THE HIGH
WATER MARK
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION 2021 - Volume 31, Issue 1
THE HIGH
WATER MARK The Newsletter of the Floodplain Management Association March 2021 - Volume 31, Issue 1 Mission: To promote the common interest in reducing flood losses and to encourage the protection and enhancement of natural floodplain values.
Alex Yescas - Chair HDR Engineering, Inc. 858-712-8283
Darren Suen - Director Central Valley Flood Protection Board 916-574-0609
Jeremy Lancaster - Advisor California Geological Survey 916-445-1825
Mike Nowlan - Vice Chair Wood Rodgers, Inc. 916-326-5277
Millicent Cowley-Crawford - Director Woodard & Curran 415-321-3421
Salomon Miranda - Advisor California DWR 818-549-2347
Connie Perkins - Gutowsky - Secretary California DWR 916-973-3008
Brian Walker - Director City of Roseville 916- 746-1349
Cindy Matthews - Advisor NOAA 916-979-3041
Brent Siemer - Treasurer City of Simi Valley, DPW 805-583-6805
Kyle Gallup - Director Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District 951-955-1265
Eric Simmons - Advisor FEMA Region IX 510-627-7029
Abigail Mayrena - Director Clark County RFCD 702-685-0000 John Moynier - Director David Evans & Associates 714-665-4512 Vince Geronimo - Director Mead and Hunt 916-993-4606 Brian Brown - Director City of West Sacramento 916-617-4559
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Ann Bechtel - Director CDM Smith 760-710-4663 George Booth - Past Chair Sacramento County 916-874-6484 Kelly Soule - Advisor California DWR 916-574-1205 Jose Lara - Advisor California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) 916-845-8883
Carol Tyau-Beam - Advisor Hawaii DLNR 808-587-0267 Erin Warnock - Advisor Nevada DWR 775-684-2890 Jeanne Ruefer - Advisor HWC INC 775-722-7395 Mary Seits - Executive Director Floodplain Management Association 760-936-3676
CONTENT
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A Note From The Chair
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Federal/National News
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State News
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Meet The Board
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eLOMA: A Collaborative Tool for Licensed Professionals, Communities and FEMA
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The Los Angeles River Master Plan Update: An Overview
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An FMA Inspiration – Andrew S. Lee (Andy)
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Adaptation Planning 18
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A NOTE FROM THE CHAIR By Alex Yescas Hello Floodplain Managers, I hope the start of the year has been great for all of you. Many people that I have spoken to “virtually” are reporting that they are very busy and that the rest of the year is not going to let up. This promising trend shows that our public infrastructure is not being ignored, and I appreciate everyone stepping up their efforts. A recent opinion piece from the Brookings Institution noted that “…the COVID-19 recovery gives us a chance to not only rebuild and renew our infrastructure, but to connect more and different types of workers to water careers.” As flood professionals, we understand and welcome the idea that we will always be renewing and upgrading infrastructure, and that we need to recruit the best and brightest to join us in this effort to be successful.
SAVE THE DATE California Extreme Precipitation Symposium (CEPSYM) Exploring Floods in California’s Central Valley from a Climate Perspective June 22 & 23, 2021 – Virtual Format Floodplain Management Association Annual Conference September 7-10, 2021 Venue – TBD (Westin Hotel – Los Angeles, CA, or Virtual)
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With the new federal administration coming on board last month, changes are being made to the national floodplain regulations. You may have seen that the new administration signed a roll back of the past executive order that will now protect public health and the environment and restore science-based decision-making to tackle the climate crisis. As members of the floodplain community, we know that safety is of paramount importance, especially during times of uncertainty. The Brookings article, entitled “The hidden role of water infrastructure in driving a COVID-19 recovery” notes that the importance of water health, hygiene, and safety has never been more significant and that now is the time for Washington to elevate water as a core issue to help drive a lasting recovery. I couldn’t agree more. We are also monitoring the current COVID-19 climate to understand the approach to our 2021 annual conference. This year, our conference is scheduled to take place in September in Los Angeles. We are planning to send out a membership survey on the planning of this year’s event—please stay tuned for more information. Even before the pandemic forced the issue, scientists had been pondering ways to reduce their carbon footprints, including by cutting back on air travel to physically be somewhere. The positive aspects of virtual conferences include not only the reduction in carbon footprint, but also enabling people who otherwise would not have been able to attend due to financial or other reasons to take part in important information sharing and career building events.
