1. COMPREHENSIVE FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT : Promoting Wise Uses of Floodplains CA Department of Water Resources/ CIFMCG Workshop July 2006

2. Comprehensive Floodplain Management Workshop Natural Floodplain Functions, Services and Societal Values

3. Workshop Modules Comprehensive FPM Comprehensive FPM NFIP Overview NFIP Overview FPM No Adverse Impact Strategies FPM No Adverse Impact Strategies Natural Floodplain Functions and Societal Values Natural Floodplain Functions and Societal Values Flood Management Economic Analysis Flood Management Economic Analysis Ecosystem Evaluation Methods Ecosystem Evaluation Methods Case Study Case Study Technical and Financial Assistance Technical and Financial Assistance

4. Natural Floodplain Functions Floodplain functions includes all the physical, chemical and biological processes that sustain floodplains Floodplain functions includes all the physical, chemical and biological processes that sustain floodplains Floodplains perform a multitude of complex and interrelated functions which: Floodplains perform a multitude of complex and interrelated functions which:  Provide biological support  Provide valuable goods and services to society

5. Natural Floodplain Functions If we can identify “societal” goods and services, then we might be able to develop monetary values If we can identify “societal” goods and services, then we might be able to develop monetary values If we can assign monetary values, then we can include them in economic analyses If we can assign monetary values, then we can include them in economic analyses Including them in economic analyses helps us better evaluate projects that include ecosystem restoration Including them in economic analyses helps us better evaluate projects that include ecosystem restoration

6. Floodplain Functions, Services and Societal Values Natural Floodplain Functions Natural Floodplain Functions  Manage Flows  Maintain Water Supplies  Maintain Water Quality  Maintain Soil Quality  Maintain Air Quality  Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats

7. Floodplain Functions, Services and Societal Values Manage Flows Manage Flows Maintain Water Supplies Maintain Water Supplies Maintain Water Quality Maintain Water Quality Maintain Soil Quality Maintain Soil Quality Maintain Air Quality Maintain Air Quality Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats

8. Manage Flows Functions Functions  Transport water, nutrients and organisms  Spread and retain surface and subsurface water  Moderate speed, force, depth and timing of flows  Maintain base flows  Maintain sediment balance  Maintain connectivity between channel and floodplain Societal values Societal values  Protection of life and property  Avoided flood/sediment control infrastructure costs  Value of flow-related goods and services

9. Manage Flows Examples Examples  USACE estimate of annual wetland flood control benefits for Charles River, MA -- $17 Million/YR or $2,042/wetland acre  Minnesota DNR cost estimate to replace wetlands flood storage in the state -- $300/AF  Washington DNR cost estimate for a replacement storm water retention system equivalent to lost forestlands -- $2.4 Billion  The degradation of one mile of Louisiana coastal dunes ands vegetation could increase hurricane damage by about $64,000

10. Floodplain Functions, Services and Societal Values Manage Flows Manage Flows Maintain Water Supplies Maintain Water Supplies Maintain Water Quality Maintain Water Quality Maintain Soil Quality Maintain Soil Quality Maintain Air Quality Maintain Air Quality Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats

11. Maintain Water Supplies Functions Functions  Increase surface water storage  Promote groundwater recharge Societal Values Societal Values  Value of goods and services produced with additional water supplies  Avoid water supply infrastructure costs

12. Maintain Water Supplies Examples Examples  USACE estimate of annual wetland water supply benefits for Charles River, MA – 100,000 gallons/day or  About $17 per day less than local district costs or  About a $6,000 annual savings in water supply costs

13. Floodplain Functions, Services and Societal Values Manage Flows Manage Flows Maintain Water Supplies Maintain Water Supplies Maintain Water Quality Maintain Water Quality Maintain Soil Quality Maintain Soil Quality Maintain Air Quality Maintain Air Quality Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats

14. Maintain Water Quality Functions Functions  Filter nutrients and impurities from runoff  Process organic wastes  Moderate water temperature fluctuations Societal Values Societal Values  Value of goods and services produced with improved water quality  Avoid water treatment infrastructure costs  Avoid damages to plumbing, fixtures and appliances

