PROCEEDINGS OF A WORKSHOP, IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT IN WESTERN STATE HIGH-RISK AREAS, FEBRUARY 15-16, 1984, PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

This two-day workshop was held in Palm Springs, California in February, 1984, to investigate approaches for improving the effectiveness of floodplain management in alluvial fan, mudflow and mud flood areas. The workshop brought together 40 experts from federal agencies, states, local governments, universities and the private sector to address three issues. How serious are alluvial fan, mud flood and mudflow problems, in light of overall flood problems in the West, existing development, and future development? How adequate are existing maps, regulations, insurance, and other approaches for managing such areas? Given limited budgets at all levels of government, how could the states, FEMA, ote federal agencies, and communities best improve the effectiveness of management for these areas? As one might expect, there were differing points of view, yet there was also considerable agreement on major issues. Before the workshop there had been no plan for assembling the proceedings, so papers were not requested from speakers. However, due to the usefulness of the discussion, speakers were asked to prepare summaries; most did. This report contains the speakers' papers and summarizes the discussion. Workshop participants agreed that alluvial fan and mud flood problems in the fast-growing West and Southwest areas were too serious to delay new management initiatives until all mthodological research is completed and detailed maps can be developed. Reasonable additional mitigation actions can and should be under consideration now. Additional problem-oriented research to perfect risk assessment and hazard mitigation methods and techniques should take place simultaneously. FEMA should provide leadership in such efforts, but other federal agencies (USGS, the Corps, SCS, TVA) should provide technical assistance and scientific knowhow. Enhanced state and local roles shhould be encouraged. (Author)

  • Corporate Authors:

    University of Colorado, Boulder

    Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center
    Boulder, CO  United States  80309

    Association of State Floodplain Managers, Inc.

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    California Department of Water Resources

    1416 Ninth Street
    Sacramento, CA  United States  95814

    Federal Emergency Management Agency

    500 C Street, SW
    Washington, DC  United States  20472
  • Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

  • Pagination: 98 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00399512
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Aug 25 2004 1:43AM