PHRC Webinar Series – Restoring Floodplains to Manage Stormwater

Instructor: Ben Ehrhart (LandStudies), Len Bradley (RGS Associates)

Handouts

Link to Webinar: https://psu.zoom.us/webinar/register/9015962240805/WN_XHVkPahIQHG55J0XFaIUmw

Description

This webinar will cover a brief history of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and legislative changes in the past decade, and how these changes affect development and property values. Minimum floodplain regulations and higher standard options that may be adopted in municipalities across Pennsylvania will also be explored followed by examples of sustainable floodplain development such as restoring stream and floodplain systems. Understanding of the legacy impacts of past mill operations is providing answers to many of the most challenging stormwater management and flooding issues we are facing today. This presentation will showcase, several floodplain restoration projects that have been implemented to serve as the primary stormwater management control facility for large land development projects. The resulting projects are far exceeding their intended performance, including peak attenuation, volume reduction, and water quality functions, as required by permit authorizations. These privately funded projects also have watershed-scale and community benefits including flood attenuation, sediment and nutrient load reduction, habitat restoration, and recreational opportunities, while providing an economic benefit to a land development project.