Ethic in
Flood Risk Management Plasencia & Monday 2009
 Maintain sight of the dual policy role of FPM
 Recognize the importance of these resources
to our economy and our overall well-being
 Replicates our conservation oriented
advances in forestry and agronomy policy
 Define Flood Risk Management to include
“Flooding Risk” and “Floodplain Risk”
Question #3
 How do we craft a flood risk and resource
management policy and strategy that will
make a difference in human behavior?
Observation #3
 Individuals and policy makers simply do not
understand or choose to ignore flood risk or
threats to our resources.
Question #4
 How do we adapt to a changing world
(climate, population, economies…)?
Observation #4
 We traditionally are much better at planning
based on past histories vs. forecasting with
many unknowns .
A Flood Risk Management and Resource
Strategy has Broad Implications
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Introduces “risk continuum” vs. “at risk or
not at risk”
Should allow the ability to benchmark and
monitor risk at various levels
Opens the door for considering and
communicating a series of actions that
increase or decrease risk
To be effective must be inclusive of a
variety of uses and functions within
floodplains and coastal areas.
Challenge #1
 What is the “The overarching vision”?
 Flood risk is controlled
 Individuals and policy makers act in an
appropriate manner
 Floodplain resources are sufficient in areal
extent and quality
Challenge #2
 How do we benchmark and monitor our
progress towards achieving this overarching
vision?
Challenge #3
 How do we get the public to act in a more risk
aware and resource sensitive manner?
Challenge #4
 What do we need to adjust in policy and
programs to meet the overarching vision and
overcome other challenges?
Challenge #5
 What are the knowledge gaps that we need to
fill?
Why Now…Why Here?
 Embarking on a new and exciting approach
that could influence the next 50-years or more
 Growing flood risk and declining resources is
not sustainable for our future
 Unique and exclusive gathering of experts to
debate and shape these issues
Discussion
The Gilbert F. White National Flood Policy Forum
Managing Risks to Humans and Floodplain Resources
March 9-10, 2010
Washington DC
Doug Plasencia, P.E., CFM
ASFPM Foundation Events Committee Chair
Vice President Michael Baker Jr. Inc.