This paper will discuss the need to use land and water resources wisely. The dangerous hazards that are put in place if land-use planning is not proper can cause serious damages and risk peoples’ lives. When looking at floodplain management especially, land use planning must be very thorough. The flood of 1954 that damaged the greater Toronto area is used as a prime example of what could happen if land is used improperly.

This paper will discuss what problems can occur if there is expansion on a floodplain. This information helps to show what great problems can come from land not managed properly. People and property are put at great risk when these problems are overlooked.

There are solutions given to use as an alternate approach to expansion on floodplains. The information here is given to show that there are safer and more environmentally compatible means of performing urban development projects. The solutions are then analyzed to show the purpose behind the solutions and how to go about using the solutions.

Each chapter uses diagrams to help explain important aspect of the paper further. These diagrams add a visual component to t

An alternate solution is the watershed approach, which is a way for water to be drained, stored and filtered. All of the land, which eventually drains to a common lake or river, is considered to be in the same watershed. When water cannot be absorbed into the ground because of urban development it naturally flows towards the closest water body. A watershed helps to drain and filter water to keep ecosystems healthy. According to Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds Coastline site, watersheds transport water from upland areas to receiving waters in a variety of pathways. Permanent streams are perhaps the most obvious. Precipitation, which infiltrates the watershed surface, and recharges the underlying ground water, provides continual support flows as the ground water discharges to the down gradient receiving waters. Surface runoff, which occurs during (and following) precipitation events results in more sporadic but significant inputs called "storm flows". The rates at which ground water and storm water move through a watershed are dependent upon a range of factors, including rainfall, geology, soils, topography, and vegetation. (Coastline, 2002) Figure 4.2 shows the path that water makes in a watershed.

Flooding is a big issue when it comes to storm water runoff and urban development. Think to yourself about what was just discussed in the above paragraphs and try to imagine what would happen if the storm water cloud not be absorbed into the ground and the development taking place was on a floodplain. According to the State of Oregon Emergency Management Plan, a floodplain is defined as “a land area adjacent to a river, stream, lake, estuary, or other water body that is subject to flooding.”(Oregon 06, 2000) That same plan goes on to explain that if floodplains are left untouched, they store excess floodwater. With that being said development on a floodplain should not occur because leaving the floodplain unharmed helps to absorb water that would otherwise flood the area.

The best answer to if development on a floodplain is a good idea is no. The consequences of developing on a floodplain are very extreme, especially if you look at what happened in Etobicoke in 1954. Hurricane Hazel caused the flooding, but if Raymore drive was not built on a floodplain the type of destruction would have been less. Too many things are put at risk when you think about. Even if building on a floodplain might help boost an economy for a little while, if a flood takes place your earnings most likely will be less than your investments. This is because of how much all the damages will cost. The lives that could be lost because of this type of expansion can be devastating. 32 people on Raymore drive alone died during Hurricane Hazel. Also development on a floodplain reduces water quality as mentioned earlier. And since the water quality is reduced that is one less resource for the area to use. This is because of pollution that possibly could be deposited into the water.

Some topics in this essay:
Disasters HQcom, Collins Colorado, Floodplain Summary, Hurricane Hazel, Corps Engineering, Etobicoke Creek, Alternative Solutions, Management Plan, Watersheds Coastline, Design Manual, urban development, storm water, raymore drive, water resources, land-use planning, hurricane hazel, development floodplain, water quality, water body, land water, disasters hqcom site, army corps engineering, storm water runoff, fort collins colorado, cause serious damage,