While floods are unavoidable, they can be mitigated in several ways. Some examples are nature-based solutions, low-impact development, green infrastructure, and floodwater diversions. These are just a few of the solutions that can be implemented right now to help prevent flood disasters. These solutions are effective because they work in concert with each other to protect communities from severe floods and keep them safe.
Nature-based solutions
There are a number of different nature-based flood mitigation solutions that can be applied on different scales. These approaches can help reduce the impact of flooding on different areas and can also be used as a means to reduce the risk of flooding in different areas. These solutions range from using trees and plants to building dams and creating green infrastructure.
One of the most important benefits of nature-based solutions is that they can adapt to climate change as the environment changes. They can also be used in conjunction with other mitigation measures such as flood barriers and engineered solutions. In addition to this, they can also be used as part of a whole catchment approach to flood risk management. England has developed its own strategy for addressing flood and coastal erosion risks, which identifies and promotes many of these solutions.
The Asian Development Bank has also invested in nature-based flood mitigation solutions in recent years. These approaches are still relatively new, but they are considered to be more sustainable and effective. However, they are still being applied at a slow rate because of barriers that range from governance to politics. It is therefore essential that communities take the time to consider the benefits and drawbacks of these solutions and make the right choices for their needs.
FEMA has several grant programs that aim to improve communities’ resilience to floods and other natural hazards. To qualify for a grant, communities must have an approved mitigation plan. Governments can also apply for disaster relief funds if they plan to implement nature-based solutions. The government also encourages the development of a mitigation plan to ensure the effectiveness of its flood mitigation efforts.
In addition to offering protection against floods, nature-based solutions provide critical resources, such as water and energy. For example, mangroves are used to protect coastlines from erosion and protect fisheries. They also serve as a significant carbon sink. By harnessing these natural systems, governments and businesses can improve the functionality of flood mitigation solutions.
Low impact development
If you’re looking to reduce flooding risks in your neighborhood, low-impact development can be a great solution. But there are a number of barriers that can make LID less appealing, or even unworkable. In this Fact Sheet, we’ll break down some of the most common ones and discuss how to overcome them. The most common barriers include cost, aesthetics, and perceptions that LID requires a lot of space.
Low-impact development uses a variety of strategies to manage stormwater on-site. Using green roofs, bioretention gardens, and permeable pavement, it emulates the natural processes of a site. As a result, the water that runs off low-impact development projects is cleaner, fresher, and safer for aquatic life. Moreover, it’s economically and environmentally sound.
In recent years, many cities, including larger urban centers, have been affected by major flooding. These disasters have also affected smaller tributary streams. Developing low-impact development can help protect water quality and improve watersheds. As a result, flood risks can be minimized and development projects can be more cost-effective than ever before.
The pressure on the water system is increasing as cities develop. Rapid urbanisation leads to increased impervious area and less infiltration, which increases runoff volumes and flood risks. Low-impact development projects, such as the Sponge City initiative in China, are one way to help reverse these trends. However, there are a number of key factors that must be considered when planning LID projects.
The most important challenge is identifying the most effective LID practices in the region in which the development is occurring. In addition to minimizing flood-related damages, LID can reduce peak flow rates and increase localized infiltration. Proper site-specific selection and optimization of LID strategies will improve urban resiliency and help cities reach sustainable development goals.
The implementation of GI/LID is supported by local elected officials and grassroots organizations. For example, the Pima Association of Governments has endorsed the use of GI/LID in Arizona, and the City of Tucson is developing guidelines for the beneficial use of stormwater on neighborhood scale. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also promoting LID.
Green infrastructure
Green infrastructure can be used to mitigate floods in a variety of ways. Simple strategies include the placement of vegetation, porous surfaces and disconnected downspouts. Many communities have incorporated green infrastructure into their landscapes. Some cities are even committed to planting a million trees.
The study’s authors used a flood model that considered past and projected precipitation along with the area’s land use. The results showed that incorporating green infrastructure can significantly reduce flood damages. In one case, the damages were reduced by about $450,000. The authors concluded that green infrastructure could help mitigate flood damage by up to $5000.
There are several precedents for this kind of large-scale response to ecosystem-scale disasters. For example, in the 1930s, the US government funded the planting of 220 million trees in the Dust Bowl region, a band of eighteen hundred miles from Canada to Texas. Similarly, the Soil Conservation Service worked with farmers and ranchers in the Midwest and West to conserve soil and water on an ecosystem-wide scale.
A green infrastructure strategy reduces flood risks by diverting excess water away from floodways. It also helps improve the climate resiliency of communities. Green infrastructure also prevents runoff by capturing rain where it falls. It also helps replenish groundwater supplies by returning to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration.
Green infrastructure practices include wetlands, bioswales, and other natural features that can mitigate floods. These methods reduce the quantity and quality of polluted runoff. Green infrastructure solutions can reduce urban flood risks while increasing the quantity of water available in municipal water supplies. They also promote water conservation and help to reduce demand on municipal resources.
Green stormwater infrastructure can reduce flooding and protect communities by improving water quality, enhancing biodiversity, and improving safety. Additionally, green stormwater infrastructure can be a cost-effective alternative to gray infrastructure. It can even be used in conjunction with gray stormwater networks to minimize floods. The greatest community impacts are found with bioretention areas, which can capture, treat, and infiltrate stormwater runoff before draining to a gray stormwater network. Other green infrastructure solutions include rain gardens and cisters.
Diverting floodwaters
One way to mitigate flooding is by building diversion channels, which are artificial channels designed to direct floodwaters away from areas at risk. One example of this is the Red River Floodway, which redirects overflow from the Red River around Winnipeg. Diversion channels are also commonly found along rivers such as the Mississippi. Another option is to divert floodwaters underground. For example, San Antonio has an enormous tunnel that carries runoff water from the San Antonio River under downtown San Antonio. The water then flows back up and rejoins the river beyond the downtown area.
Floodwater diversion can also help protect local ecosystems. It helps reduce bank erosion by channeling floodwaters away from homes and other areas. Since 2010, 16 states have passed floodwater diversion legislation. In addition, floodplain restoration is another way to mitigate floods. By creating floodplains, stormwater runoff can be stored for later use, which protects local ecosystems and decreases the risk of flooding. However, 13 floodplain restoration bills have failed in the United States Congress since 2010.
Diverting floodwaters can be done in many ways, including constructing small barriers or chopping notches into embankments. Other measures can be taken by letting small pools form outside of the main channel of a river. Diverting floodwaters can also be done by replanting wetlands, which help absorb storm water.
Another option is to create new floodwater diversion infrastructure. California is expected to experience more flooding and droughts due to climate change. The region will face increased water stress from earlier snow melt and heavier rain patterns. This will strain the existing water infrastructure and could overwhelm the floodplains. Aside from increasing the capacity of dams and aqueducts, additional floodwater diversion infrastructure can take floodwaters to more arid regions in Southern California.
The study simulated climate changes and streamflow under a variety of emissions scenarios, taking human actions into account. It identified regions where floodwater diversion infrastructure should be concentrated.
