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
Editorial: Floodplains projects worth state’s investment
Check out this article by the Everett Harold that highlights projects funded by Floodplains by Design, and the need for funding for these projects. This article highlights two projects in Snohomish County, including one with the Sustainable Lands Strategy and the...
Accelerating our Learning through FbD
By Heather Cole, Community Relations Manager Integrated floodplain management takes patience, persistence and challenges our current paradigm to floodplain management. Floodplain Leaders- local practitioners that are engaged in doing integrated floodplain management,...
2019 FbD Project List Announcement
The Department of Ecology (Ecology), along with our partners the Puget Sound Partnership (Partnership) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), are announcing the release of the Floodplains by Design (FbD) 2019-21 project list. This project list supports Ecology’s request...
New Phase Begins in Ongoing Flood-Protection Effort Along Naches River
Check out this interview by Terry Keenhan, Yakima County Water Resources Manager, about the new phase of flood-protection along the Naches...
A New Tool For Farmers In A Changing Climate
By Jamie Robertson, Conservation Geographer, and Heather Cole, Puget Sound Community Relations Manager Imagine you’re a third-generation farmer in the Puget Sound. You’ve seen changes around your farm for years — neighboring farms disappear to urban sprawl and...
The Only Constant Is Change: Explore How Rivers Meander Over Time
Words and graphics by Erica Simek Sloniker Many of us live near a river. Overtime, we grow accustomed to observing its flow at various times of the year as well as the path it follows. In many cases, we simply enjoy watching the wildlife or the beautiful glossy hue a...