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Still, as FMA remains busy and productive through this pandemic, the reality remains that being physically “together” is still in the future. With that said, this year we are moving forward on all our FMA luncheons being virtual. Carl Walker will be our FMA luncheons champion for all our regions. Carl will be coordinating the calendar of events and you will be seeing luncheons scheduled soon. I also want to present a great leadership opportunity to you. The FMA Board of Directors is recruiting a new Membership Committee (MC) Chair. The MC Chair will be actively involved with our members in reaching out to understand current needs and aligning to the latest trends. The MC Chair will also work on broadening our relationships with our sister organizations such as ASCE, APWA, and ASFPM. Please reach out to Mary Seits or anyone on the Board of Directors if you are interested in leading the MC. Until next time, let’s remain busy and stay connected!
FMA NEWS
FEDERAL/NATIONAL NEWS For an Update of the latest disaster declarations visit: CLICK HERE
For information on Flood Insurance Reform – Rates and Refunds CLICK HERE
Advisor Update FEMA Updates for FMA Board: January 2021
• Updated POLICY was released in September removing the cost-effectiveness requirement that a mitigation project must first have at least a 0.75 benefit-cost ratio before ecosystem services benefits are considered. This makes it easier to include natural-based solutions to FEMA-funded flood loss reduction projects. • Another new policy provides communities with resources to enforce building codes and floodplain management for up to 180 days following a major disaster declaration. FEMA can now provide funding for conducting building inspections and processing building permits during this critical post-disaster period. • FEMA released a NATIONAL RISK INDEX to show communities most exposed to natural hazards, social vulnerability and lower community resilience. The online mapping application depicts risk associated with 18 natural hazards by county and census tract level. The data can be used to support mitigation planning, grants and risk communication. • The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is currently authorized until the end of the federal fiscal year (September 30, 2021). The 16th -and longest- short term
FMA NEWS
program extension since 2017 was passed last September. The federal budget (fiscal year 2021) became law at the end of December with pandemic relief. FEMA’s budgets for flood mapping and the NFIP are similar to 2020. • The presidential inauguration is on January 20th. The Biden administration has (as of January 11th) not yet nominated a new FEMA Administrator. The President-elect nominated Alejandro Mayorkas to serve as the next Homeland Security Secretary. In other federal floodplain news, the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) law directs FEMA to set up a revolving loan fund for mitigation projects for grants up to $100 million annually; however, there is no appropriation and FEMA cannot leverage funds from other grant programs to establish revolving funds without new authority. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA 2020) includes more than $10 billion in new USACE water resources projects as well as substantial policy changes. The Digital Coast Act also became law with annual funding of $4 million to NOAA. Lastly, NRDC and ASFPM petitioned FEMA to significantly strengthen the minimum development requirements for communities participating in the NFIP.
STATE NEWS California • In September, Local Maintaining Agency Annual Reporting Program (Per California Water Code Section 9140) assisted Sacramento Yard, LD1-Sutter, and LD-9 with their annual reporting updates and helped several LMAs recover their access to the LMA web app for online reporting of 2020 activities. • On September 3, FPIAB held its quarterly LMA Coordination meeting. This meeting provides DWR/CVFPB and LMA staff an opportunity to share information relevant to the flood control system. • In September, the Regional Flood Management Planning (RFMP) staff hosted six kick-off meetings with the local agencies’ leads to discuss the approved agreements’ workplans and schedules, as well as the process for updating the regional portfolio in the 2022 CVFPP Update. Program staff also scheduled recurring monthly follow-up meetings with each of the six RFMP groups, beginning in late October, to further discuss the process of updating the regional portfolios. • On September 1, as required by California Water Code Section 9121, the Flood Risk Notification Program mailed over 287,000 flood risk notifications to property owners within the State Plan of Flood Control Levee Flood Protection Zone. • On August 7, the Coastal Watershed Flood Risk Reduction Grant Program received 22 Concept Proposals. Staff began reviewing proposals and offered initial feedback to applicants regarding their concepts. Complete applications are due November 20, 2020.
