The High Water Mark - Volume 33, Issue 4

THE HIGH

WATER MARK

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION November 2023 - Volume 33, Issue 4

THE HIGH

WATER MARK The Newsletter of the Floodplain Management Association November 2023 - Volume 33, Issue 4

Mission: To promote the common interest in reducing flood losses and to encourage the protection and enhancement of natural floodplain values.

Chair Brent Siemer City of Simi Valley 805.583.6805

Director Abigail Mayrena Clark County RFCD 702-685-0000

Vice Chair Vince Geronimo Geronimo Engineering (916) 993-4606

Director John Moynier Parsons Corporation 626-440-2389

Treasurer Megan LeRoy California DWR (279) 386-8112

Director Brian Brown California DWR

Secretary Millicent Cowley-Crawford Woodard & Curran 415-321-3421 Past Chair Michael C. Nowlan Wood Rodgers, Inc. 916.326.5277

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Director Darren Suen Central Valley Flood Protection Board 916.574.0609 Director Wendy Wang Central Valley Flood Protection Board 916-501-1482

Director Hilal ElHaddad Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (951) 955-1265 Director Roger Leventhal Marin County DPW (415) 473-3249 Director David Smith WEST Consultants, Inc. 858.487.9378 Director Kayla Kelly-Slatten KKS Strategies, LLC. Director Remi Candaele Q3 Consulting rcandaele@q3consulting.net

CONTENT

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Letter From The Chair Federal/National News State News Nominations are Now Open! (Leadership in FMA) Call for Articles Stormwater Closed Conduit Modeling in HEC-RAS A Note About the Annual Conference How Is the NFIP Responsible? - PART 3 At the Confluence of Emerging and Professional

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Photography in this issue provided by: Adobe Stock, Pexels, Pixabay

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LETTER FROM THE CHAIR Brent Siemer Embracing the Past and Building for the Future I am deeply honored to assume the role of Chair of the Floodplain Management Association. As I stand on the threshold of this new chapter in my life, I reflect on an incredible journey that has brought us all here and look ahead with great enthusiasm for what the future holds.

First and foremost, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing officers upon whose shoulders I now stand. Past Chair Alex Yescas just completed twelve years of service on the FMA Board.

Mike Nowlan now moves into the role of Past Chair bringing his twelve years of experience on the board, six of those as Treasure, Vice Chair and Chair.

Their dedication, tireless efforts, and unwavering commitment to our association have paved the way for the success we enjoy today. They have shown remarkable leadership, and I am truly grateful of the accomplishments achieved under their guidance. Their legacy will undoubtedly inspire us as we move forward.

Our association has always been more than just an organization; it is a family. We have built lasting friendships, nurtured professional growth, and provided a platform for shared experiences.

I am humbled by the trust you have placed in

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me to lead this family, and I promise to carry the torch with the utmost respect and care.

As we embark on this new chapter, it is imperative that we adapt to the changing times. The world around us is evolving rapidly, and we must evolve with it. Embracing innovation and staying attuned to the needs of our members will be paramount. We will work to enhance the value of our association, making it even more relevant and indispensable in the lives of our members.

One of my primary goals is to foster inclusivity within our association. We are a diverse group of individuals, each bringing unique perspectives and strengths to the table. I firmly believe that by harnessing this diversity, we can achieve extraordinary results. Let us create an environment where everyone feels valued and heard, where new ideas are welcomed, and where collaboration knows no bounds.

I also intend to strengthen our community outreach efforts. Through the tireless efforts of Vice Chair Vince Geronimo FMA has launched our new College Scholarship program, and I am committed to turning this into a lasting tradition. With initiatives like this, we can make a positive impact on the world around us, leaving a legacy that extends far beyond our membership.

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In the coming months, I will be working closely with our dedicated board members, advisors and committees to chart a course for our association's future. I invite all of you to be a part of this exciting journey. Your input and involvement are essential to our success.

As I step into the role of FMA Chair, I am filled with a profound sense of responsibility and optimism. I believe that the best days of our association are yet to come. Together, we will build a future that honors our past, embraces change, and paves the way for generations to come.

Thank you for your trust, your support, and your commitment to our association. Let us embark on this journey together, for it is the collective effort of our members that will propel us to new heights.

