Policies to Connect Flood Risk Management to Ecologically Responsible Development

Mon. 4:00-5:30 p.m., Centennial F

Substantial policy activity is underway that could significantly impact and potentially raise the profile of flood risk management and water resources planning. In the 2007 Water Resources Development Act, Congress directed a revision of the water and related land resources Principles and Guidelines that placed a considerably higher emphasis on avoiding “unwise use of floodplains” and “protecting and restoring the functions of natural systems.”

This revision process, now being coordinated by the White House Council on Environmental Quality, is continuing to move forward. The White House CEQ also co-chairs the Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, which is developing recommendations to prepare the nation to respond to the impacts of climate change. The 2007 WRDA established a National Committee on Levee Safety charged with developing a proposed framework and program for identifying and reducing risks associated with levees. And the Obama Administration has recently reestablished a Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force to increase interagency and interdepartmental dialog regarding floodplain management and to increase coordination at the federal level. A new Natural Floodplain Functions Alliance has formed to increase floodplain management efforts and increase the nation’s focus on the values and ecosystem services of natural floodplain resources and functions.

This session will report on these recent developments and discuss their progress and potential to elevate flood risk management as a key focus of floodplain and broader water resources planning.

Edward Thomas, Moderator
Michael Baker Corporation

Sam Riley Medlock, Panelist
Association of State Floodplain Managers

Shana Udvardy, Panelist
American Rivers

Nicholas Pinter, Panelist
Southern Illinois University