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• On October 13, staff led the Headwaters to Floodplains (H2F) Dams/Reservoirs Focus Area Team Meeting with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to discuss the status of projects within the focus area and interagency collaboration needs. • The Flood Operations Center conducted six virtual Preseason Flood Coordination Meetings in October and four in November. Each meeting included a tabletop exercise, a winter weather outlook presentation, and agency updates on flood preparedness activities. • On November 18 & 19, approximately 100 DWR and CVFPB personnel participated in a Flood Operations Center functional exercise. This 2-day exercise tested the adaptability of personnel and processes to perform emergency operation functions in a teleworking environment. • November 4: The Community Assistance Section Chief participated in Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element Funding Methodology Regional Forum: FEMA Regions 4, 8, 9. • November 4-5: The Community Assistance & Risk Awareness Branch Staff participated in a session for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Collaborative Technical Assistance program with the San Diego Area which covered Evacuation & Shelter-In-Place Concepts for Dam and Reservoir Emergencies. • November 16: The Community Assistance Staff participated in the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) Floodplain Regulations Core Group Meeting.
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STATE NEWS California • November 17: The Community Assistance & Risk Awareness Branch Staff sponsored the Watershed University Webinar: Preparing for Floods After Fires. • November 4: Staff attended the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative virtual forum webinar on mapping energy efficiency, climate planning, and regional partnerships. • November 13 & 14: Staff attended the California Cooperative Snow Surveys (CCSS) Annual meeting.
Hawaii For archived Wai Halana Newsletters CLICK HERE
Nevada Nevada Outreach: The Nevada Floodplain Management Program continues to work on virtual outreach campaigns. This includes working with Sierra Nevada Journeys to develop middle school curriculum that will go along with the Flood Fighter Nevada computer game that was developed in collaboration with Silver Jackets a few years ago. Training: On December 1st, 2020 the Nevada Floodplain Management Program hosted a virtual training with Starr II, thanks to the support of Region IX on How to Prepare for a Community Assistance Visit. There will be at least two more trainings to come in 2021 for local Floodplain Management. We are assisting with planning Dam Safety Webinars in collaboration with Nevada Dam Safety and Silver Jackets. The plan is to host a series of webinars that will discuss different aspects of Dam Safety with some specific to Nevada. The webinars will lead up to a final Emergency Action Plan Tabletop Exercise.
For the transformed flood information platform for Hawaii visit their exciting weekly blog at HTTPS://WAIHALANA.HAWAII.GOV/
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MEET THE BOARD
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Ann Bechtel
Ann Bechtel has participated in FMA conference and luncheon activities since 2002. Last annual conference, Ann was elected to the FMA Board as a Director at Large. In the past, she has supported FMA conference planning and awards committees, presented and moderated at the annual conference and facilitated professional development training.
Passions for Ann include the outdoors and cooking. She has been able to spend more time gardening, experimenting in the kitchen and exploring the local mountains in the last year. When travel resumes she is excited to have an opportunity to experience landscapes and cultures in other parts of the world with her husband, Andy, and friends and family.
