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One tool of the economic planner is Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA). This model's accuracy in describing human behavior has been criticized, particularly for uncertain and intertemporal choices. To the extent this holds, the model will be inaccurate in assessing benefits of shoreline protection measures and will provide reduced insight into policy choices. From a review of economic, psychology and geography literature, three points of criticism are: - when faced with losses, individuals tend not to be averse to risk, - when faced with low probability hazards, individuals tend to ignore the hazard altogether (truncate low probability), - when faced with choices over time, individuals have different rates at which they trade off benefits now versus later. Typically, applications of BCA do not account for these observations. The main objective of the study was to determine whether these criticisms are supported, and to draw conclusions regarding government policy for the flooding and erosion hazards on the Lakes. A Benefit Cost model was formulated to describe the individual shoreline property owner's behavior with respect to undertaking structural measures to mitigate flooding and/or erosion. To test the model, property owners on Lakes Erie, Ontario and Michigan were surveyed by mail. Experimental questions, focussing on the intertemporal and uncertain nature of the hazard protection choice were developed. The econometric analysis suggested that: - individuals varied in their time preference rate, - the probability of low chance events was truncated by many respondents, - on average respondents were not risk averse, and - the above phenomena helped explain the choice to take protective action. Using a market rate for discounting in the BCA can provide inaccurate benefit estimates. Observed time preference rates may provide a better measure. Subsidized hazard insurance has been suggested to encourage self protection. Disregard for low probabilities, coupled with a lack of risk aversion, suggest such a program would not be successful. Subsidized loans for shore protection may be unsuccessful. Many people displayed a time preference rate above the market loan rate, yet they did not borrow. Information programs may be useful in promoting a better understanding of the hazards which may be faced by residents. / Ph. D.

A subject of this Thesis is the design of the complex system of measures of soil conservation in given catchment area, which will serve as a concept of complex land consolidation in cadaster Jerlochovice. Based on the analysis and the land survey, a feasible solution was designed using the hydrological and erosive tools of ArcGIS. For the identification of areas endangered by erosion and for the identification of runoff conditions, the Universal Soil Loss Equation of Wischmeier-Smith was used (in grid modification). Based on the calculated values, the suitable technical and agrotechnical measures of soil erosion control were designed. Each component was designed for the values of Qn from the model DesQ. Subsequently the efectivity of the designed measures was evaluated by the comparison of results of erosive and runoff conditions before and after the aplication of the soil and water conservation measures.