SAVE THE DATE Floodplain Management Association Annual Conference September 3-6, 2024 The Mirage Hotel – Clark County, NV Visit – www.floodplain.org California Extreme Precipitation Symposium July 11, 2024 UC Davis, Davis California Draft Theme: Anticipating and Planning for California Floods – Past and Future

With warm regards, Brent Siemer Chairman, Floodplain Management Association Deputy Public Works Director (Development Services) Department of Public Works City of Simi Valley bsiemer@simivalley.org Tel: 805.583.6805

FMA

FEDERAL/NATIONAL NEWS For an update of the latest disaster declarations: CLICK HERE For information on Flood Insurance Reform – Rates and Refunds: CLICK HERE

Advisor Update FEMA Updates for FMA Board: • FEMA continues to provide disaster assistance in California (DR-4699-CA and DR-4683-CA) and Nevada (DR-4708-NV) to help State and local governments with emergency response, recovery, and mitigation costs. Residents in many declared counties are eligible for federal disaster assistance to support recovery efforts.

• FEMA continues to provide disaster assistance in California (DR-4699-CA and DR-4683-CA) and Nevada (DR-4708-NV) to help State and local governments with emergency response, recovery, and mitigation costs. Residents in many declared counties are eligible for federal disaster assistance to support recovery efforts.

• $1.8 billion in mitigation funding under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grants was announced for the new fiscal year. The application period opens on October 16, 2023.

Last year FEMA received a record number of applications from state, local, tribal, and territorial applicants. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $7 billion for FEMA to help community resilience and reduce disaster loss.

• The federal government and National Flood Insurance Program are currently funded and authorized through November 17, 2023.

• The comment period for FEMA’s notice of proposed rulemaking to implement the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard, or FFRMS, ends December 1, 2023. FFRMS increases the resilience of federally funded projects by incorporating anticipated changes in flood hazards. Prior to the FFRMS, federal agencies used a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood standard for most projects and the 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood for critical actions like fire and police stations, hospitals, and facilities that store hazardous materials.

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR COMPLEX WATER ISSUES • Floodplain Studies • Hydrology • Hydraulics • Flood Forecasting/ Warning • Dam Safety • Sediment & Scour

• FEMA announced in September 2023 the first Community Disaster Resilience Zones (or CDRZ covering 483 census tracts) in all 50 states.

Mitigation funding is to be prioritized in these zones to build disaster resistance to the most atrisk and in-need jurisdictions.

WWW.WESTCONSULTANTS.COM THE HIGH WATER MARK

STATE NEWS

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California General Updates California Flood Preparedness Week 2023

From October 21-28, local, state, and federal agencies hosted outreach events and worked with the media to raise awareness of flood risk and ways that residents can prepare for flooding and reduce their risk. Events included the City of Sacramento’s Highwater Jamboree and a public outreach event hosted by Alpine County. CA DWR and its partners celebrated construction of the Lower Elkhorn Basin Levee Setback Project in the Yolo Bypass with a media event. If you’re interested in participating in Flood Preparedness Week 2024 or have questions, contact Nikki Blomquist at Nikki.Blomquist@water.ca.gov.

2023 CA Preseason Flood Coordination Meetings

Each fall before the flood season begins, DWR conducts meetings with flood emergency response partners and county emergency operation officials throughout the state. Staff from emergency response agencies provide regional and local updates on annual flood preparedness activities, as well as an opportunity to coordinate. Topics include: • Flood fight materials and training • Latest DWR grant news • Local flood concerns • Regional updates • Roles and responsibilities under the Standardized Emergency Management System • Web resources • Winter weather outlook

Preparing for Winter 2024

During a media briefing on October 4, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) highlighted how the State and its federal and local partners are preparing for the new water year that started October 1 and the possibility of another wet season under strong El Niño conditions.

• The State is incorporating lessons learned during the last water year and advancing the science and technology that will be critical to managing water in the coming years. DWR will utilize the most advanced forecasting tools with our partners like NOAA, Scripps, and others to prepare for whatever may come to California in the months ahead.

• DWR and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operate the State Water Project and Central Valley Project respectively, are closely coordinating to ensure the state’s reservoirs have flood space available under a second year of flood conditions, as well as storing as much water as possible in case of a return to drought conditions.

• DWR is providing vulnerable communities with funding, flood fight training, and continued material support across the state.

