Laurel Gage Jacqueline Margetts
proactive flood prevention
How can architecture be utilized in the assistance of flood prevention as a proactive intervention over reactive, while working in conjunction with the current engineered resistance model and the addition of a more resilient natural system during both extreme weather events and in static position?
table of contents
water as a layer of infrastructure
pg 07
a constricted river
pg 15
being proactive
pg 25
site/program
pg 45
06
water as a layer of infrastructure
07
MISSISSPPI RIVER WATERSHED
By siting this project in St. Louis, the surrounding waterway system becomes a primary contextual factor. Focusing primarily on the St. Louis District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, the city is encompassed by three major rivers: the Mississippi River, the Missouri River, and the Meramec River, and their tributaries. Each waterway connects to another and drains into the Mississippi River, and consequentially toward St. Louis too.
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diagrams interpolated from US Army Corps of Engineers - Mississppi Valley Division
US ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS: ST. LOUIS DISTRICT
Features Lakes: 5 Locks: 5 Rivers: 7 Levee System: 100 Channel: 416 mi. Area: 27,000 sq. mi. Waterways: 42,000 mi. Population: 3,000,000
Missouri
Illinois
Mississippi River
Illinois River
Missouri River
Meramec River
Mississippi River
diagrams interpolated from US Army Corps of Engineers - St. Louis District
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LAYERS OF INFRASTRUCTURE
water highway rail line The current attitude towards water and its circulatory system encourages a rather dominant approach as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers strives to manage flood prevention and engineer the river (US Army Corps of Engineers - St. Louis District). I propose that, instead of deterring, water circulation become an active part of urban life as part of the infrastructure.
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ios
Illin
US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS DESIGNATED FLOOD PLAINS
er Riv
Mi
ss
iss
ip
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Ri
ve r
Mississippi River
Missouri River
St. Louis
r ve Ri es
er sP de
diagrams interpolated from “MISI-ZIIBI: Living with the Great Rivers Climate Adaptation Strategies in the Midwest River Basins.”
Mi ss
iss
ipp iR ive r
Meramec River
water flood plains
11
St. Louis’ Severe Flood History 1993 - Mississippi River flood killed 50 people and caused $15 billion in damage nationwide (National Weather Service, 2008). 2008 - A storm related to Hurricane Ike in 2008 caused as much as eight inches to fall on portions of the St. Louis region, flooding thousands of homes and businesses (Wilson, 2008). 2011 - Mississippi River Flood placed severe strains on levee systems south of St. Louis, causing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to demolish a levee near Birds Point, Missouri in order to relieve pressure on levees in more populated areas (Olson and Morton, 2012). 2015 - Flooding of the Meramec River affected the cities of Eureka, Valley Park, and Arnold. It is infered that the invasion of levee and landfill into floodway, and development along small tributaries of the Meramec River exacerbated the outcome. 2017 - In conjunction with the flooding in 2015, flooding of the Meramec River affected the cities of Eureka, Valley Park, and Pacific. Causation can be contributed to the construction of levees and development within the flood plains.
Riverboats became hard to reach after the 1993 flood in St. Louis. The main channel of the Mississippi River is on the other side of this boat.
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photograph 1: Walls, Margaret. “In St. Louis, Planning for Flood Protection, Conservation, and Recreation.” www.climate.gov. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 26 May, 2015. photograph 2: Missouri Disasters, 1785-Present - Floods. https://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/mdh_splash/default.sp?coll=disasters_floods.