A combination of geological and hydraulic techniques represents the most sensible approach to flood hazard analysis on alluvial fans. Hydraulic models efficiently yield predictions of flood depths and velocities, but the assumptions on which the models are based do not lead to accurate portrayals of natural fan processes. Geomorphological mapping, facies, mapping, and hydraulic reconstructions of past floods provide data on the location, types, and magnitude of flood hazards, respectively. Geological reconstructions of past floods should be compared with the results of hydraulic modeling before, potentially unsound, floodplain management decisions are implemented. The controversial Federal Emergency Management Agency procedure for delineating flood-hazard zones underestimated the extent, velocity, and depth of flow during recent floods on two alluvial fans by over 100, 25, and 70 percent, respectively. Flow on the alluvial fans occurs in one or more discontinuous ephemeral stream systems characterized by alternating sheetflood zones and channelized reaches. The importance of sheetflooding is greater on fans closer to the mountain front and with unstable channel banks. Channel diversions on five alluvial fans repeatedly occurred along low channel banks and bends where the greatest amount of overland flow is generated. Channel migration occurs through stream capture whereby overland flow from the main channel accelerates and directs erosion of adjacent secondary channels. The recurrence interval of major channel shifts is greater than 100 years, but minor changes occurred on all five fans during this century. Small aggrading flows are important, because they decrease bank heights and alter the location of greatest overland flow during subsequent floods. The results of this study demonstrate that (1) geological reconstructions of past floods can check the results of hydraulic models, (2) the character of flooding on alluvial fans can vary significantly in the same tectonic and climatic setting due to differences in drainage-basin characteristics, and (3) flood-hazard assessments on alluvial fans must be updated after each flood, because the location and timing of channel diversions can be affected by small floods.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T19:24:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Agnaldo Passolongo Preti.pdf: 3515934 bytes, checksum: 02a0cd639e522e2412af47a054476fc1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-12-12 / There is a clear conflict between the reservoir utilization for control and use multiple of the water mainly for electric power generation. In order to control the floods, it is necessary to predict the availability of empty reservoir volumes, capable of absorbing some inflow parcels, to avoid or reduce the damage caused to the downstream area. From an energy standpoint, it is desirable to allocate the smallest possible protection volume, while from a flood control standpoint, it is desirable to have a reliable estimate of the possibility of the reservoir failing to control a flood when a given protection volume is allocated. The objective of this work was to obtain the Curve Volume x Duration using maximum inflow with different duration fitted by GEV distribution and LH moments used to estimate the protection volume in reservoir. It was used maximum affluent volumes of the Paraná River recorded in Guaira gauge. All the fit of the maximum affluent volumes was agree by the approximate goodness-of-fit test of fitted generalized extreme value distribution using LH moments by WANG (1998) with 5% significance level. The Curve Volume x Duration was build appropriately for ten different affluent volumes durations. / Existe conflito na utilização de reservatórios para o controle de cheias e usos múltiplos da água, principalmente para a geração de energia elétrica. Para controlar cheias é necessário um volume vazio no reservatório capaz de absorver uma eventual cheia sem causar danos nas áreas à jusante. Por outro lado, para gerar energia é desejável alocar o menor volume de proteção possível, ao passo que para controlar cheias é desejável ter uma estimativa confiável da possibilidade do reservatório falhar quando um dado volume de proteção é alocado. O objetivo deste trabalho foi construir a curva volume x duração, empregada para estimar volume de espera, por meio do ajuste das séries de volumes máximos afluentes, utilizando a distribuição GEV e momentos LH. Foram trabalhados volumes afluentes observados em várias estações de rio do Paraná. Todos os ajustes dos volumes máximos afluentes foram aceitos através dos testes de qualidade de ajuste propostos por WANG (1998) e Kolmogorov-Smirnov com 5 % de significância e critério de Kite. As curvas volume x duração foram adequadamente construídas usando valores de volumes máximos afluentes para diferentes durações e estações.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:48:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Agnaldo Passolongo Preti.pdf: 3515934 bytes, checksum: 02a0cd639e522e2412af47a054476fc1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-12-12 / There is a clear conflict between the reservoir utilization for control and use multiple of the water mainly for electric power generation. In order to control the floods, it is necessary to predict the availability of empty reservoir volumes, capable of absorbing some inflow parcels, to avoid or reduce the damage caused to the downstream area. From an energy standpoint, it is desirable to allocate the smallest possible protection volume, while from a flood control standpoint, it is desirable to have a reliable estimate of the possibility of the reservoir failing to control a flood when a given protection volume is allocated. The objective of this work was to obtain the Curve Volume x Duration using maximum inflow with different duration fitted by GEV distribution and LH moments used to estimate the protection volume in reservoir. It was used maximum affluent volumes of the Paraná River recorded in Guaira gauge. All the fit of the maximum affluent volumes was agree by the approximate goodness-of-fit test of fitted generalized extreme value distribution using LH moments by WANG (1998) with 5% significance level. The Curve Volume x Duration was build appropriately for ten different affluent volumes durations. / Existe conflito na utilização de reservatórios para o controle de cheias e usos múltiplos da água, principalmente para a geração de energia elétrica. Para controlar cheias é necessário um volume vazio no reservatório capaz de absorver uma eventual cheia sem causar danos nas áreas à jusante. Por outro lado, para gerar energia é desejável alocar o menor volume de proteção possível, ao passo que para controlar cheias é desejável ter uma estimativa confiável da possibilidade do reservatório falhar quando um dado volume de proteção é alocado. O objetivo deste trabalho foi construir a curva volume x duração, empregada para estimar volume de espera, por meio do ajuste das séries de volumes máximos afluentes, utilizando a distribuição GEV e momentos LH. Foram trabalhados volumes afluentes observados em várias estações de rio do Paraná. Todos os ajustes dos volumes máximos afluentes foram aceitos através dos testes de qualidade de ajuste propostos por WANG (1998) e Kolmogorov-Smirnov com 5 % de significância e critério de Kite. As curvas volume x duração foram adequadamente construídas usando valores de volumes máximos afluentes para diferentes durações e estações.