• The State-Federal Flood Operations Center (FOC) is working with local counties and communities to provide flood fight training and pre-season emergency response coordination across the state to ensure vulnerable communities have the resources and training needed to respond to potential flooding.

Additional Resources • Water Year 2023 Brochure • More information about preparations

Sacramento River Floodplain Restoration Projects As climate extremes continue to challenge water management, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is working with partners across the state to implement floodplain restoration projects that provide flood protection to communities and benefits for endangered species and natural habitat. With DWR’s assistance, River Partners and American Rivers will begin work on the restoration of over 1,000 acres of historical floodplain on the Sacramento River that will provide flood protection, enhance and expand critical habitat for fish and wildlife, and increase climate resilience in rural communities in Yolo and Sacramento counties. The community, conservation leaders, state, federal and local officials, on October 18, joined DWR and representatives from River Partners and American Rivers to celebrate the project’s benefits and quick planning and execution.

More information

Questions?

Nikki Blomquist, Advisor California Department of Water Resources Nikki.Blomquist@water.ca.gov (916) 820-7749 Salomon Miranda, Advisor California Department of Water Resources Salomon.Miranda@water.ca.gov (818) 549-2347 FMA

STATE NEWS (Continued) Hawaii See the latest news stories relating to Hawaii’s floodplain management issues. For the transformed flood information platform from Hawaii visit their exciting weekly blog at https://waihalana.hawaii.gov/ Some of the latest postings relate to hurricane preparedness, stewarding our environment, and Flood Insurance.

For archived Wai Halana Newsletters (prior to 2018) https://dlnreng.hawaii.gov/nfip/wai-halana/

Nevada For access to the most recent news and floodplain publications in the great state of Nevada, please visit the State of Nevada Division of Water Resources website at http://water.nv.gov/

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Solving the most pressing water-related issues to improve our region’s built and natural environments Water Resources Planning Program Management Environmental Geotechnical Civil Design Construction Management Information Management Grant Writing

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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 fmaed@floodplain.org and may contain 2-3 small pictures. Preferred length is less than 850 words.

For more details, call (916) 847-3778.

Urban Flood Routing Flood Mapping Dam Breach Hydrology

https://flo-2d.com FMA

STORMWATER CLOSED CONDUIT MODELING IN HEC-RAS more detailed hydraulics in pipes like pressure flow, supercritical flow, and hydraulic jumps.

Boundary conditions for the conduit system are applied at the nodes which can receive inflows from1D and 2D surface model elements such as storage areas, cross sections, or 2D flow areas. When conduits become pressurized, flow can surcharge from nodes into the surface elements to compute in standard HEC-RAS surface water equations. Nodes can also have externally defined boundary conditions allowing modelers to bring in flow hydrographs, or downstream stage and normal depth boundary conditions.

Creating Conduit Network Geometries

The Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis Systems (HEC-RAS) team is working to include closed conduit modeling capabilities for stormwater applications into HEC-RAS. This effort was initially started to support the US Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Chicago District with modeling the Chicago Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP), a deep underground tunnel and reservoir network used to reduce flooding and minimize combined sewer overflows.

However, the effort has widened in scope to allow for more general stormwater modeling use cases. Below are more details of the modeling capabilities and features.

HEC-RAS computations for closed conduits The HEC-RAS 1D finite volume computational engine is used to model closed conduits. The conduits and connecting nodes will be discretized into a mesh that is specified by a user defined maximum cell length for the conduits, and defined areas for the nodes. The connecting nodes for the system can be configured to represent a smooth transition between conduits or have defined areas and bench types to capture losses and the volume associated with the junction box. These options allow the user to scale the level of mesh detail as necessary for the problem and the availability of data. Similar to HEC-RAS 2D surface water modeling, property tables will be computed for the mesh cells and cell faces, but for a closed conduit the property curves will represent positive and negative area and volume.

Using the 1D finite volume approach affords some benefits for modelers such as better model stability over the finite difference scheme, the ability for systems to start dry or go dry during the simulation and representing THE HIGH WATER MARK

After evaluation of industry standard practices, it was determined the best way to develop a conduit network geometry is to import the system from a standard GIS shapefile format. This affords the flexibility to import geometry information from various sources such utility maintenance files, design files, or other pipe modeling software. A shapefile importer allows a user to map the source shapefile fields to the appropriate HEC-RAS geometry. In addition, the conduit geometry can be hand drawn right in HEC-RAS Mapper using the same familiar editing tools available for other model elements.