Il l i n i iver os R
Extent of the 1993 Flood Mi
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Mississippi River
Mis
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sou
ri R ive r
St. Louis
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diagrams interpolated from “MISI-ZIIBI: Living with the Great Rivers Climate Adaptation Strategies in the Midwest River Basins.�
Mi ss
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ipp iR ive r
Meramec River
water flood plains flood extent
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14
the constricted river
15
Urbanization and the Hydrologic System Natural Ground Cover precipitation
evaporation
Development within the floodplains interrupts the natural water cycle. Trees and vegetation that had reduced the impact of runoff have been removed.
runoff soil infiltration
Urbanization increase in precipitation
addition of potable water
reduced evaporation
addition of waste water
A natural ground cover is replaced by an impervious surface that obstructs the water from entering the soil resulting in rising water levels.
increased runoff reduced soil infiltration
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diadrams interpolated from Urbanization and the Hydrologic System. https://water.usgs.gov/edu/urbaneffects.html.
increased water levels
I ll
Development Within The Flood Plains
in i os
Mi
ve Ri
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r Mississippi River
pp
iR ive r
Missouri River
St. Louis
r ve Ri es
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diagrams interpolated from “MISI-ZIIBI: Living with the Great Rivers Climate Adaptation Strategies in the Midwest River Basins.�
Mi ss
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ipp iR ive r
Meramec River
water flood plains development
17
Protect People from Water
Protect Water from People
Make Water Useful
18
diagrams interpolated from US Army Corps of Engineers - Mission Statement
Role of the US Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Engineering and Construction
Levee Safety Program
Governance and Responsibility Levee Accreditation
Mitigation Programs Insurance Floodplain Management
Levee Inspection Flood Fighting
Risk Assessments Operations and Maintenance Levee System Evaluations (Certifications)
FEMA
USACOE
Emergency Preparedness
community
Assessment Inspection Risk Assessment Management Risk Reduction Flood Risk Management
Communication - ???
diagrams interpolated from US Army Corps of Engineers - Levee Safety Program
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Evolution of the Levee System
Evidence of climate change can be seen in the history of levee construction. Due to the rising water levels, which can also be contributed to urbanization, the structure of the levee system has increased approximately 8 time in height and 12 time in width in the past 150 years.
projected flood
1942 1928
1973
roadway addition
1914
1844
1882
By establishing an urban center adjacent to one of the largest rivers in the country, it becomes susceptible to flooding. Bluffs and constructed levees act as the first defense in a system of flood prevention. The placement of this barrier in such a close proximity to the river’s edge constricts the water flow and doesn’t allow leeway for the rising water levels in the event of a storm. High water levels in the river have become more frequent in recent times due to an increase in precipitation and frequency of extreme weather events due to the onset of climate of climate change. Flood water is causing pressure on the levee systems, and without a plan for relief or direction for excess water, it will cause the levee to break.
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diagrams interpolated from MRT_Levees.Pdf. http://www. mvd.usace.army.mil/Portals/52/docs/MRC/MRT_Levees. pdf?ver=2017-07-27-141912-910. Accessed 16 Mar. 2018.
The first major flooding event on record in the St. Louis area occurred in 1844, resulting in the creation of the first of the levee system by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
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Levee Systems and Location of Breaks
in i os ve Ri
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Missouri River
St. Louis
r ve Ri es
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diagrams interpolated from “MISI-ZIIBI: Living with the Great Rivers Climate Adaptation Strategies in the Midwest River Basins.”
Mi ss
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ipp iR ive r
Meramec River
BLUFF LEVEE LEVEE BREAK SEVERE LEVEE DAMAGE
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FLOOD PLAINS
+
DEVELOPMENT IN FLOOD PLAINS
LEVEE + PROTECTED AREA
= A CONSTRICTED RIVER Up until recently the common method of dealing with water in the urban setting has been to remove it as quickly and efficiently as possible. With the projections of climate change, rising water levels can no longer be held at bay by flood walls. By constricting the river in areas of intense development, it creates an almost funnel-like effect. Given that the speed of the river remains constant, a decrease in allowable floodways causes an increase in pressure on the levee system or built environment. When the river becomes constricted, pressure has to find another outlet. Water then begins to build up in connecting creeks and tributaries where there is considerably less flood protection.
