Flooding, runoff, and streams
How communities reduce flooding and protect local waterways.
Before you rely on thisThese are older articles and answers, and laws and programs change and vary by place. For current rules, check with your local floodplain or stormwater office and your state environmental agency.
Start with these
Guide
Flood Prevention Basics for Communities: What Can You Control?
True flood prevention relies on a watershed approach. In the meantime, this page explains terms and suggests effective local steps to reduce damage.Visitor question
How Can We Prevent Catastrophic Flooding?
Visitor Question: I'm finding what happened in Asheville, North Carolina in Hurricane Helene to be truly horrifying. As a minor official in my home community,Guide
Watershed Planning Improves Water Quality, Reduces Floods
Watershed planning sets the stage for clean water throughout your drainage basin. It also allows development of detailed strategies to prevent floods.Guide
Why Stormwater Runoff Determines Water Quality
Stormwater runoff delivers most pollutants found in streams and rivers. Here we discuss BMPs that could improve water quality and lessen erosion and flooding.Guide
Water Conservation at the Community Level
Water conservation at the community level can save on energy needed for purification and delivery. Use drama and humor to inspire enthusiasm for this issue.
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Original guidance from A Good Community: How to Make and Keep It, owned and edited by Nancy Thompson (formerly Useful Community Development), shared with permission. Community Compass notes and updates are our own and have not been reviewed by Nancy Thompson.