Multiple Conduit Networks HEC-RAS will allow the user to model multiple conduit networks within the same model. Each network will have its own model parameters to allow the user to customize the computational theta parameter, model tolerances, as well as time slices to allow each individual conduit network to run at different computational intervals compared to the model time step.

Timeline and Expectations The initial software development is nearing completion and the team is currently working on verification and validation testing. The first release of closed conduit storm water modeling capability will likely be a beta feature in HEC-RAS 6.5 which is targeted for release in the winter of 2023/2024. This beta release would allow the RAS team to receive broader testing and feedback prior to an official release. The initial release will include the fundamentals necessary for conduit modeling, but future development is planned that will expand the use case and capabilities of HEC-RAS for conduit modeling.

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Strengthening Our Nation’s Levee System At Forgen, we leave the planet better than we found it. Our geotechnical and specialty civil construction capabilities are applied each day to restore and strengthen our nation’s levee system for generations to come.

Dam and Levee Construction and Rehabilitation Water Control Structure Construction Habitat and Wetlands Restoration Stream, Channel, River, and Basin Restoration Coastal Zone Restoration and Tidal Estuary Enhancements

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A NOTE ABOUT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE George Booth, FMA Executive Director The 2023 Floodplain Management Association annual conference, held in Los Angeles from September 5 to 8, was a great opportunity to learn and to associate. The theme of the conference, Mitigating the Equity Gap: Creating Resilient Communities Together, served to attract some very interesting speakers. A conference of this size is quite a job to put together. The program included about 180 volunteer speakers! I doff my hat to the conference co-chairs and the conference committee who pulled all of this together.

The attendees included federal, state, local government agencies, vendors, consultants, academia, flood control agencies, environmental interests, and others. The total attendance was 469. FMA is such an interesting mix of people. The measured value is education, but the immeasurable value is associating with others who have similar professional interests. As a wise FMA member often says, ‘It is important to make a friend before you need a friend.’ When asked, ‘What is floodplain management?’

I have responded ‘It is keeping floods away from houses and houses away from floods, but it is more complicated than it sounds.’ Our successes are unsung, but our failures can be headlining news. Those in the field of floodplain management know that a project requires modeling, agreements, permitting, finance, right of way, and hopefully construction. As we all work on multiple projects each year, floodplain management starts as just a job which becomes a very interesting career.

Many of us who have been around FMA for many years enjoy sharing our war stories with others. We are very happy to see many younger professionals are finding FMA to be worthwhile. We even had two students, scholarship recipients, who attended the conference. As we look forward and plan forward, we must bring along young people to floodplain management. The conference is a great way to pass on the lessons learned to the younger generation of engineers, planners and scientists who will be carrying on the mission to reduce flood risk.

Many attendees found the discussions regarding grant funding to be quite useful. There was so much available grant money discussed at the conference. State and federal programs are seeking good projects to fund. There were several well attended presentations on the subject of grant funding.

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On Tuesday, we had a committee luncheon at which all of the FMA committees were represented. You’re welcome to join one.

Tuesday evening in the Exhibit Hall, we filled about 500 handsome green school backpacks that would be distributed through the Dream Center in Los Angeles. I wish we could see the smiles on the faces of the students when they received their backpacks.

The plenary sessions and keynote speakers were exceptional. With the heavy precipitation this past year, it was very interesting to hear about the challenges in the various regions of FMA. The conference included panels, workshops and technical sessions spread out over 8 rooms. There was plenty for any level of interest and our conference easily meets the requirements for 12 continuing education units for certified floodplain managers. If you are not already a CFM, you might consider obtaining that highly esteemed certification.

Thursday evening, we spent some time associating and it would just so happen that this famous hotel attracted some locally recognizable stars.

The Friday field trip was a very interesting adventure thanks to L.A. County Public Works. Of course, Silver Jackets is always a treasured part of the program.

To develop new communities that are resilient and to mitigate existing flood risk in a manner that will stand the test of time, we must work together to understand the hydrology of the future. FMA seeks to be a place where we can have varied and differing opinions and still get along with each other and work together as we look forward and plan forward. These annual conferences are invaluable.

We cannot say thank you loudly enough to adequately express our appreciation to the many sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and attendees who together made the conference so exceptional.