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diagrams interpolated from “MISI-ZIIBI: Living with the Great Rivers Climate Adaptation Strategies in the Midwest River Basins.�
Il l i n i iver os R
Allowable Inundation Areas Mi
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Mississippi River
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Missouri River
St. Louis
r ve Ri es
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ipp iR ive r
Meramec River
water green space
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be proactive
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Factors to Consider • • • • •
context of the surrounding water system the history and aftermath of extreme weather events areas of increased development within the floodplains locations of damage to the levee system areas of water most constricted
Proactive over Reactive By taking into consideration the previous factors, I was able to identify a series of points along the waterways that generate the most pressure on the built environment. Considering these designated areas as potentially problematic, these sites provide the opportunity for a proactive intervention that allows the river to breath in extreme weather events. By using a proactive approach, we can focus on eliminating the problem before it has a chance to cause damage, where as a reactive approach is based on responding to flooding events after they have happened.
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Il l i n i iver os R
Pressure Points Mi
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Mississippi River
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ip
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Ri
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Missouri River
St. Louis
r ve Ri es
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ipp iR ive r
Meramec River
water green space areas of development pressure
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Proposal Flood Outlet Diagram
In order to allow the river to breathe, a more resilient approach to architecture and planning should be taken.
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diagrams interpolated from “MISI-ZIIBI: Living with the Great Rivers Climate Adaptation Strategies in the Midwest River Basins.�
By creating a series of flood outlets that branch off the main floodway, the river is allowed to breath and disperse the runoff to lessen the pressure on the built environment.
diagrams interpolated from “MISI-ZIIBI: Living with the Great Rivers Climate Adaptation Strategies in the Midwest River Basins.�
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Duality of Conditions: Wet and Dry Within the proposed flood outlets, an interconnected relationship between architecture, landscape, and water must be flexible to allow for a multiplicity of circumstances. While it’s detrimental that these outlets are able to withstand a 100-year flooding event, it must also maintain use when it’s not raining. This opens the opportunity for the addition of an urban amenity.
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Photograph taken by St. Louis PostDispatch in Valley Park,MO, Spring 2017
Photograph taken by author in Valley Park, MO Spring 2018
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Architecture + Water Floating 01
Floating 02
Floating 03
Floating 04
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Floating 05
Sacrificial Space
Stilts
Waterproofing
diagrams interpolated from Pelsmakers “Living with Water: Four Buildings That Will Withstand Flooding.�
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Landscape + Water
Bio-retention
Dry Swale
Rain Garden
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Detention
Retention
Wet Pool
diagrams interpolated from “Site Design Guidance: Tools for Incorporating Post-Construction Stormwater Quality Protection into Concept Plans and Land Disturbance Permitting.�
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Hybrid Approach
36
Until recently engineered solutions were the dominant approach in handling flood risk. Outlooks have slowly begun to shift with the use of re-created wetlands as natural defenses to flooding and excess stormwater. In recent years, thinking about natural defenses has evolved. While engineered defenses come with problems of their own and natural defenses are usually no match for 100-year flooding events, a hybrid approach may produce a dynamic correlation between architecture, landscape, and engineering.
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Elements to Integrate
LANDSCAPE
climate change inundation
natural processes
increase in precipitation
spatial definition
ecological corridor
flood resistance
technology
use of space program
innovation
structure stormwater management
creativity flood resilience
ARCHITECTURE
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ENGINEERING
LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE
ENGINEERING
Topography
Residential Neighborhood
Bridges
Ecological environment
Streets
Piers
Ecological corridor
Public parks
Water collection
Wetlands
Ecological corridor
Water treatment
Raingardens
Parks
Rainwater harvesting
Bio-swales
Plazas
Maintenance
Bio-cells
Boulevard
Canals
Bio-pools
Green space
Water retention
Sand bar
Parking lot
Water detention
Short grass field
Parking garage
Levees
Ponding
Public space
Dams
Swamps
Private space
Floodwalls
Tree path
Buildings / structures
Floating structure
Conifer patch
Recreation
Water reservoir
Hedge maze
Gathering space
Water filtration
Spill over field
Recycle station
Water cleansing
Marshland
Water treatment facility
Recycling
Tall grass field
Green house
Repurposing
Rock garden
Monument
Gabion wall
Bio-retention
Vista Point
Water pumps
Dry swale
Water tower
Water proofing
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Precedant Studies POP - UP by Third Nature architecture firm parking garage water reservoir floating structure green space
everyday situation
climate adaptation
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heavy rain
parking in the city
cloudburst
livable cities
Leardi, Lindsey. “All-In-One Structure Solves Flooding, Parking, and the Lack of Green Space in the Cities.� www.archdaily.com. ArchDaily. 25 September, 2017.
