Flood Risk Education

Updated on 2/4/2022: Potential Project Partners

Project Lead: River Partners

Potential Project Partners:
California Department of Water Resources and United States Army Corp of Engineers levee maintenance and inspection staff; Central Valley Flood Protection Board; San Joaquin River Flood Control Agency (SJRFCA); San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency (SJAFCA); Lower San Joaquin Levee District (LSJLD); counties; cities; United States Fish and Wildlife Service, CDFW, United States Army Corp of Engineers, NGOs with an interest in river and flood management and education.

Short Project Description:
Develop and implement a regional flood risk management educational program to raise awareness of flood risks and elevate the level of public understanding with respect to flood risk management needs and the value of investments to address them. For the local maintaining agencies (LMAs), include education on their role in flood risk management and provide technical guidance/assistance on levee maintenance activities and permitting requirements.

Long Project Description:
Flood management in the Central Valley has developed into a very complex regulatory endeavor – once simple maintenance activities now require review from multiple resource agencies and complex funding structures. Often the public, policy-makers, and stakeholders are not aware of the importance of flood risk management in land use planning, development, agricultural practices and soil quality management, transportation projects, and environmental and recreation improvement efforts. This lack of awareness leads to conflicts among user groups and flood management interests. This project would develop an education program to raise awareness of flood risks and elevate the level of public understanding of regional flood risk management needs and the value of investments to address them. Example educational products include brochures and brief handouts relevant to regional flood interests, presentations for community groups and LMAs, and possibly a website devoted to flood risk management education. A specific educational effort would be devoted to raising awareness of rural landowners with respect to levee maintenance obligations/opportunities, permitting assistance, and project implementation strategies.

Unique Project Characteristics:
This project would strengthen institutional structures in the area of interest, and may indirectly promote broader support for flood risk management investment at a local level, environmental stewardship, and improved public safety.

Background Information:
None provided