We hope to see you at the 2024 annual conference, which will be the first week of September in Clark County Nevada. Mark your calendars.

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Since 2006, WES has committed to restoring sensitive and degraded ecosystems, including floodplains.

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HOW IS THE NFIP RESPONSIBLE? - PART 3 Mike Nowlan

This third article is born from a desire to understand what is going on in relation to the current lawsuit against FEMA, and FEMA’s responsibility when it comes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). I will leave it to you to decide if this article is anything more than the ramblings of a madman.

I have asked for submissions to our newsletter from both sides on this issue, but I suppose, since a lawsuit is underway, it is a bit like asking the prosecution and defense to share their case files and notes with the public before presenting their arguments in court. Not to mention that my reputation doesn’t exactly carry the weight of a large national news agency. Can you tell I watch legal dramas on TV? If anything, I will try and make this entertaining for you, but it may be like listening to your crazy uncle expound on politics!

I will admit, I was wrong. In my previous article I suggested that this lawsuit was primarily about past violations. I even implied that the current process of identifying ESA compliance should be sufficient to address the future, both individually and cumulatively. Since some of you did take the time to read the articles and discuss this issue with me at the FMA conference [Thank you], I now have new, and hopefully more accurate, information and perspective. So here comes Uncle Mike!

Apparently, there are thresholds for compliance with ESA! And some projects have to do more, while others are, dare I even say it, “exempt” from certain requirements. I knew this issue was going to be complicated, but I am now faced with the undeniable fact that FEMA is a clearinghouse for numerous

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potentially environmentally impacting, but otherwise exempt, projects. Falling under the umbrella of the NFIP, these projects may possibly now be connected!

If you tell me that you detect even a hint of sarcasm from these previous statements, then I apologize if it seems harsh. I am convinced that sarcasm can be an expression of love, as it can be used to expose truth, like a form of tough love. Of course, if my belief in what the truth is in this matter is incorrect, then you could be offended, so I apologize.

Now, I have been known to come up with an analogy or two in my day, so will I offer the following analogy (I apologize if it is lengthy, but I need to fill space in this newsletter until FMA receives more articles): I own and drive a car. I’ll go way out on a limb here, but you all also own and drive a car. Some of our cars are economic gas engine cars, some are SUVs, some are hybrids, and some are fully electric. Wait, the fully electric cars are excluded from consideration in my analogy. No, wait, they can’t be excluded, because they too have environmental impacts. Ok, I’ll continue.

Most of us who drive a gas engine car all purchase our gasoline at a certain reputable wholesale establishment.

(I am purposely leaving out brand name references because no one would pay endorsements for product placement in this article). We cannot drive our cars without gasoline and arguably we drive more because we can buy gas at a cheaper price at this wholesale establishment. Now, I drive my car in Sacramento/Elk Grove, and you all drive your car(s) elsewhere. I drive elsewhere too, but I digress. Ok, we all are motivated to buy our products from this wholesale establishment to conduct our lives, given the cost of living is always

All Things Stormwater 17

increasing. The electric car owners especially like to shop here. (The electric cars are the houses that get built outside of the SFHA, in case you’re having trouble following the analogy.) Our cars all meet (hopefully) our individual thresholds for allowable air emissions. Is the analogy getting too long?

Or unravelling? Do I need to continue? Yes, I need to bring this home. Some group (I am too tired to think up a cool name) decides to sue this establishment because it enables the cumulative degradation of the environment by selling gas to us all, at wholesale prices nonetheless. Wait, I’m not done, it gets better.

This establishment decides to suspend the sale of regular gasoline indefinitely, because of the likelihood that lower octane gasoline is more polluting. So, rather than retrofitting their gas stations, they simply shut down the lower octane gas pumps and force us to pay higher gas prices and wait in line longer. Some of us decide to turn off our engines while waiting in line, because longer wait times would induce more emissions, of course. Lastly, this establishment also decides to begin building its defense and initiates a lengthy study in preparation for a consultation with the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (I can name them because they don’t pay endorsements). Too much?

Ok, drop the lengthy study part. Also, please don’t take this analogy too far in thinking I am promoting the use of gasoline, or that I actually shop at a wholesale establishment!

Whether or not you agree with the merits of this lawsuit, we must face the fact that FEMA, and subsequently we all, have to deal with its consequences, now, and into the future.