Ann grew up on a farm in a small town near Galena, Illinois. She recalls flooding in the fields making a major impact on their family livelihood and created an early interest in flood management and sustainable designs. She went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science in ornamental horticulture from the University of Illinois, studied landscape architecture at Cal Poly Pomona, and finally landed in her present hometown and obtained a bachelor degree in environmental engineering at San Diego State University. Currently, she is employed by CDM Smith as a Principal Project Manager and is leading projects with the Cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, County of Los Angeles, and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on various water resources planning and design projects. Prior to joining CDM Smith, Ann was with Atkins for 18 years focused on floodplain management, technical staff development, and led the California public and private sector. She had the opportunity to work with the California Department of Water Resources FloodSAFE program and played a key role in the Central Valley Floodplain Evaluation and Delineation program alongside many other FMA members. Ann also managed numerous floodplain studies for FEMA, primarily in Region 9.
FMA NEWS
ELOMA: A COLLABORATIVE TOOL FOR LICENSED PROFESSIONALS, COMMUNITIES AND FEMA David Mummert, FEMA eLOMA Coordinator DMUMMERT@MBAKERINTL.COM
eLOMA is an interactive online MT-1 determination tool, which is available on the Mapping Information Platform (MIP) (www. hazards.fema.gov). This time saving, userfriendly web-based application provides licensed land surveyors and professional engineers (Licensed Professionals or LPs) with a system to submit Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) requests to FEMA. This tool is designed to make a determination based on the information submitted by the LP and allow them to generate a determination from FEMA in a fraction of the time that is required for the standard LOMA process. Approximately 75% of the LOMA applications FEMA receives annually meet the eLOMA criteria and could be submitted using the eLOMA tool. An eLOMA determination document serves the same functions as a standard LOMA determination. The main purpose of eLOMA is to reduce the level of effort to process LOMAs and provide a faster method of generating LOMA determinations. The eLOMA process has significantly reduced the determination time of up to 60 days (standard LOMA processing) when an audit is not required. Even when an audit is required the audit is processed within 5 business days of FEMA receiving all of the required supporting data. The tool has been updated to make the eLOMA process even easier to use. The audit selection criteria have been revised so that fewer eLOMA submittals are selected to be audited. Also, more help links have been added to the eLOMA tool to provide more information about the requirements for the data entry fields.
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Once an eLOMA LP has demonstrated that they have a comprehensive understanding of the eLOMA application process they can be promoted to eLOMA Super User status. Typically, in order to be promoted to the Super User level an LP has to submit three consecutive eLOMAs that have complete supporting data and that require zero corrections, and they also need to use the eLOMA tool on a regular basis. Once an LP reaches the Super User level their audit frequency is reduced dramatically. Super Users are not subjected to many of the automatic audit triggers that default users are and even when Super Users are audited the turnaround time for those audits is typically shorter than it is for default users. In order to begin using eLOMA, a surveyor or engineer sets up an account through the MIP using individual license certification information. Once the LP is registered on the MIP they can log into eLOMA and start submitting MT-1 applications. For more information on eLOMA, please select the ‘Learn about eLOMA’ link on the MIP homepage. If you have additional questions regarding the eLOMA tool, please contact the FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX) at 1-877-3362627 or FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds. com.
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CALL FOR ARTICLES! The FMA Newsletter welcomes the input of its members and now our extended family of readership to contribute to the conversation! Keep the great articles coming! We need to hear from all of you. There’s always room for more to join the ranks of published authors. Showcase your programs, projects, tools, policies, regulations or ideas to hundreds of floodplain management professionals throughout the U.S.! Articles must be submitted in Word format to Mary.Seits@Floodplain.org and may contain 2-3 small pictures. Preferred length is less than 850 words.
For more details call (760) 936-3676.
Imagine It. Delivered.