The Chehalis River Basin is located in the southwest region of Washington State, originating in the Olympic Mountains and flowing to Grays Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. The Chehalis River is over 125 miles, exists within five counties, and flows through agricultural, residential, industrial, and forest land areas. Four major rivers discharge to the Chehalis River, as well as many smaller creeks, five wastewater treatment plants, and groundwater flows. Flooding is a major problem in the relatively flat areas surrounding the cities of Chehalis and Centralia, with severe consequences for property, safety and transportation. As a result, construction of a flood-control dam in the upper basin has been proposed. One major concern of constructing a dam is the potentially severe impacts to fish health and habitat. The Chehalis River has routinely violated water quality standards for primarily temperature and dissolved oxygen, and has had multiple water quality and Total Maximum Daily Load studies beginning in 1990. CE-QUAL-W2, a two-dimensional (longitudinal and vertical) hydrodynamic and water quality model, was used to simulate the Chehalis River, including free flowing river stretches and stratified (in summer) lake-like stretches. The goals of this research were to assess the flood retention structure's impacts to water quality, as well as river responses to potential climate change scenarios. In order to use the model to achieve these goals, calibration to field data for flow, temperature, and water quality constituents was performed. This involved developing meteorological data, riparian shading data, and flow, temperature, water quality records for all tributaries during the calibration period of January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014. System cross-sectional geometry data were also required for the model grid. Because of the short travel time in the river, the model was sensitive to boundary condition data, wind speed, bathymetry, nutrient kinetics, and algae, epiphyton, and zooplankton kinetics. Future conditions showed predictions of warmer water temperatures and slight changes to water quality conditions on the river. As fish in the area prefer cooler water temperatures, this could pose a threat to fish health and habitat. Flood retention structures also showed impacts to river temperature and water quality. Structures with the purpose of flood retention only (only operating during times of flooding) gave model predictions for daily maximum temperature higher than structures that employed flood retention and flow augmentation (operating during all times of the year). This suggested the management of flow passage or retention by the dam is important for water quality on the river. As this research continues improvements will be made, particularly to temperature and water quality constituents. Additional data for the system would be beneficial to this process. Model predictions of temperature were sensitive to meteorological data, including cloud cover, which were largely estimated based on solar radiation. Additional meteorological data throughout the basin would be useful to temperature results. Temperature results were also sensitive to the model bathymetry, and additional investigations into segments widths and water depths may improve temperature predictions. Water quality constituent data were largely lacking for the system. Many estimation techniques and approximations were used for input water quality constituents for the model upstream boundary and tributaries when little or no data were available, introducing uncertainty to the model. It was not possible to calibrate pH to field data because alkalinity data were essentially unavailable. However, other constituents had good agreement between model predictions and field data, including dissolved oxygen, nitrates, total phosphorus, and total suspended solids.

This study aims to explore the possibility of environmental justice as social consensus and an institutional framework to reduce socioeconomic differences in natural disaster vulnerability through a case study of flood risk management in Johnson Creek, Portland, Oregon. First, by analyzing institutions, policies, and currently ongoing flood mitigation projects, this study investigates how federal and local governments are addressing and responding to current flood problems. Second, through flood expert surveys and GIS spatial analysis, this study examines various factors that contribute to communities' susceptibility to flood risks, and whether there exist spatial differences between physically and socioeconomically vulnerable communities within the Johnson Creek area. Lastly, this study conducted comparative analysis of perceptions using Q-methodology to explore the diverse range of meanings and understandings that flood experts and urban practitioners construct in relation to the dilemmas of environmental justice in flood mitigation practice. The findings of this study indicate that institutional blind spots and barriers in natural disaster mitigation policy and planning can be generated by flood experts' and urban practitioners' different understandings of vulnerability, different interpretations of human rights, and different perspectives on the extent of institutional responsibility to assist socioeconomically vulnerable populations.

The issue of sediment removal from the San Gabriel Mountains has been a complex issue that has created problems with beach replenishment, habitat destruction and the need to spend millions of dollars at regular intervals to avoid safety hazards. Most recently 11 acres of riparian habitat, including 179 oaks and 70 sycamores, were removed for sediment placement. Other sites including Hahamongna Watershed Park and La Tuna Canyon also face a similar fate. This thesis questions: How did we get to this point of destroying habitat to dump sediment which is viewed as waste product? What are the barriers for creating long term solutions and progressive change? What are some other options? And how should we move forward? The issues with sediment management have stemmed from regulatory compliance issues, adversarial relationships within agencies and among NGO's and the public, and the lack of a comprehensive long-term plan to prevent further habitat loss and other sediment removal issues. A recommendation includes looking at a community forestry model to include a wide cross-section of the community, NGO's and government agencies to come up with a long term comprehensive and progressive solution.

From the Proceedings of the 1977 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - April 15-16, 1977, Las Vegas, Nevada / A dual purpose reservoir control problem can logically be modelled as a game against nature. The first purpose of the reservoir is flood control under uncertain inflow, which corresponds to short -range operation (SRO); the second purpose, which the present model imbeds into the first one, is water supply after the flood has receded, and corresponds to long-range operation (LRO). The reservoir manager makes release decisions based on his SRO risk. The trade-offs involved in his decision are described by a utility function, which is constructed within the framework of Keeney's multiattribute utility theory. The underlying assumptions appear to be quite natural for the reservoir control problem. To test the model, an experiment assessing the utility criterion of individuals has been performed; the results tend to confirm the plausibility of the approach. In particular, most individuals appear to have a risk-averse attitude for small floods and a risk-taking attitude for large ones.