100-year event
Precedant Studies Copenhagen Strategic Flood Master Plan by Ramboll Studio Dreiseitl street plaza canal water detention ecological corridor
“Copenhagen Strategic Flood Masterplan.� www. landezine.com. Landezine. 29 May, 2015.
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Precedant Studies
Comprehensive Strategy for Hoboken by OMA public space streets levees water storage floating structure canal marsh land park ecological corridor
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Rosenfield, Karissa. “Resist, Delay, Store, Discharge: OMA’s Comprehensive Strategy for Hoboken.” www.archdaily.com. ArchDaily. 19 November, 2013.
Precedant Studies
Big U Proposal by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), One Architecture, Starr Whitehouse public space streets levees floodwall short grass field
Quirk, Vanessa. “The BIG U: BIG’s New York City Vision for ‘Rebuild by Design.” www. archdaily.com. ArchDaily. 4 April, 2014.
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site/program
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Il l i n i iver os R
Site Location Mi
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Mississippi River
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ip
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Missouri River
St. Louis
r ve Ri es
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Mi ss
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Meramec River
water green space areas of development pressure
141 Highwa y
Valley Park
Fishpot Creek
Meramec River
water highway rail lines levee flood extents
Intersection of Infrastructure Valley Park Levee
Fishpot Creek
Meramec River
Highwa y 141
My selected site is located in Valley Park, Missouri along the Meramec River in South-east St. Louis County. The Meramec River has been more vulnerable to flooding in recent years due to the construction of the Valley Park levee in 2005. This levee has been subjected to severe damage on two occasions; the winter floods in 2015 and spring floods in 2017. It came very close to breaking both times. In addition, it intersects other layers of infrastructure.
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01 The River Meramec River & tributaries
02 The Levee Valley Park levee built in 2005
03 The Highway Highway 141
04 The Rail line Pacific Rail line
03
02
05 08
01 48
05 West Residential upper middle class private subdivision
06 East Residential lower-middle class integrated with industrial zone
07 Industrial Zone
08 Impervious Surfaces sea of asphalt
04
01 06 07
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01 River
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02 Levee
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03 Highway
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04 Rail Line
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06 West Residential Neighborhood
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05 East Residential Neighborhood
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07 Industrial Zone
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08 Asphalt/Impervious Surfaces
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Site Topography and Section
145 m
140 m
135 m
levee 130 m
125 m
120 m
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250 m
500 m
levee
main channel
diagrams interpolated from “Flood Path Application for the Lower Meramec River� https://www.mgisac.org/wpcontent/uploads/2011/01/Lower_Meramec_River_081512.pdf. United States Geological Survey.
1000 m
1250 m
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1520 m
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Site Specifications
Meramec River
Industrial Zone
water highway rail lines levee flood extents
Shopping Mall/ Parking Lot
250 ft.
480 ft .
Industrial Zone
120,000 sq. ft.
Meramec River
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Site Photographs
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63
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The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) is our first line of defense against flooding. However, as water levels rise on the constricted river, people are directly affected. “The Corps’ St. Louis District maintains that Valley Park’s levee is properly built and that it did not worsen local flooding in late 2015 and early 2016,” Gray stated in response to local protests and complaints that levees were being built too high causing flood water to be directed into residential neighborhoods. Currently located in the General Service Administration building downtown, I propose to bring the USACOE headquarters down to earth by placing a new headquarters and research center on the levee where is was damaged. By placing the Corps’ staff on the frontline, USACOE must embrace the problems brought on by an over engineered river.