AECOM is proud to be a Gold Sponsor of the 2020 Floodplain Management Association Annual Conference. With offices throughout California, Hawaii, and Nevada, AECOM is ready to meet your floodplain management, mitigation, and resilience planning needs. aecom.com
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THE LOS ANGELES RIVER MASTER PLAN UPDATE: AN OVERVIEW Kayla Kelly-Slatten, JD, CFM* On January 13, 2021, the County of Los Angeles unveiled its long-awaited update to the Los Angeles River Master Plan. The newly envisioned Master Plan aims to collectively guide the management of the entire 51-miles of the LA River over the next 25 years, all while allowing the various local entities along the River flexibility to address the concerns that most affect their communities. Not updated in nearly two decades, the County desperately needed to modernize the LA River Master Plan and include new and ongoing concerns such as climate change, homelessness, and open space accessibility. After four years of literature review, stakeholder engagement, community meetings, watershed studies, and design collaboration, the LA River Master Plan now highlights a pathway forward through a world that cannot change past actions. By acknowledging the history of channelization and the diversity that surrounds the River, the Master Plan seeks to continue the overarching objective of floodplain safety but in a compassionate and inclusive manner that better aligns with community needs. The LA River spans the entire LA County, beginning in Canoga Park and traveling east, then south until it hits the Pacific Ocean in Long Beach. The watershed itself extends farther north into Angeles National Forest and the San Gabriel Mountains, providing hundreds of thousands of acre-feet of water per year to Los Angeles County. However, due to the vast amount of water that flows through the LA River annually, the system was dammed and channelized after the devastating 1938 floods. Today, both LA County Flood Control and US Army Corps of Engineers manage various portions of the LA River, serving and protecting the one million people that live within a one mile radius of the River.
As with any large group of stakeholders, determining a mechanism to cultivate conversation and embrace diversity cannot fall to an engineered solution. For decades, native tribes have been ignored, minority populations have been disenfranchised, and homelessness has become evermore present. Previous master plans and regional guides rarely recognized any of these groups or addressed their concerns, leading to a deepening mistrust between communities and local governments and a continued ignorance of Angeleno culture. The 2020 LA River Master Plan was crafted with the community in mind, building upon dozens of steering committee meetings, tribal consultations, and stakeholder engagement events. Unlike its predecessors, the new Master Plan embraces
Figure 1 The Los Angeles River in Long Beach, California. Photo taken by the article's author, Kayla Kelly-Slatten.
* Kayla Kelly-Slatten is an environmental floodplain specialist for FEMA. She sat on the LA River Master Plan Steering Committee from 2018-2020. She has her BS in Environmental Sciences from CSU Fresno and a JD from Penn State Law. FMA NEWS
13 diversity, recognizing that communities are better equipped to implement best management practices so long as they have the proper tools. The updated LA River Master Plan comprises of three main documents: the Master Plan, which provides the background of the LA River, outlines the engagement process, and lists the nine goals and their implementation along the River; the Design Guidelines, which provide a “kit of parts” to help communities meet the goals as outlined in the Master Plan; and the Technical Appendix, which contextualizes and explains the River Rulers, hydrology and hydraulics studies, and various design components. While the three documents accumulate to over one thousand pages, they provide a well-rounded approach to managing a vast riverine system.
At the apex of the Master Plan is the goal of flood risk reduction and improved resiliency, solidifying the County’s continued concern of maintaining a safe and secure River, particularly in a changing climate. Listed as Goal One, the flood resiliency objective begins with an overview of the flood risk reduction need along the LA River, utilizing a version of the River Ruler tool found throughout the Master Plan to depict the various levels of need in an easy manner. The “need” depends upon the channel capacity, the floodplain capacity, sea level rise, and critical infrastructure/facility density. The overview provides a necessary foundation to the implementation of the goal through several actions and methods. While flood risk reduction relies heavily on the expertise of County and Federal engineers and managers through improved mapping, updated models, and necessary retrofitting to the gray infrastructure, the Master Plan acknowledges how surrounding communities can and should partake in flood risk reduction practices like multi-language signage installation, sediment and invasive species removal from stormwater systems, flood insurance education, and emergency preparedness exercises. Continues on next page
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FLOOD CONTROL AGENCIES ADJUST TO REALITY OF COVID-19
Truly, the LA River Master Plan does not contain any groundbreaking floodplain management actions. However, what makes the Master Plan unique in its approach to floodplain management is its transparent recognition that there is not one solution to a resilient future. The Master Plan acknowledges that all opportunities to improve the LA River can and should be viewed through the lens of flood risk reduction and improved resiliency. It then proceeds to Figure 2 One of the many pumping facilities along the Los Angeles River. Photo taken by the article's author, Kayla Kelly-Slatten. provide case studies, types of projects, and guidelines to help governments and their constituents develop local frameworks and implementation strategies. For example, project templates range from extra-small consistent wayfinding and signage to extra-large platform parks and greenspaces, providing a diverse array of opportunities to bridge communities together via the River. Additionally, the Master Plan reflects on the channelization of the LA River, addressing calls from various stakeholders to naturalize the River. While naturalization of the entire 51-mile River may be the best ecological solution to flood risk, the displacement of millions of residents, businesses, and infrastructure is neither feasible nor just, particularly as LA County struggles to provide for its homeless population amid an ongoing pandemic that threatens the livelihoods of thousands. Through its user-friendly text, diagrams, and designs, the 2020 LA River Master Plan brings modernity and updated data to the average layperson, ensuring that engineers and landscape architects are no longer the only voices that guide the future of the LA River. For more information or to read and comment on the 2020 LA River Master Plan, go to http:// larivermasterplan.org.
