Floodplain management in temperate regions : is multifunctionality enhancing biodiversity?

Background: Floodplains are among the most diverse, dynamic, productive and populated but also the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. Threats are mainly related to human activities that alter the landscape and disrupt fluvial processes to obtain benefits related to multiple ecosystem services (ESS). Floodplain management therefore requires close coordination among interest groups with competing claims and poses multi-dimensional challenges to policy-makers and project managers. The European Commission proposed in its recent Biodiversity Strategy to maintain and enhance European ecosystems and their services by establishing green infrastructure (GI). GI is assumed to provide multiple ecosystem functions and services including the conservation of biodiversity in the same spatial area. However, evidence for biodiversity benefits of multifunctional floodplain management is scattered and has not been synthesised. Methods/design: This protocol specifies the methods for conducting a systematic review to answer the following policy-relevant questions: a) what is the impact of floodplain management measures on biodiversity; b) how does the impact vary according to the level of multifunctionality of the measures; c) is there a difference in the biodiversity impact of floodplain management across taxa; d) what is the effect of the time since implementation on the impact of the most important measures; and e) are there any other factors that significantly modify the biodiversity impact of floodplain management measures? Within this systematic review we will assess multifunctionality in terms of ESS that are affected by an implemented intervention. Biodiversity indicators included in this systematic review will be related to the diversity, richness and abundance of species, other taxa or functional groups. We will consider if organisms are typical for and native to natural floodplain ecosystems. Specific inclusion criteria have been developed and the wide range of quality of primary literature will be evaluated with a tailor-made system for assessing susceptibility to bias and the reliability of the studies. The review is intended to bridge the science-policy interface and will provide a useful synthesis of knowledge for decision-makers at all governance levels

Floodplain Management Desk Reference, May 2014

The responsibility for reducing flood losses is shared by all levels of government (local, State, and Federal) and the private sector. Successfully fulfilling this responsibility depends on having the knowledge and skills to plan and implement needed floodplain management measures. This Floodplain Management Desk Reference provides the information and lists of additional resources that can be used to effectively administer a local floodplain management program

Measuring flood resilience: a fuzzy logic approach

© 2017, © Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: Flood resilience is emerging as a major component of an integrated strategic approach to flood risk management. This approach recognizes that some flooding is inevitable and aligns with the concept of “living with water.” Resilience measurement is a key in making business case for investments in resilient retrofits/adaptations, and could potentially be used to inform the design of new developments in flood prone areas. The literature is, however, sparse on frameworks for measuring flood resilience. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a fuzzy logic (FL)-based resilience measuring model, drawing on a synthesis of extant flood resilience and FL literature. Design/methodology/approach: An abstraction of the flood resilience system followed by identification and characterization of systems’ variables and parameters were carried out. The resulting model was transformed into a fuzzy inference system (FIS) using three input factors: inherent resilience, supportive facilities (SF) and resident capacity. Findings: The resulting FIS generates resilience index for households with a wide range of techno-economic and socio-environmental features. Originality/value: It is concluded that the FL-based model provides a veritable tool for the measurement of flood resilience at the level of the individual property, and with the potential to be further developed for larger scale applications, i.e. at the community or regional levels

Town of Robbinston Maine Ordinances

Ordinances cover: Floodplain Management; Land Use; Shoreland Zonin

Town of Jefferson Maine Ordinances

Ordinances cover: Building; Floodplain Management; Shoreland; Subdivisio

Town of Hanover Maine Ordinances

Ordinances cover: Floodplain Management; Noise; Shoreland Zonin

Town of Albion Ordinances

Ordinances include: Appeal Board; Floodplain Management; Land Use; Shoreland Zonin

Power and policy in floodplain management, drawing on research in Alberta, Canada

Floodplain management policy implementation and change involves a range of actors and opportunities for power to be exercised. Considering four conceptualizations of power envisioned by Dahl, Bachrach & Baratz, Lukes, and Emerson, this paper explores the actors and instances where power emerges in floodplain management policy implementation and change, using Alberta, Canada, as our focus. We consider which conceptualization is most reflective of the Alberta context. We conclude that all four views of behaviour are relevant here, with some power dynamics between actors more complex than others. Further, these dynamics change over time, and therefore the trade-offs to be made also change. Understanding power relations allows for clearer identification of these trade-offs and, therefore, the potential winners and losers in floodplain management policy. We describe strategies for assisting in this process of managing power relations, including information sharing, transparency and actively managing the policy process

Town of Carmel Maine Ordinances

Ordinances Cover: Floodplain Management; Land Use; Marijuana; Noise; Shoreland Zonin

Town of Pittsfield Maine Ordinances

Ordinances cover: Land Use; Floodplain Management; Shoreland Zoning; Site Plan; Subdivision; Zonin