IWR's Conflict Resolution and Public Participation Center Launches New Initiative: Public Involvement in Flood Risk Management

ALEXANDRIA, VA – August 22, 2008. In conjunction with Theme III of the Corps national "Actions for Change" program and the National Flood Risk Management program, IWR's Conflict Resolution and Public Participation Center (CPC) held a framework meeting for the first phase of a multi-year initiative to develop improved frameworks and methods to encourage public involvement in selecting the appropriate flood risk management plan.

This first six-month phase will entail a survey of current practices, followed by draft principles for improving public involvement in flood risk management. Attendees agreed upon a conceptual outline of how to structure public involvement across time and across projects in activities undertaken by the broader flood risk management community. This community includes USACE, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Association of Flood & Stormwater Management Agencies ( NAFSMA), Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM), and local governments. The framework meeting also addressed how the task will be integrated with the other Actions for Change.

More about CPC

IWR created the Conflict Resolution and Public Participation Center to assist the Corps in implementing a collaborative approach to water resources decision making. Through training, research, and the collaborative process, this center of expertise on conflict resolution and public participation will facilitate the avoidance and resolution of water resources conflicts. CPC's objective is to develop and expand the application of collaborative tools to improve water resources decision making.

More about National Flood Risk Management Program

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers established the National Flood Risk Management Program for the purpose of integrating and synchronizing USACE flood risk management programs and activities, both internally and with counterpart activities of the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, other Federal agencies, state organizations and regional and local agencies. It's partners are FEMA, NAFSMA, and ASFPM.

Learn more:

• CPC
• National Flood Risk Management Program