United States Experience with Floodplain Management

Abstract

During the 20th Century, floodplain management in the United States has evolved through several phases as governmental entities and the private sector have sought to reduce the losses to human life and property caused by flooding and to natural resources caused by floodplain use. Changes in environmental, economic, and aesthetic values led to legislative and administrative initiatives to guide floodplain land and water use. Improved knowledge and technology have changed the effectiveness and relative importance of loss reduction strategies and tools. The relative roles of federal, state, and local governments and also the private sector have shifted. Evaluation of this experience indicates that average annual loss of life has been reduced (Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force, 1992). Average annual flood damages continue to rise, although the amount has remained constant compared to the gross national product for the last two decades. The loss of floodplain natural and cultural resources has not been arrested, although some progress has been achieved in their preservation and restoration. Nevertheless, this experience offers valuable lessons to be remembered as we progress toward improved floodplain management in the 21st Century. The purpose of this chapter is to examine briefly those lessons with broad scale implications for the success of the floodplain management decision-making process. First, the evolution of floodplain management will be traced to set a context for these lessons. Then, the lessons themselves will be examined. Finally, the future implications of multi-hazard management and the need for national goals are discussed.