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Developing Flood Protection Plans

Hampton Roads has twice the relative sea-level rise of other Atlantic coastal communities, and Virginia is stepping up its efforts to address the associated recurrent flooding. While the General Assembly recently ordered updates to the state’s flood protection plan, the Army Corps of Engineers has rolled out a new, proactive strategic framework. It calls on local, state, regional, and federal governments to work together—due to the enormity of the tasks ahead. 
The Corps says the dozens of agencies trying to address flooding must begin pulling together in the same direction.  It says each region should commission studies to identify vulnerable areas and remedial projects, and then pursue funding by all governments. Corps Commander Colonel Paul Olsen says a geophysical approach should be used.         

“Water just doesn’t care about political boundaries. They don’t care if you’re a county, they don’t care if you’re a country. Water just rises. Sea-level rise and climate change is not cheap. But it’s cheaper when you’re together.”

Olsen says the solution is not just expensive seawalls.

“We would go broke as a nation if we did that. We’re talking a mixture of everything from breakwaters, to spartina alterniflora in our tidal areas to attenuate waves, to other greener solutions. Yes, some hard structures, but some other things that we can do as planners:  relocation, acquisition, zoning laws….”

This would build RESILIENT communities that adapt and learn to live WITH the water.  He adds that if projects are ready to go, they can be launched each time federal funds become available.

 

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