Download Living with Floods

IIHR International Perspectives Course 2010
The big picture

the good
 rejuvenation of soil
 reconnection to the floodplain
 recharge of alluvial aquifers

the bad
 billions of dollars in flood control
 evacuations and lost lives
 destroyed crops and capital

the ugly
 homes and businesses filled with sediment
Living as controlling
floods viewed as
dangerous to people and
hampering to growth
 flood plains are economic
centers damaged by water
 examples:

 the Netherlands
○ average elevation of 11 feet
above sea level
○ highest GDP per sq km in
Europe
 the United Kingdom
○ 10 percent of population
within 100-yr flood plain

transformed landscape
Tidal Flooding
•United
Kingdom (UK)
• cut-off estuaries
• Thames River barrier
•Netherlands
• Delta Works
• separated sea from
estuaries
• tidal influences allowed
in select locations
Seasonal Flooding
Chinese (China)
•Yangtze and Yellow Rivers
•disconnect Yangzte floodplain from river to
encourage settlement
•gained national unification
•lost meander and changed geomorphology
•raised, channelized rivers have caused
flooding
•1998: 4150 deaths on Yangtze
•2006: Three Gorges Dam completed
•2010: 117 million chinese affected by
flooding with approximately 1000 missing or
dead
•Egyptians (Ancient Egypt)
•accepted flooding
•recorded seasonal peaks
•used fertile sediment for agriculture
•Dutch (Netherlands)
•major floods first recorded in 838 AD
•successive floods in 1014, 1134, 1404,
1421, 1530, 1570, 1595, 1686, 1717, 1912,
and 1953.
•20th century floods inspired control
structures
•British (UK)
•annually flooding along many waterways
•temporary and permanent barriers
Living as Coexisting





current issues with overcrowding
in areas intended as flood plains
Room for Rivers
change from “battle against
water” to “living with water”
rezoning to parks
flood friendly construction




UK strategy






http://www.cabinzoom.com/2009/01/lake-huron-floating-house/
pedestals
floating
open bottom levels
limit redevelopment
eliminate new development
set aside specific water storage
areas
risk assessment
widespread insurance
warning systems
Living as Responding

most important in
flash flooding
 response saves lives
 Albert Pike
Campground in
Arkansas

vital components
 forecasting
 broadcasting
 coordination

UK
 River Severn temporary
structures
 portable and floatable
barriers