Hopefully logic and emotion come to an agreement soon. I can be hopeful because they both seem to get along just fine in my head. This in Uncle Mike, signing off!

Stormwater Design • Hydrology & Hydraulics Flood Hazard Mitigation • Watershed Planning

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FMA

AT THE CONFLUENCE OF EMERGING AND PROFESSIONAL

COLLABORATING WITH NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS Holly Callahan During the 2023 FMA Conference, the Emerging Professionals Committee had the opportunity to coordinate and host a plenary session related to the floodplain management industry. Moderated by Kayla Kelly-Slatten, “Collaborating with Nonprofits and Community Based Organizations” focused on how government agencies and private sector entities can include nonprofits and community based organizations into their work. Panelists included Amanda Zeidner from the Council for Watershed Health, Barbara Velasco from Pacoima Beautiful, Dan Knapp from Conservation Corps of Long Beach, Diana Campos Jimenez from the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust (formerly with Los Angeles Community Garden Council), Rupam Soni from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and Stephany Calvillo, an Urban and Regional Planner now with the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy.

An overarching theme of the presentations provided by each panelist was how projects, even floodplain management projects, are most successful when they engage community members and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) at every stage.

The Pacoima Beautiful project to create a shared street at Bradley Green Alley in Pacoima, CA is one success story that was shared by Amanda Zeidner and Barbara Velasco during the panel.

Pacoima is a historically underserved community with a history of flood challenges and insufficient open space for the community. The Bradley Green Alley project sought to connect project issues, like stormwater capture and treatment, with social concerns like excessive heat, pedestrian safety, and park access. These projects were improved by engaging people in the community who knew firsthand the areas of the alley that typically flooded and the most important social concerns in the area.

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During the panel, Amanda Zeidner described how the spectrum of participation which ranges from one-way communication of informing community members about projects to more involved methods of participation including consulting, involving, collaborating, and empowering community members. The Bradley Green Alley project was successful because the community was engaged and empowered throughout the planning and design process. During design, the community was provided three concept schemes at a local workshop and were encouraged to provide feedback on the designs.

This feedback included the inclusion of more shared areas, artwork to highlight the local culture, and ADA features to allow for access to people of all abilities.

These design elements were incorporated into the project in addition to the catch basins, infiltration planters and trenches, and drywell which have the capacity to infiltrate 5 acre-feet or 2 million gallons of water during an average rain year1.

Figure 1. The Bradely Plaza and Green Alley project after construction (from Pacoima Beautiful).

https://www.pacoimabeautiful.org/programs/bradley-alley-plaza

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Engaging community organizations can also allow projects to progress more rapidly than they may have without community assistance. Dan Knapp shared the Wrigley Greenbelt project in Long Beach, CA, which first began in 1993 as a plan to create additional greenspace, walking and bicycle trails, and stormwater improvements.

After almost 30 years with minimal progress, the Conservation Corps of Long Beach (CCLB) became a project partner with the City of Long Beach. CCLB was able to secure additional funding through grants which would have otherwise been unavailable to the project. In addition, the project served as a training ground for corps members, who worked with project engineers and construction personnel to gain hands-on field experience in best management practices and trades skills. CCLB involvement expedited the project timeline and the project was opened in May 2023, only three years after CCLB involvement began.

Figure 2. The Wrigley Greenbelt Project after construction (from Long Beach.gov).

Rupam Soni from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California shared how planning for expanded use of recycled water in Southern California engaged CBOs to be more effective. Preliminary research found people speak over 180 different languages in the anticipated project-impact areas and only one third of people in those communities trust public agencies. However, in the same communities over 70% of people would trust community organizations they had heard of before. Metropolitan Water District created customized partnerships with CBOs to better determine the needs to the impacted communities, plan for the project, and communicate about the project to the impacted communities.

The three projects above were only some of the case studies shared during the plenary documenting the benefits of community engagement and collaborating with CBOs on floodplain management projects. It is important to note all of the panelists participated in the panel and attended the FMA conference as volunteers since CBOs often do not have funding to pay for participants to attend conferences and technical events. Engaging these community groups and organizations and providing pathways for CBOs and community members to participate in events like the FMA conference will result in more successful floodplain management projects.

FMA

THE HIGH

WATER MARK The Newsletter of the Floodplain Management Association