COOPERATIVE PLANNING IN USE OF FLOOD PLAINS - CORPS OF ENGINEERS INFORMATION STUDIES PROGRAM

FOR MANY YEARS THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, AS WELL AS OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, HAS BEEN COLLECTING DATA ABOUT FLOODS AND FLOOD DAMAGES FOR USE IN DETERMINING THE NEED FOR FEDERAL FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS. WHEN REQUESTED, DATA READILY AVAILABLE IN THE FILES ARE FURNISHED TO OTHERS FOR USE IN CHOOSING LOCATIONS AND ELEVATIONS FOR STRUCTURES. HOWEVER, THE DATA WERE NOT IN A FORM READILY USABLE FOR COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING FOR FLOOD PLAIN USE. IN 1960 THE CONGRESS AUTHORIZED THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO ASSEMBLE FLOOD PLAIN INFORMATION, PUT IT IN A USABLE FORM, AND FURNISH IT TO STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES UPON THEIR REQUEST, TO AID THEM IN PLANNING FOR THE USE AND/ OR CONTROL OF FLOOD PLAIN AREAS. APPLICATIONS FOR 170 STUDIES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, EITHER FROM STATES OR THROUGH THE STATE COORDINATING AGENCIES THAT RECOMMEND PRIORITIES WITHIN THE STATES. THE STATES ALSO ASSIST IN DETERMINING OBJECTIVES, REVIEW AND COMMENT ON COMPLETED REPORTS BEFORE THEY ARE APPROVED BY THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, AND ASSIST IN THE USE OF THE DATA. REPORTS FOR 10 LOCALITIES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND STUDIES ARE UNDER WAY IN 80 LOCATIONS IN 30 STATES. THE REPORTS ARE GENERALLY IN TWO PARTS, A SUMMARY OR MAIN REPORT WRITTEN IN LAYMENS LANGUAGE, AND A TECHNICAL REPORT OR APPENDIX FOR PLANNERS AND ENGINEERS. THEY BOTH CONTAIN MAPS SHOWING THE OUTLINE OF FLOODS OF VARIOUS SIZES AND FREQUENCIES AND OTHER DATA NEEDED TO ASSESS THE HAZARD. TO REAP MAXIMUM BENEFITS FROM FLOOD PLAIN INFORMATION REQUIRES COOPERATION AMONG ALL POTENTIAL USERS OF FLOOD PLAINS. THE BEST PLAN FOR FLOOD PLAIN USE CANNOT BE FORMULATED UNLESS ALTERNATIVE USES AND ALTERNATIVES TO USING THE FLOOD PLAIN LAND HAVE BEEN EXAMINED. /AUTHOR/

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  • Authors:
    • Sutton, Walter G
  • Publication Date: 1964

Media Info

  • Media Type: Print
  • Features: References;
  • Pagination: pp 47-52
  • Monograph Title: Drainage law; Flood plain planning; Depressed curb-opening inlets
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00203936
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Apr 1 1994 12:00AM