FMA NEWS
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FMA NEWS
AN FMA INSPIRATION – ANDREW S. LEE (ANDY)
Michael Nowlan
Have you ever met someone in your professional career that is both highly effective and insightful while also being just a joy to be around? That would be Andy. In 2000, Andy Lee retired from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) as the State Floodplain Management Coordinator, after 41 years of dedicated service. He graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Civil Engineering and served in the US Air Force before his fame in floodplain management. He gave his professional farewell to the floodplain management community in an article in the DWR’s Golden State Floodlight newsletter (I like him already), naming Ricardo Pineda as his successor. He also praised his fellow professionals in making his last years so remarkable and memorable for him. Andy was instrumental in making FMA what it is today. He was heavily involved in the early years of our beloved association, “associating with associates”, as a former chairperson has so often reminded us. What was so different about Andy was how he made it personal. There are many studies out there about membership recruitment and retention and the importance of making a personal one-on-one connection. For everything from churches to bike clubs, if you’ve got a true friend there beside you, you are more likely to persevere and succeed in your involvement in that group. Andy was that friend to many people. Making meaningful connections is a critical element in any professional or personal endeavor and Andy lived and breathed that daily.
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Many of you know Maria Lorenzo-Lee, who shared all the wonderful content for this article. She was Andy’s assistant, and became like Andy in so many ways. She wrote “To me, Andy was my FPM mentor and a true friend”. For those of us who have served alongside Maria, she is also a joy to be around. Andy would be proud, Maria. He had a way of bringing out the best in people. Jean Brown, his former supervisor and colleague, shared that “Being around him, you just felt good.” In his obituary it said, “Family came first, colleagues said, but he treated colleagues like family, remembering birthdays, buying gifts and taking them to dinner. "They talk about somebody giving you the shirt off his back. Well, Andy would do that," said Sally Borla, his longtime secretary. Some of his staff spoke of retiring before he did, so they wouldn't be disappointed by any subsequent bosses.” Wow! It was a poetically fitting close to Andy’s amazing life that he passed away on September 30, 2001, the final day of the water year. FMA was able to honor him with a lifetime achievement award just a month before his passing. We now further honor him, every year, by finding a deserving individual that exemplifies his wonderful spirit in public service, and awarding them in his name. It’s almost like they are his children, in a sense, and given his love of family, he would have enjoyed that.
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THERE IS A RIGHT WAY TO DO THINGS. AND THERE IS A NEW WAY TO DO THINGS.
AND SOMETIMES THEY’RE EXACTLY THE
SAME THING.