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us army corps of engineers headquarters research facilities + climate change education center
semi-public semi-private
public
PUBLIC EDUCATION PUBLIC ENTRANCE - SECURED LOBBY EXHIBIT SPACE RESTROOMS
50 200 1200 120
sq. sq. sq. sq.
ft. ft. ft. ft.
150 120 120 300 160 300
sq. sq. sq. sq. sq. sq.
ft. ft. ft. ft. ft. ft.
50 200 1200 600 400 300 800 200 50
sq. sq. sq. sq. sq. sq. sq. sq. sq.
ft. ft. ft. ft. ft. ft. ft. ft. ft.
COLLABORATION & PUBLIC PARTICIPATION LIBRARY HUMAN RESOURCES PUBLIC AFFAIRS COLLABORATION SPACE CLASSROOM LECTURE HALL/AUDITORIUM
private
GOVERNMENT FACILITIES
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PRIVATE ENTRANCE SECURITY OPEN OFFICE SPACE PRIVATE OFFICES CONFERENCE ROOMS COLLABORATION SPACE RESEARCH LABORATORIES STORAGE KITCHENETTE
program
public entrance
exhibit space
EDUCATION CENTER
GOVERNMENT FACILITIES
group work
individual work
public affairs
multi-purpose space
collaboration space
private entrance/security
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bibliography Alexander, Terry W. Delineation of Flooding within the Upper Mississippi River Basin, Flood of August 1-3, 1993, in St. Louis and Vicinity, Missouri. USGS Numbered Series,735-F, 1998. pubs.er.usgs.gov, http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/ha735F. Bouscaren, Durrie. Six Ways the Floods of 2015 and 1982 Were Surprisingly Similar. http://news. stlpublicradio.org/post/six-ways-floods-2015-and-1982-were-surprisingly-similar. Byers, Christine, Deere, Stephen. “Rising Meramec River Threatens Roads, Homes, Businesses.” www.stltoday.com. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 1 May, 2017. [COVER PHOTOGRAPH] “Copenhagen Strategic Flood Masterplan.” www.landezine.com. Landezine. 29 May, 2015. “Deadly Flood of 1844.” True West Magazine, 31 Mar. 2016, https://truewestmagazine.com/deadly- flood-of-1844/. Fact Sheet for Valley Park Levee July 2017.Pdf. http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Portals/54/docs/ LeveeSafety/Fact%20Sheet%20for%20Valley%20Park%20Levee%20July%202017.pdf. “Flood Path Application for the Lower Meramec River” https://www.mgisac.org/wp-content/ uploads/2011/01/Lower_Meramec_River_081512.pdf. United States Geological Survey. Flooding-Timeline-MCE-4-29-16.Pdf. http://moenvironment.org/environment-blog/wp-content/ uploads/2016/01/Flooding-Timeline-MCE-4-29-16.pdf. Accessed 10 Apr. 2018. Fountain, Henry. “Natural Allies for the Next Sandy.” The New York Times, 28 Oct. 2013. NYTimes. com, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/29/science/natural-allies-for-the-next-sandy. html?pagewanted=all. Gray, Bryce. “Two Catastrophic Floods in Less than Two Years Wasn’t Just a Case of Bad Luck.” Stltoday.Com, http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/two-catastrophic-floods-in-less- than-two-years-wasn-t/article_33e07bfa-16dd-575b-8e18-9a6e2a2eebd0.html. Hoal, John, Hoeferlin, Derek, Morris, Dale; “MISI-ZIIBI: Living with the Great Rivers Climate Adaptation Strategies in the Midwest River Basins.” Washington University in St. Louis Royal Netherlands Embassy, Washington D.C. 2013. “Historic Flooding, Storms Hit the South and Midwest (PHOTOS).” The Weather Channel, https:// weather.com/news/news/flooding-severe-storms-plains-midwest-photos-images. In St. Louis, Planning for Flood Protection, Conservation, and Recreation | NOAA Climate.Gov. https://www.climate.gov/news-features/climate-case-studies/st-louis-planning-flood- protection-conservation-and-recreation. Leardi, Lindsey. “All-In-One Structure Solves Flooding, Parking, and the Lack of Green Space in the Cities.” www.archdaily.com. ArchDaily. 