You may not think about floodplains all that much.
But they are quietly at work, providing rich soil for our farms, habitat for our salmon, and beautiful backdrops for our lives.
In the past we tried to “control” rivers so we could “use” the floodplain – straightening unruly rivers and building levees to keep the water in its place. We built whole cities where rivers once meandered. Now, salmon runs are disappearing and people live in the path of dangerous floodwaters.
Floodplain management needs a re-think. Our challenge is to modernize our approach so floodplains can sustain us – all of us – as our climate changes and population swells.
Challenge accepted.
What’s Floodplains by Design?
OUR STORIES
Floodplains by Design is changing the way we think about floodplains, enabling communities and the environment to thrive together in new and unexpected ways. Re-thinking floodplains may mean something different for each watershed. But in every project we put collaboration first, bringing former adversaries to the table to create meaningful change together. Read our stories to learn more.
STILLAGUAMISH
Photo credit: Rainy Sunday Ranch/2017 Photovoice
WORKING TOGETHER AND THINKING BIG IS HOW WE GET THERE.
Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. Floodplains by Design supports projects that are built from the ground up by local community members who know the land and waters best.
OUR IMPACT
On-the-ground actions are what matter most.
There’s no one path to get there. From moving levees back to provide habitat and flood storage, to preservation of agricultural lands from development: our projects are varied and seek innovative solutions to floodplain management.
On-the-ground actions are what matter most.
There’s no one path to get there. From moving levees back to provide habitat and flood storage, to preservation of agricultural lands from development: our projects are varied and seek innovative solutions to floodplain management.
NEWS STORIES
Washington legislature fails to pass 2017-2019 Capital Budget
The Washington State legislature adjourned at the end of July without adopting a capital budget for the 2017-19 biennium This means no funding for Floodplains by Design projects, and other critical programs. The true impact of this decision, and the...
Fewer floods and more salmon.
The Puget Sound Institute features a new story about the benefits of taking an integrated Floodplains by Design approach. This story provides a nice summary behind the goals of integrating flood control and salmon recovery, and highlights recent projects...
New Video: Managing water resources in Dungeness watershed
A new film highlights how partners have come together to plan for managing water resources as the North Olympic snowpack is diminishing. This film highlights the needs and benefits of the Dungeness River Off-Channel Reservoir Project. Climate change has...
2017 ranked Floodplains by Design Project List
The Department of Ecology has released the Floodplains by Design ranked project list for 2017.
Yakima County’s innovative work restoring floodplains earns a “Floodplains Luminary” award
Read the full story in the Yakima Herald.
NEW Climate Impacts in Puget Sound report
This new report summarizes the current state of knowledge concerning observed and likely future climate trends and their effects on the lands, waters, and people of the Puget Sound region. Read the full report here.