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Introduction of zoning

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hazard:
location: , , ,

by Piotr Matczak, Darryn McEvoy, Ilona Banaszak, Adam Chorynski

[other options]

What:
Zoning is a planning instrument, operating through restrictions of certain land use. The use of floodplains by regulation (legally binding) or agreement is a non-structural option that requires establishment of criteria for the determination of flood plain zones. Zones can be delineated according to flood risk, especially in case of insurance, or by the type and vulnerability of zones to flood damage or to the danger of the loss of human lives. Flood protection zoning can be combined with establishment of nature protection areas.
Extreme event: Floods
Type of option: Institutional; Legal and regulatory instruments
Risk management: Risk reduction
Sector: Agriculture
Landscape type: Urban; Coastal
Location: Australia; Germany; United States; other
Why:
Drivers of change: Socio-economic: Rapid development on traditionally hazardous areas without constrains after 1960.

Policy: An ecological approach in floodplain management.
How and who:
Implementation: River plains
Institutional context: Zoning consists of government regulations or guidance on land use. Regulations are clearly the most commonly used means for influencing the location and character of development in flood hazard areas. Three types of regulations are used to mitigate flood hazards: a) elevation requirements for structures; b) subdivision regulations governing the creation of new lots and layout of streets and utilities; c) zoning regulations covering permitted land uses and the intensity of development.
Potential barriers: Complicated flood behavior.
Implications for sustainable development:
Implications for sustainable development: Land at risk might be used as wildlife areas and parks.
Option facilitates risk awareness rising. Land at risk could be also used for recreational areas, parking, playground etc.
Reduces flood damage to property. Might increase the number of insured property. Zoning and flood insurance are complimentary options.
Resources:
Learning
and
knowledge transfer:
http://www.co.baldwin.al.us/uploads/Flood%20Zoning%20Plan%20
White%20Paper%2011-13-2007.pdf
Flood zoning plan in a community in the U.S.
http://www.cityofprescott.net/services/building/lookup.php
Flood zoning in Arizona - flood status might be verified by entering the number of property parcel
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/flood_risk/consult.htm
A European flood action program
Evaluation: An application of cost-benefit analysis of flood-plain zoning program shows that albeit zoning is cost-effective overall, it may be unacceptable for various reasons to the parties involved.
Scientific references:
Aulitzky, H. (1994). Hazard mapping and zoning in Austria: methods and legal implications source: mountain research and development, Mountain Hazard Geomorphology Vol. 14, No. 4: 307-313.

Burby, R., S. French (1981). Coping with floods, Journal of the American Planning Association, 47: 289-300.

Hooper, B.P., J.A. Duggin (1996). Ecological riverine floodplain zoning: its application to rural floodplain management in the Murray-Darling Basin, Land Use Policy, 13: 87-99.

Ouellette, P., D. Leblanc, N. El-Jabi, J. Rouselle (1988). Cost-benefit analysis of flood-plain zoning. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management 114(3): 326-334.

Rossi, G., N. Harmoncioglu, V. Yevjevich (1994). Coping with Floods. NATO ASI Series E, Vol. 257, Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht.

Takeuchi, K. (2001). Increasing vulnerability to extreme floods and societal needs of hydrological forecasting, Hydrol. Sci. J. 46 (6): 869-882.

Thieken, A.H., P. Petrow, H. Kreibich, B. Merz (2006). Insurability and mitigation of flood losses in private households in Germany. Risk Analysis, Vol. 26, No. 2: 383-395.
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