15. Maintain Water Quality Examples Examples  Louisiana tidal wetlands provide $2,500 worth of water treatment benefits per acre/year  Charles River Basin wetlands can replace water treatment capital costs of $85/acre plus $1,475 in maintenance and operation costs  South Carolina wetlands provide a least cost substitute for a water treatment plant costing $5 million  Lake County (CA) estimates that the Middle Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project would remove up to 40% of the phosphorus entering Clear Lake

16. Floodplain Functions, Services and Societal Values Manage Flows Manage Flows Maintain Water Supplies Maintain Water Supplies Maintain Water Quality Maintain Water Quality Maintain Soil Quality Maintain Soil Quality Maintain Air Quality Maintain Air Quality Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats

17. Maintain Soil Quality Functions Functions  Detention of particulates, compounds and elements Societal Values Societal Values  Value of goods and services produced with improved soil quality  Avoid soil treatment costs Examples Examples  Seasonal flooding in the Cosumnes River floodplain provides benefits for the 1,000 + acres planted in organic rice and pasture

18. Floodplain Functions, Services and Societal Values Manage Flows Manage Flows Maintain Water Supplies Maintain Water Supplies Maintain Water Quality Maintain Water Quality Maintain Soil Quality Maintain Soil Quality Maintain Air Quality Maintain Air Quality Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats

19. Maintain Air Quality Functions Functions  Removal of atmospheric carbon by vegetation (carbon sequestration)  Vegetation humidifies atmosphere and moderates air temperatures Societal Values Societal Values  Avoided air pollution treatment costs  Value of improved health and comfort  Improved property values

20. Maintain Air Quality Examples Examples  National Park Service estimates that the value of pollution removal by trees in Chicago is about $1 million/year  A single rural tree can remove up to 50 lbs of particulates per year  Trees can provide ambient temperature mediation and help reduce heating and cooling costs

21. Floodplain Functions, Services and Societal Values Manage Flows Manage Flows Maintain Water Supplies Maintain Water Supplies Maintain Water Quality Maintain Water Quality Maintain Soil Quality Maintain Soil Quality Maintain Air Quality Maintain Air Quality Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats

22. Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats Functions Functions  Maintain characteristic and diverse plant and animal communities  Provide habitat interspersion and connectivity  Provide breeding and feeding grounds  Protect habitat for species of special concern  Maintain ecological succession

23. Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats  Societal Values  Value of goods and services associated with habitats  Improved property values  Enhanced economic development  Preservation values  Avoided habitat enhancement/replacement costs  Recreation

24. Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats  Examples  Urban stream restoration projects increased adjacent residential property values by $4,500 to $19,000  Riparian/wetlands restoration at new detention basins valued at $8,600 - $50,000/acre based upon regional mitigation bank costs  Riparian/wetlands habitat restoration valued at $3,200/acre based upon foregone commercial development opportunities of similar property sold to a land trust

25. Maintain Plant and Animal Habitats  Examples (Cont’d)  Unit day values for recreational activities (exs: camping, $24; picnicking, $21; biking, $61; boating, $51)  Habitat restoration can stimulate economic development (exs: Napa, San Luis Obispo)

26. To Summarize… Floodplains perform a multitude of complex and interrelated functions which: Floodplains perform a multitude of complex and interrelated functions which:  Provide biological support  Provide valuable goods and services to society Functions include: Functions include:  Manage flows  Maintain water supplies  Maintain water quality  Maintain soil quality  Maintain air quality  Maintain plant and animal habitats

27. To Summarize… If we can assign monetary values to floodplain functions and services, we can include them in economic analyses If we can assign monetary values to floodplain functions and services, we can include them in economic analyses Including them in economic analyses helps demonstrate benefits for multi-objective projects Including them in economic analyses helps demonstrate benefits for multi-objective projects More info?? See DWR/EPA study reports at: More info?? See DWR/EPA study reports at:www.economics.water.ca.gov/documents.cfm

28. What’s Next? Flood Management Economic Analysis Flood Management Economic Analysis