Floodplain restoration as a Stormwater BMP

http://www.crwp.org/files/floodplain_restoration_sw_management_marc
h_2009.pdf
- Development/impervious/hard surfaces prevent infiltration of
storm water into the ground and produce greater volumes of
storm water runoff. So storm water runoff enters the drainage
network at higher velocities than would have historically then
directed to a detention pond that may now be flowing into a
receiving stream at higher velocities for a longer duration of
time. This can result in increased stream channel erosion and
down cutting, poor water quality, increased downstream
flooding, and more frequent flooding
- Few precedents for floodplain restoration as a storm water BMO
o Pennsylvania Stormwater BMP Manual included floodplain
restoration as a structural BMP
- Storm water credits approach used where storm water
management requirements are reduced on a development site in
exchange for reforestation or directing storm water runoff to a
vegetated riparian corridor
o Vermont, Minnesota, and Maryland state storm water
manuals provide a sheet flow to buffer credit assuming
that required water quality treatment is achieved for storm
water runoff that flows into the vegetated riparian corridor
Minnesota Stormwater Manual also provides
reforestation credit options:
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/viewdocument.html?gid=8944
Vermont Stormwater Treatment Standards 2002
http://www.vtwaterquality.org/stormwater/docs/sw_m
anual-vol1.pdf
Maryland:
http://www.mde.state.md.us/programs/Water/Stormw
aterManagementProgram/MarylandStormwaterDesig
nManual/Documents/www.mde.state.md.us/assets/do
cument/sedimentstormwater/Design_Manual_Append
ix_E_2008.pdf
- In Ohio, OSU and the Ohio DNR are developing tools and
procedures to predict and quantify the benefits of floodplains for
reducing flood peak discharge and flow velocity
- Precedent for the use of floodplain reforestation to help meet
storm water 'management requirements for new development
and redevelopment are found in NC, VT, MN, and MD
o North Carolina DENR Stormwater Manual:
http://www.mcet.org/mining/environment/Toolkit/Additional

%20Resources/Best%20Management%20Practices
%20General/North%20Carolina%20BMPs_Part%201.pdf
Chagrin River Watershed Partners (2009)
CRWP represents 94% of the watershed of 36 communities and park
districts. Had funding to analyze the impact of setbacks on property
values, provide training for setback implementation, demonstrate
floodplain restoration as a storm water BMP, and provide the tools
necessary to ensure storm water BMP functioning and funding.
- Objective 3: Demonstrate Floodplain Restoration during
Development
o Designing of floodplain restoration demonstration projects
as a component of a developments overall storm water
management plan
o Research of other states showed that floodplain restoration
has not been regularly used as a storm water BMP
o Using floodplain restoration as a storm water BMP will
require approval by Ohio EPA on a case by case basis
o CRWP is working with Ohio EPA, ODNR and OSU to promote
floodplain restoration as a storm water BMP where
appropriate
o A guidance and case study document was created to assist
local design and review engineers in using floodplain
restoration as a storm water BMP
- Objective 4: Provide Tools Necessary to Ensure Storm Water BMP
Function and Funding
American Water Resources Association (AWRA) Case Studies in
Proactive Flood Management
Chehalis River Basin, WA
- Collaborative basin-wide strategy that emphasizes the value of
simultaneously pursuing large scale, small scale, and ecosystem
based projects
Miami Conservancy District
- A series of dry dams preserve normal bae flows for the Miami
Basin, storing waters only during high precipitation events
- They preserved floodplain acres, which have been transformed
into waterfront parks for public access
- O&M costs funded through local tax assessments
Easton, PA (population: 27,000)
- Administered a 500-year flood standard in 2007 becoming the
first city in the country to voluntarily expand to this standard.

This was because of 2004, 2005, and 2006 devastating floods

that exceeded the designated 100-year magnitude
Focused on managing the built environment in the floodplain as
opposed to pursuing a property buyout program because the City
had high-density development, lack of vacant land onto which
floodplain structures could be moved, and a strong ethic for
historic preservation so a traditional floodplain buyout program
was not an option
The City also made revisions to its ordinances, road dieted
(reduce impervious road surfaces), urban parks, brownfield reuse
and revitalization, protection of key infrastructure by moving out
of the inundation zone, and involvement in regional efforts along
shared water bodies.
This model might be helpful for older and/or high density
communities that have little vacant land that have industrial or
downtown commercial zones vulnerable to flooding

Nashville, TN
- City has developed flood warning systems, expanded its Home
Buyout Program to remove floodplain structures, and considered
several alternatives to protect critical water infrastructure
Flood Management Tools Discussed in Case Studies in Proactive Flood
Management:
Flood Ordinances and Zoning (Subdivision Codes, Street
Standards or Road Design Manual, Building and Fire
Regulations/Standards, Storm water Management or Drainage
Criteria, buffer or floodplain regulations, landscaping ordinance,
grading ordinances, etc)
Floodplain Restoration and Riparian Conservation
Erosion Control
Channel Maintenance
Levee Setbacks
Home Buyout Programs
NFIP Participation
Data Monitoring
(Mapping)
(Emergency Services)
(Warning System)
(Property Protection Measures)
Seattle, WA

Has a local storm water requirements for development to

implement green storm water infrastructure practices and control
flow

Example of Floodplain Analysis and Mapping Standards

Guidance Document Mecklenburg County
http://charmeck.org/stormwater/StormWaterAgencies/Documents/Peers
%20PDF/2012FloodplainMappingStandards.pdf
- Establishes a standardized process to incorporate changes in the
watersheds and streams, correct errors and deficiencies in
existing maps, and incorporate improved mapping data and
methods
o i.e. Hydraulic Analysis Standards and use of HEC-RAS
Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual
- Recognizes floodplain restoration as a BMP and tool for meeting
water quality and quantity requirements
- While traditional on-site BMPs focus on the development site
itself, flood restoration can focus on the site and the receiving
streams. This can help increase flexibility to address onsite BMP
limitations such as steep slopes, shallow bedrock, or property
limitations
Montana Floodplain Management Assessment
http://dnrc.mt.gov/wrd/water_op/floodplain/outreach/mt_floodplain_ma
nagement_assessment.pdf
- Flood tools educational website (includes flood risk map, loss
calculator, flood claims, average claim):
http://www.floodtools.com/Map.aspx

Duties of the Floodplain Administrator

1. Understand the regulations
2. Require permits
3. Make floodplain determinations
4. Make substantial improvement / damage determination
5. Issue or deny permits
6. Review plans and specifications
7. Inspect development
8. Ensure all other permits are obtained
9. Take enforcement action
10.
Keep records
11.
Maintain and help update flood data and maps
Silver Jackets
http://www.nfrmp.us/state/
- The Silver Jackets is an innovative program that provides an
opportunity to consistently bring together multiple state, federal,
and sometimes tribal and local agencies to learn from one
another and apply their knowledge to reduce risk. State
agencies, including those of the State Hazard Mitigation Officer
and State NFIP Coordinator, come together with the Federal
family of agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in a
common forum to address the state's flood risk management
priorities. Silver Jacket programs are developed at the state level.
There are currently 43 active state teams and 7 states
developing teams; the ultimate goal is to offer an interagency
team in every state.
Ohio Floodplain Regulation Criteria (2006)
- General floodplain management activities in Ohio provides
higher standards section from NFIP and what that would look like
should a community want to adopt (also says who might benefit
most from the higher standard)
- http://www.pemberville.org/files/Flood/Ohio_Floodplain_Regulatio
n_Criteria.pdf