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  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.