Reclamation manual

CMP 01-01

Reclamation Manual
Directives and Standards Subject: Purpose: Floodplain Management Directives To (1) reduce the vulnerability of the nation to loss of life and property and the disruption of societal and economic pursuits caused by flooding or facility operations; and (2) sustain, restore, or enhance the natural resources, ecosystems, and other functions of the floodplain.Authority: Floodplain Management Policy Statement (1995); Reclamation Project Act of 1902 and Supplementary Acts; Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 and Amendments of 1984; National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (as amended); Executive Order 11988 Floodplain Management; Executive Order 11990 Protection of Wetlands; Energy Policy Act (EPACT) of 1992; Principles and Guidelines for Planning Waterand Related Land Resources (1983); Federal Water Project Recreation Act (as amended); Migratory Bird Conservation Act (as amended); Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act; Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991; and Project Specific Authorizations. Contact: 1. Water, Land, and Cultural Resources, D-5300 Facilities & Operations Support, D-5500

Implementation ofFloodplain Management. The Bureau of Reclamation will implement the following floodplain management directives. These directives shall be considered applicable for all Reclamation activities in or affecting floodplains. Reclamation will proactively seek and implement appropriate floodplain management activities to sustain, restore, or enhance the functions of the floodplain. Watershed and floodplainmanagement issues will be approached on an integrated systems approach accounting for watershed hydrology, river hydraulics, land form and channel geomorphology, river mechanics and sedimentation, land use, water quality and quantity, ecosystems, and functions of the floodplain. These directives will be implemented under existing authorities, which are described in more detail in the FloodplainManagement Guidelines, and within existing funding. Public Safety/Hazard Mitigation/Emergency Management and Preparedness. A. Reclamation will take reasonable and prudent actions to provide for the safety of the public and reduce risk of property damages and economic loss stemming from flood flows, operations, or failure of its dams, levees, canals, or other facilities. B. Procedures for hazardmitigation and emergency management and preparedness activities will be reviewed on a regular basis and revised to minimize potential threat to the safety of the public. The Policy for Establishing an Emergency

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(4) 09/01/95 NEW RELEASE

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CMP 01-01

Reclamation Manual
Directives and Standards Management Program at Reclamation Facilities with directives, presents more specificrequirements on emergency management related issues. C. Reclamation will emphasize cost-effective nonstructural approaches to reduce potential flood damages, reduce threat to public safety from its dams or other facilities, and enhance functions of the floodplain. D. Reclamation will consider reasonable alternatives to development in the floodplain unless the action is unavoidable. If the onlypractical alternative involves development in the floodplain, Reclamation will (1) reduce, to the greatest extent practicable, the potential adverse impacts of the proposed action, (2) take steps to restore or preserve the functions of the floodplain, and (3) reduce the vulnerability of that development to repetitive flood damages. E. All resource management plans, reservoir operating procedures, andEmergency Action Plans will consider the health and safety of the public along with protection and enhancement of other functions of floodplains. 3. Channel Capacity Management/Encroachment. A. Reclamation will operate and maintain its facilities to sustain or improve channel and floodplain flow carrying capacities in an effort to minimize property damage when large releases are necessary. When...