Using Multi-Objective Management to Reduce Flood Losses in Your

Conservation organizations (Audubon Society, Izaak Walton League)
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Youth organizations (Boy and Girl Scouts, YMCA)
Museums
University and private research organizations
Media: television, radio, newspapers
National Project WET (Water Education for Teachers).
Transportation and Infrastructure
Many older communities in this country were settled on the floodplain because of
the transportation advantages. Seaports, harbors, wharves, and docking facilities
all require locating valuable development on or next to the source of flooding.
Other development followed nearby and transportation systems were built to serve
it all.
Railroads and roads were built in the floodplain because it provided
vacant, flat land that facilitated right-of-way acquisition and construction. In
mountainous areas, the river valleys provided the only access through rugged
terrain. While railroads and roads are particularly exposed to flood damage, they
can also be responsible for many local flooding problems where their fill and
bridge openings disrupt drainage systems or obstruct flood flows.
Other parts of a community’s infrastructure face deterioration that can be
accelerated by flooding. Water, gas, and power lines can be exposed and broken
by flooding and scouring. Sewer lines get overloaded as new development adds to
the runoff. Sometimes the organic soils found in floodplains and wetlands facilitate
the movement and breakage of the lines.
Communities are now faced with roads and utility lines that need
improvement and upgrading. Many times, people do not want simple
replacements. They want the concrete highways removed from blocking their
waterfront vistas, larger water and sewer lines, and alternative facilities like
bikeways and trails.
Transportation concerns include water transportation. Many structural
projects, especially dams, must account for boat traffic. Even nonstructural
projects can improve navigation (see the next success story).
Opportunities
The following are examples of ways in which water and land transportation,
public works, and utility interests can support some of the flood loss reduction
measures discussed in Chapter 3:
Open space preservation−Parks, preserves, and linear greenways can
incorporate hiking and biking trails. These alternative transportation corridors
can relieve the hazards of pedestrians and bicycles on heavily traveled streets
and also reduce air pollution.
Drainage system maintenance−Keeping bridges, culverts, and overhead
utility lines clear of debris will lengthen their life expectancy and minimize
their obstruction of flood flows.
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