Lessons Learned on Integrating Water Quality and Nature-based Approaches into Hazard Mitigation Plans
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Eastern: 1:00p.m.-3:00p.m. Central: 12:00p.m.-2:00p.m. Mountain: 11:00a.m.-1:00p.m. Pacific: 10:00a.m.-12:00p.m.
A Watershed Academy Webcast
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs have been revised under EO 13653 (Preparing the US for Climate Change), to include climate resilient mitigation activities. EPA is promoting plan integration of FEMA Hazard Mitigation Plans and water quality plans to support projects that reduce natural hazards while emphasizing its water quality benefits.
Though green infrastructure and water quality planning are not new ideas, including them in larger planning efforts, such as hazard mitigation planning, represents a different way of thinking. Pilots have been concluded in Massachusetts; Albany, NY; Huntington, WV; and Ashland, OR. These pilots provide opportunities for learning about successes and challenges, and highlight how communities identify, address, and overcome those challenges. These pilots demonstrate that local stakeholders and communities can use FEMA’s hazard mitigation planning process, a regulatory requirement tied to eligibility for mitigation funding, to educate partners and build support for adoption of measures that mitigate hazards while bettering the environment.
This webcast will look at two completed pilot projects that have successfully integrated watershed planning, green infrastructure practices and source water protection into FEMA hazard mitigation plans.
Learn about how these communities are sharing the benefits, including:
1) Better results and more efficient planning. If watershed planning is part of the hazard analysis, optimal results for water quality, floodplain management, and hazard risk reduction can be achieved.
2) FEMA and other federal funding may be available to water quality projects that also mitigate hazards.
3) More opportunity for green infrastructure solutions to hazards.
4) Reduced flood insurance rates for communities that adopt stormwater policies that reduce risk, including green infrastructure and watershed planning.
5) Potentially meet requirements for reducing water quality impairments faster by management with other risks.
Webcast participants are eligible to receive a certificate for their attendance. The webcast presentations are posted in advance at http://www.epa.gov/watershedacademy/watershed-academy-webcast-seminars and participants are encouraged to download them prior to the webcast.
Speakers:
Myra Schwartz, EPA Region 1, Assistance & Pollution Prevention Office
Carrie Robinette, Climate Program Analyst, FEMA
Josh Bruce, Director, Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience – a program of the University of Oregon School of Planning, Public Policy and Management and the Institute for Policy Research and Engagement
Registration:
You must register in advance to attend this webcast. Register at the Watershed Academy webcast website at: http://www.epa.gov/watershedacademy/watershed-academy-webcast-seminars.
The Watershed Academy: The Watershed Academy is a focal point in EPA’s Office of Water for providing training and information on implementing watershed approaches. The Academy self-paced training modules and webcast seminars provide current information from national experts across a broad range of watershed topics. For more information, please visit www.epa.gov/watershedacademy .
Questions? Please contact WatershedAcademySupport@cadmusgroup.com