Transcript EPA Programs Supporting Flood Risk Management and Community

Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
EPA Programs Supporting Flood Risk Management and
Community Sustainability
Association of State Floodplain Managers
May 23, 2012
John McShane
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
Environmental Protect Agency
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
The goals of floodplain management:
“To reduce the loss of life and property caused by floods
and to protect and restore the natural resources and
functions of floodplains.”
A Unified National Program for Floodplain Management, 1994
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
Naturally Functioning Floodplains:
Provide flood storage and conveyance
Reduce wave damage
Prevent impairments of surface waters
Provide habitats for flora and fauna
Reduce sediments loads
Reduces flood heights and velocities
Provide open space and scenic amenities
Provide historical, archaeological, and
cultural opportunities
Facilitate groundwater recharge
Provide erosion control
Improve water quality (e.g. denitrification)
Reduce nonpoint source pollution
70% of Nation’s wetlands
Enhance property values
Provide recreational opportunities
Have rich alluvial soils for agric
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
“Waters of the U.S.”
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Two U.S. Supreme Court decisions limit scope of “waters of the
U.S.” protected by the CWA.
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EPA and Corps – guidance to clarify scope of WOUS, OMB
reviewing.
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Implications for floodplain management
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
“Waters of the U.S.”
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“…significant nexus to a traditional navigable water...”
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“...[W]etlands possess the requisite nexus, and thus come
within the statutory phrase 'navigable waters,' if the
wetlands…significantly affect the chemical, physical, and
biological integrity of other covered waters more readily
understood as 'navigable.'"
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
“Green Infrastructure”
Low Impact Development (LID)
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Purpose is to mimic or recreate the predevelopment hydrology
of the site (volume of runoff).
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“Green” approach provides multiple benefits: reduces flood
losses, maintains base flow, improves water quality, provides
habitats, etc.
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“Green” is often less expensive than “gray.”
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
“Green Infrastructure”
Low Impact Development (LID)
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LID projects include roadside swales, infiltration basins, rain
gardens, subdivision designs, etc.
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CRS provides credits for LID.
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
“Green Infrastructure”
Low Impact Development (LID)
Improves water quality:
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Reduction in runoff means a reduction in pollutant loadings.
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Reduction in stream bank erosion, a major source of sediments
and nutrients.
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
“Green Infrastructure”
Table 2. Sample hydrologic computations for three subwatersheds.
“2 year” storm (3.8 in.)
Peak flows (cfs)
“100 year” storm (7.9 in.)
Peak flows (cfs)
Level of
Development
Drainage
Area (sq.
miles)
Current
GI
Forest
Current
GI
Forest
Low
0.42
185
95
48
720
625
426
Medium
0.24
190
65
44
565
460
310
High
0.24
295
145
39
730
615
323
Medina, Daniel, et.al. 2011. Green Infrastructure Benefits for Floodplain Management: A Case Study. Stormwater Magazine
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
Wetlands
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Store floodwaters, ecologically productive, provide critical
habitats, improve water quality (“world’s best filters”), buffer
storm surge, etc.;
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Especially important for retaining floodwaters from the more
frequent floods;
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70% of wetlands are found within coastal and riverine
floodplains.
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
Coastal Wetlands
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Status and Trends of Wetlands report found a net loss
of 59,000 acres/per year of wetlands in coastal
watersheds.
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Coastal wetlands are critical habitat
for over 60% of sport and commercial
fisheries.
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
Coastal Wetlands Initiative
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Develop a better understanding of the stressors causing
losses.
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Provide information to better protect and restore coastal
wetland resources.
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Increase awareness of the natural and beneficial
functions of coastal wetlands.
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
Coastal Wetlands Initiative
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EPA conducted reviews with local stakeholders in
coastal watersheds along Gulf and Atlantic coasts.
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Findings indicate that hydrologic modifications such
as dams, levees, and ditching are common causes of
wetland losses.
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
National Ocean Council
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National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan
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“Reduce coastal wetland loss and improve
understanding of coastal wetland status and trends.”
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
Healthy Watersheds Initiative
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Created to maintain the integrity of naturally functioning
watersheds.
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More efficient to protect waters now than restore degraded
systems later.
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“Identifying and Protecting Healthy Watersheds: Concepts,
Assessments, and Management Approaches”
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Pilot projects with states.
Economic Benefits of Maintaining Natural
Green Infrastructure
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
Climate Change
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Changes in precipitation patterns already increasing
flood risks in parts of U.S.
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Climate Ready Water Utilities
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Climate Ready Estuaries
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
Climate Ready Water Utilities (CRWU)
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Conduct climate change risk (vulnerability) assessments;
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Prepare adaptation implementation plans;
Plans include options for adapting to changes in extreme
weather patterns:
• Flooding
• SLR
• Drought
• Wildfires
• Reduced snowpack
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Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
The International Code Council
International green Construction Code (IgCC)
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Current standards focus on protecting structures in
flood hazard areas, not the floodplain environment.
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EPA’s OSC and OWOW working to broaden
provisions to include protection of the natural
functions of floodplains.
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
International green Construction Code
(IgCC)
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Possible recommendations include no increase in
runoff or velocity from the site, and/or a “no rise” in
BFE.
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Consistent with NAI.
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
EPA/FEMA MOA
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EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities and FEMA’s
Mitigation and Disaster Recovery Programs
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Purpose is to incorporate sustainability and smart growth
practices into hazard mitigation planning and disaster
recovery.
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Shared interest includes “resilience” and concerns about the
impacts of climate change.
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
Ecosystem Valuation
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Protecting and restoring the natural resources and
functions of floodplains provide numerous benefits:
reduce flood losses, improve water quality, provide
habitats, contribute to community sustainability, etc.
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Challenge is to quantify these benefits.
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
Ecosystem Valuation
“...floodplains were the second ranked ecosystem type,
behind only estuaries, in terms of their per-hectare value
to society. Despite representing <2% of Earth's
terrestrial land surface area, floodplains provide
approximately 25% of all terrestrial ecosystem service
benefits."
Opperman, Jeffrey, Luster, Ryan, et.al. 2010. Ecologically Functional Floodplains: Connectivity, Flow Regime, and Scale. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 46(2): 211-226.
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
Ecosystem Valuation
EPA Office of Research and Development
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Safe and Healthy Communities Research Program
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“Quantifying the Production and Valuation of
Ecosystem Goods and Services for Sustainable
Communities”
Role of Natural and Beneficial
Functions in Community Sustainability
In conclusion…
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Naturally functioning floodplains provide numerous economic and
environmental benefits and contribute to community sustainability.
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“Green infrastructure” can reduce flood losses at less cost and
provide multiple benefits
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Wetlands are critical natural resources, coastal wetlands need more
protection/restoration.
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Water is our most precious resource, we all benefit from innovative
approaches to flood risk management.
aka
Natural al Values
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
Questions?
John McShane
[email protected]
Role of Natural and Beneficial Functions in
Community Sustainability
“A naturally functioning floodplain, or restoring
a floodplain to a nearly natural state, provides
numerous environmental, economic, and
societal benefits.”
A Unified National Program for Floodplain Management, 1994