EP 1165-2-1
30 Jul 99
CHAPTER 13
FLOOD DAMAGE REDUCTION
13-1. The Federal Interest. Congress, in the Flood Control Act of
1936, established as a nationwide policy that flood control (i.e.,
flood damage reduction) on navigable waters or their tributaries is in
the interest of the general public welfare and is therefore a proper
activity of the Federal Government in cooperation with the states and
local entities. The 1936 Act, as amended, and more recently the Water
Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986, specify the details of
Federal participation. They have established the scope of the Federal
interest to include consideration of all alternatives in controlling
flood waters, reducing the susceptibility of property to flood damage,
and relieving human and financial losses.
13-2. Flood Plain Management. Flood plain management (FPM) is a
continuing process, involving both Federal and non-Federal action,
that seeks a balance between use and environmental quality in the
management of the inland and coastal flood plains as components of the
larger human communities. The flood damage reduction aspects of flood
plain management involve modifying floods and modifying the
susceptibility of property to flood damages. The former embraces the
physical measures commonly called "flood control;" the latter includes
regulatory and other measures intended to reduce damages by means
other than modifying flood waters. By guiding flood plain land use
and development, flood plain regulations seek to reduce future
susceptibility to flood hazards and damages consistent with the risk
involved and serve in many cases to preserve and protect natural flood
plain values.
a. Flood Plain Management Services. The Corps is authorized
by Section 206 of the Flood Control Act of 1960, as amended, to
provide information, technical planning assistance, and guidance to
aid states, local governments, and Indian Tribes in identifying the
magnitude and extent of the flood hazard and in planning wise use of
the flood plains. Direct response and assistance of this kind are
provided upon request through the Flood Plain Management Services
Program. The Corps also provides support for the National Flood
Insurance Program to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on a
reimbursable basis under interagency agreement. (ER 1105-2-100)
b. Executive Order (EO) 11988. This EO requires the Corps to
provide leadership and take action to: (1) avoid development in the
base (100-year) flood plain unless it is the only practicable
alternative; (2) reduce the hazards and risk associated with floods;
(3) minimize the impact of floods on human safety, health and welfare;
and (4) restore and preserve the natural and beneficial values of the
base flood plain. In this regard, the policy of the Corps is to
formulate projects which, to the extent possible, avoid or minimize
adverse impacts associated with use of the base flood plain and avoid
inducing development in the base flood plain unless there is no
practicable alternative for the development. (ER 1165-2-26)
c. Modification of Federal Facilities. In planning or
modifying Federal facilities on flood plains and in disposing of
Federal lands and property, the Corps will follow the Flood Plain
Management Guidelines (43 FR 6030), 10 February 1978, issued by the
Water Resources Council pursuant to EO 11988.
13-1
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