Flood Control

INTRODUCTION
FLOODS ARE NATURAL EVENTS THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN INTEGRAL
PART OF THE GEOLOGIC HISTORY OF EARTH.
FLOODING OCCURS (A) ALONG RIVERS, STREAMS AND LAKES, (B) IN
COASTAL AREAS, (C) ON ALLUVIAL FANS, (D) IN
GROUND-FAILURE AREAS SUCH AS SUBSIDENCE, (E) IN AREAS
INFLUENCED BY STRUCTURAL MEASURES, AND (F) IN
AREAS THAT FLOOD DUE TO SURFACE RUNOFF AND LOCALLY
INADEQUATE DRAINAGE. HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND
ACTIVITIES HAVE ALWAYS TENDED TO USE FLOODPLAINS. THEIR USE
HAS FREQUENTLY INTERFERED WITH THE NATURAL
FLOODPLAIN PROCESSES, CAUSING INCONVENIENCE AND
CATASTROPHE TO HUMANS. THIS CHAPTER FOCUSES ON THE
MANAGEMENT OF WATER EXCESS (FLOODS).
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT

A floodplain is the normally dry land area adjoining rivers,

streams, lakes, bays, or oceans that is inundated during flood
events. The most common causes of flooding are the overflow of
streams and rivers and abnormally high tides resulting from
severe storms. The floodplain can include the full width of narrow
stream valleys, or broad areas along streams in wide, flat valleys.
As shown in Figure 14.2.1, the channel and floodplain are both
integral parts of the natural conveyance of a stream. The
floodplain carries flow in excess of the channel capacity and the
greater the discharge, the greater the extent of flow over the flood
plain. Floodplains may be defined either as natural geologic
features or from a regulatory perspective
Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analysis of Floods
Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses of floods are
required for the planning, design, and management
of many types of facilities, including hydro systems
within a floodplain or watershed. These analyses
are needed for determining potential flood
elevations and depths, areas of inundation, sizing
of channels, levee heights, right of way limits,
design of highway crossings and culverts, and
many others.
 THE METHODS USED IN HYDROLOGIC AND HYDRAULIC
ANALYSIS ARE DETERMINED BY THE PURPOSE AND
SCOPE
OF THE PROJECT AND THE DATA AVAILABILITY. FIGURE
14.2.4 IS A SCHEMATIC OF THE COMPONENTS OF A
HYDROLOGIC AND HYDRAULIC ANALYSIS FOR
FLOODPLAIN STUDIES. HYDROLOGIC ANALYSIS FOR
FLOODPLAINS ENTAILS
EITHER A RAINFALL-RUNOFF ANALYSIS OR A FLOOD-FLOW
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS.
Figure 14.2.2 Two types of alluvial fans. (a) Un incised fan with the
area of present deposition next to the mountain;
(b) Alluvial fan with the area of present deposition downslope from
the mountains due to steam-channel entrenchment at the apex of
the fan (note gully extension at the toe of the fan) (from W. B. Bull
(1984)).
 FLOODWAYS AND FLOODWAY FRINGES
Encroachment on floodplains, such as by artificial fill material, reduces
flood-carrying capacity, increases the flood heights of streams, and
increases flood hazards in areas beyond the encroachment. One aspect of
floodplain management involves balancing the economic gain from
floodplain development against the resulting increase in flood hazard.
Floodplain Management and Floodplain Regulations
According to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations
administered by FEMA, floodplain management is “the operation of an overall
program of corrective and preventive measures for reducing flood damage,
including but not limited to emergency preparedness plans,
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM
IN 1968 THE U.S. CONGRESS CREATED THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
PROGRAM (NFIP) THROUGH THE PASSAGE OF THE NATIONAL FLOOD
INSURANCE ACT. THE FLOOD DISASTER PROTECTION ACT OF 1973 AND THE
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE REFORM ACT OF 1994 FURTHER DEFINED THE
NFIP. THE PURPOSE OF THE NFIP IS TO MINIMIZE FUTURE FLOOD LOSS AND
TO ALLOW THE FLOODPLAIN OCCUPANTS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FLOOD
DAMAGE COSTS INSTEAD OF THE TAXPAYER. THE NFIP, ADMINISTERED BY
FEMA, PROVIDES FEDERALLY BACKED FLOOD INSURANCE THAT
ENCOURAGES COMMUNITIES TO ENACT AND ENFORCE FLOODPLAIN
REGULATIONS. IF A STATE OR
COMMUNITY DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE NFIP, THE FOLLOWING
CONSEQUENCES OCCUR:
1. The community will not be eligible for flood disaster relief in the
event of a federally declared
flood disaster.
2. Federal or federally related financial assistance for acquisition
or construction purposes for
structures in flood-prone areas will not be available.
3. Flood insurance will not be available.
 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND FLOODPLAIN
MANAGEMENT

Stormwater management plans are most successful when they are

implemented at the start of development in an area and should be
administered as part of a land-use planning process. The
implementation of a stormwater management plan, in a remedial
mode, to correct stream deterioration resulting from previous
uncontrolled development is a much more difficult task. Stormwater
detention programs can be very effective; however in some cases,
they may have little effect because the flood peak caused by
detention diminishes as the flood passes downsteam, while the
increase in total runoff caused by the development swells the total
mass of the flood wave.