Red River Basin Disaster Information Network
On-Line Workshop
October 28, 1999 -- 12:00 Noon CST

Sharing the Challenge
Floodplain Management and the IJC in the Twenty-first Century

Gerald E. Galloway, Jr., P.E., Ph.D.
Secretary, United States Section
International Joint Commission

Online Transcript
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Text Transcript
Slides: 1, 2, 3

In this session, we had the opportunity to discuss two related topics

• improving management of the floodplain and reduction of flood losses through use of all the tools available to those living and working in hazard areas; and
• increasing coordination among the public and governmental agencies at all levels to promote an ecosystem approach to basin management.

In the report of the U.S. Interagency Floodplain Management Review Committee, following the Midwest Flood of 1993, Sharing the Challenge: Floodplain Management into the 21st Century, the Committee concluded:

"Over the last 30 years the nation has learned that effective floodplain management can reduce vulnerability to damages and create a balance among natural and human uses of floodplains and their related watersheds to meet the social, economic and environmental goals of the nation. … Floods will happen. The goal of the nation should be to minimize the risk of damage from floods. The needed tools, authorities and programs are available. … Many of the nation's past activities related to floodplain and disaster recovery make sense, produce desirable results, and should be continued. Others do not and should be stopped."

As one of its primary recommendations, it stated:

"Now is the time to share responsibility and accountability for accomplishing floodplain management among all levels of government and with all citizens..."

In The IJC and the Twenty-first Century:

"The Commission notes the importance of increasing coordination with national and international governmental bodies at all levels, whose work in some way influences or is influenced by the boundary area [and] ... finds that it must establish new mechanisms to solicit the advice and strengthen the participation of the public at the community and local levels."

What can be done on a national and international basis to deal with floods? What new opportunities lie ahead for strengthening coordination and participation? How will emerging technologies be brought to bear?

We were honored to present Gerry Galloway to address these themes and provide members with an opportunity to ask questions of their own.

Sharing the Challenge: Floodplain Management into the 21st Century (Full Report)
Download Sharing the Challenge(Executive Summary, WordPerfect file)
The IJC and the Twenty-first Century
1909 Boundary Waters Treaty

About Gerry Galloway
Gerry Galloway is Secretary of the United States Section of the International Joint Commission - US and Canada, Washington, DC. A civil engineer, public administrator and geographer, he also serves as a water resources and flood mitigation consultant to a variety of national and international government organizations. He has served as a Presidential appointee to the Mississippi River Commission and the American Heritage Rivers Advisory Committee. In 1994, he was assigned to the White House to lead a committee in assessing the causes of the 1993 Mississippi River Flood.