25 September, 2017. Levees among Possible Cause of More Frequent Flooding. https://phys.org/news/2016-01-levees- frequent.html. Accessed 3 Apr. 2018. Little, Judy, and Ed Williams. Prepared by Esley Hamilton. p. 20. Lower_Meramec_River_081512. Pdf. https://www.mgisac.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Lower_Meramec_River_081512. pdf. Accessed 15 Apr. 2018. Missouri Disasters, 1785-Present - Floods. https://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/mdh_splash/default. asp?coll=disasters_floods. 68
MRT_Levees.Pdf. http://www.mvd.usace.army.mil/Portals/52/docs/MRC/MRT_Levees. pdf?ver=2017-07-27-141912-910. Accessed 16 Mar. 2018. Pelsmakers, Sofie. “Living with Water: Four Buildings That Will Withstand Flooding.” The Conversation, http://theconversation.com/living-with-water-four-buildings-that-will- withstand-flooding-23536. Accessed 5 Mar. 2018. Posey, John. “Climate Change in St. Louis: Impacts and Adaptation Options.” Common Ground, vol. 5, no. 2, 2013, pp. 49–67. Quirk, Vanessa. “The BIG U: BIG’s New York City Vision for ‘Rebuild by Design.” www.archdaily. com. ArchDaily. 4 April, 2014. “Record Missouri Flooding Was Manmade Calamity, Scientist Says | The Source | Washington University in St. Louis.” The Source, 5 Feb. 2016, https://source.wustl.edu/2016/02/record- missouri-flooding-manmade-calamity-scientist-says/. “RESILIENT BY DESIGN, AND BEFORE DISASTER.” Landscape Architecture Magazine, 19 Jan. 2018, https://landscapearchitecturemagazine.org/2018/01/19/resilient-by-design-and-before- disaster/. Rosenfield, Karissa. “Resist, Delay, Store, Discharge: OMA’s Comprehensive Strategy for Hoboken.” www.archdaily.com. ArchDaily. 19 November, 2013. Sauer, Vernon B., and Janice M. Fulford. “Floods of December 1982 and January 1983 in Central and Southern Mississippi River Basin.” USGS Numbered Series, 83–213, U.S. Geological Survey, 1983. pubs.er.usgs.gov, http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/ofr83213. “Site Design Guidance: Tools for Incorporating Post-Construction Stormwater Quality Protection into Concept Plans and Land Disturbance Permitting.” www.stlmsd.com. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District. 17 April, 2009. Southard, Rodney E. “Flood Volumes in the Upper Mississippi River Basin,” April 1 through September 30, 1993. USGS Numbered Series, 1120-H, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1995. pubs.er.usgs.gov, http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/cir1120H. St, Spruce, and St Louis. U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS – ST. LOUIS DISTRICT. p. 1. The Floods of May 1943 in Illinois. https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70170437. Accessed 19 Feb. 2018. Urbanization and the Hydrologic System. https://water.usgs.gov/edu/urbaneffects.html. Accessed 13 Apr. 2018. U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit | U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit. https://toolkit.climate. gov/#climate-explorer. Accessed 8 Feb. 2018. US EPA, OA. “Climate Change Indicators in the United States.” US EPA, 6 Nov. 2015, https://www. epa.gov/climate-indicators. US EPA, REG 07. “Missouri Environmental Map.” US EPA, 29 Sept. 2015, https://www.epa.gov/mo/ missouri-environmental-map. Walls, Margaret. “In St. Louis, Planning for Flood Protection, Conservation, and Recreation.” www. climate.gov. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 26 May, 2015.
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