RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR STRENGTHENING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATURAL AND BENEFICIAL FLOODPLAIN FUNCTIONS IN MONTANA.

摘要

Riparian resource management intersects with floodplain protection, but often these disciplines are not coordinated. The need for better coordination was well stated in background material for an 11/3/09 meeting co-hosted by the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) to discuss creating a National Floodplain Functions Alliance. "Development in flood-prone areas of the United States continues to destroy the natural functions and resources of floodplains (..all riparian areas, lake and ocean coastal zones, wetlands, and estuaries). The critical functions and resources of these areas are well-documented, and include flood storage, storm buffering, habitat, water filtration, groundwater recharge, recreation opportunities, carbon sequestration, and others. At the same time, of course, flood losses continue to rise and the National Flood Insurance Program currently faces a debt to the U.S. Treasury of over $19 billion from Hurricane Katrina and other major floods over the past five years. The onset of climatic changes, accompanying potential for sea level rise, a burgeoning population, and the urbanization of watersheds are stressors that will only exacerbate the degradation of water-related ecosystems in the future."