WWW.WOODRODGERS.COM FMA NEWS
ADAPTATION PLANNING
José Lara, Division Chief, Hazard Mitigation Planning in the Recovery Directorate The apocalyptic wildfires of 2020 burned 4.2 million acres in California, an area nearly the size of the state of Connecticut, and prompted Governor Gavin Newsom to tweet “climate change is real.” Wildfire season has ended, only to be succeeded by flood season in California. The state’s flood hazard, too, is exacerbated by climate change. Rising sea levels are projected to turn waterfronts into waterways. Increasingly severe weather means long periods of drought relieved by massive atmospheric rivers. Coming full circle, the heavy rainfall from California’s winter storms causes flooding and debris flow in the burn scars left by wildfires. As the earth warms, floodplain managers are anticipating increased, unwanted water from the sea, sky, and mountains. Fortunately, we have the tool to help our local jurisdictions incorporate flooding hazards exacerbated by climate change into their planning efforts: the Adaptation Planning Guide (APG). We are proud to announce the publication of the 2020 Adaptation Planning Guide. The APG is a state-produced resource for climate adaptation planning by local governments and regional planning agencies. Climate adaptation planning identifies ways that communities might be harmed by the effects of a changing climate and finds strategies to reduce that harm. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is designated as the lead agency for updating the APG and is mandated by SB 246 to do so one year following an update to the Safeguarding California Plan.
FMA NEWS
This resource, updated in close collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), builds upon the first APG that was developed in 2012 (also by Cal OES and CNRA). It contains processes and technical guidance on climate adaptation planning in various sectors. It includes resources on how to integrate climate change adaptation into plans like Local Hazard Mitigation Plans and General Plan Safety Elements. Finally, it provides example strategies and detailed case studies of successful climate change planning in California.
The update process for the APG involved many external stakeholders. In addition to working closely with OPR and CNRA, the update team convened an interagency workgroup. The workgroup, consisting of representatives from state agencies, local jurisdictions, and communitybased organizations across California, gathered input at all stages of the process. This work, in combination with a robust public engagement process, ensured that the APG is reflective of best practices in the field and the needs and priorities of our stakeholders, audiences, and primary users. Last year, Miles Gordon, Cal OES State Mitigation Planning Unit CivicSpark Climate Fellow, took this work further and helped to pilot this new guidance
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in two local jurisdictions: Butte and Tulare counties. Both counties have experienced higher flood risk due to increased variability in precipitation. He worked with Butte County to incorporate climate change vulnerability, specifically flood and wildfire risk into their Health & Safety Element update (now a part of the Butte County General Plan 2020 update). He also worked with Tulare County to formulate a community-level climate change adaptation plan in Matheny Tract (a disadvantaged community in Tulare County).
Lessons learned from these projects will be captured in an APG User’s Guide that will serve to guide other local jurisdictions. New, this year, the APG is integrated into the Adaptation Clearinghouse as an interactive web application. This provides an additional opportunity for users to interact with and use the APG guidance, as well as access other climate resources offered in the Adaptation Clearinghouse. The result is a more accessible, usable, and intuitive climate planning process. We encourage you to share the APG with your floodplain management and planning partners. The APG is the definitive resource for climate adaptation planning in the state of California. A more resilient California is one better prepared for the impacts of climate changes to come, whether they are frequent wildfires, extreme precipitation, or sea level rise.
Miles Gordon, Cal OES State Mitigation Planning CivicSpark Climate
This year, Laura Emmons, current Cal OES State Mitigation Planning CivicSpark Climate Fellow, continued this work with a focus on flooding and sea level rise, implementing the APG’s guidance in Ventura and Monterey counties. She worked with Ventura County to incorporate flood hazards into their Local Coastal Program update. She also worked with Monterey County to assess sea level rise vulnerability and its role in exacerbating flooding, erosion, and landslides along the coast. Additionally, she helped strengthen the connections between Monterey County’s Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, Moss Landing Community Plan, Floodplain Management Plan, and Climate Action Plan. FMA NEWS
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Have questions or comments about this month's articles? Participate in the discussion on the FMA facebook page! FMA NEWS
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THE HIGH
WATER MARK The Newsletter of the Floodplain Management Association
