WaterWired

CRS Insight Reports: National Flood Insurance Program - 1) Selected Issues - Reauthorization and Reform; 2) Brief Introduction

Diane P. Horn has been busy on the National Flood Insurance Program front lately. She has authored two brief (two pages) CRS Insight reports on 19 February 2019: Selected Issues for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Reauthorization and Reform: Homeland Security Issues in the 116th Congress and A Brief Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program: Homeland Security Issues in the 116th Congress,

Below I have pasted the first section of each report. Click on the title to access the version including any hot links in the text. 

1) Selected Issues for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Reauthorization and Reform: Homeland Security Issues in the 116th Congress

Download CRS_Insight_NFIP_19February2019

NFIP Reauthorization
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is the primary source of flood insurance for residential properties in the United States, with more than 5.1 million policies providing over $1.3 trillion in coverage in over 22,000 communities. Since the end of FY2017, 10 short-term NFIP reauthorizations have been enacted, and the NFIP is currently authorized until May 31, 2019. Unless reauthorized or amended by Congress, on May 31, 2019, (1) the authority to provide new flood insurance contracts will expire and (2) the authority for the NFIP to borrow funds from the Treasury will be reduced from $30.425 billion to $1 billion.

A number of bills were introduced in the 115 th Congress to provide longer-term reauthorization of the NFIP and numerous other changes to the program. The House passed H.R. 2874 on November 14, 2017. Three reauthorization bills were introduced in the Senate, S. 1313, S. 1368, and S. 1571; however, none of these were considered by the Senate in the 115 th Congress.

2) A Brief Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program: Homeland Security Issues in the 116th Congress

Download CRS_Insight_NFIP_Intro_19February2019

Introduction
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (Title XIII of P.L. 90-448, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§4001 et seq.) and is the primary source of flood insurance coverage forresidential properties in the United States. The NFIP has two main policy goals: (1) to provide access to primary flood insurance, thereby allowing for the transfer of some of the financial risk from property owners to the federal government, and (2) to mitigate and reduce the nation's comprehensive flood risk through the development and implementation of floodplain management standards. A longer-term objective of the NFIP is to reduce federal expenditure on disaster assistance after floods. The NFIP engages in many "noninsurance" activities in the public interest: it identifies and maps flood hazards, disseminates flood-risk information through flood maps, requires community land-use and building-code standards, contributes to community resilience by providing a mechanism to fund rebuilding after a flood, and offers grants and incentive programs for household- and community-level investments in flood-risk reduction.

Over 22,000 communities participate in the NFIP, with more than 5.1 million policies providing over $1.3 trillion in coverage. The program collects more than $4.7 billion in annual revenue from policyholders' premiums, fees, and surcharges. Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States, and all 50 states have experienced floods in recent years.

Enjoy!

"We are the state’s flagship institution in a fleet of dinghies. That is something to be proud, even if the state’s higher education system is in the gutter nationally." - @ass_deans .

CRS Insight Report: 'Drought Contingency Plans for the Colorado River Basin'

Charles V. Stern has penned this critical 4-page CRS Insight report (dated 15 February 2019): Drought Contingency Plans for the Colorado River.   

I have pasted the entire report below and along with a PDF version. The online version may have some hot links; you can find that version hereor by clicking on the title above.

Download CRS_Insight_Drought_CRB_15February2019

Introduction
The Colorado River Basin is a critical source of water and power supplies for seven western states and Mexico. The basin is in the midst of a long-term drought. Water levels at the basin's two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, could reach critically low levels. Building on prior agreements, the basin states and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) recently announced drought contingency plans (DCPs) that aim to decrease the likelihood of major water and power supply curtailments for users.

Colorado River Basin in Context
The Colorado River Basin (Figure 1) covers approximately 246,000 square miles, 97% of which are in the United States. It includes the Colorado River and its tributaries, which cross the United States border into Mexico before discharging into the Gulf of California. Pursuant to federal law, multiple federal facilities (e.g., Hoover Dam) store and convey water from the river and its tributaries and generate hydropower for the southwestern United States. The primary federal agency with jurisdiction over the river is Reclamation, an agency within the Department of the Interior (DOI).

Based on observed data, average natural Colorado River flows in the 20th century were about 15 million acre-feet (maf) annually. Flows have dipped during an ongoing, long-term drought dating from 2000; Reclamation estimated that from 2008 to 2018, flows averaged 12.9 maf.

Colorado River Compact
The Colorado River Compact of 1922, agreed to by the basin states and the federal government, is the foundation of the "Law of the River," which governs water management. Under the compact, water supplies are divided equally between the Upper Basin and the Lower Basin, with the dividing line at Lee's Ferry, AZ (near the Utah Border). Each basin was apportioned 7.5 maf annually. Congress approved the compact in the Boulder Canyon Project Act of 1928. Multiple other compacts, federal laws, court decisions, and regulatory guidelines have since been added to the Law of the River. State-level apportionments were established by documents approved subsequent to the Colorado River Compact. Pursuant to a 1944 treaty with Mexico, an additional 1.5 maf per year was reserved for flows to Mexico.

Supply/Demand Imbalance
Consumptive use in the basin typically exceeds natural flows, and studies project this trend will lead to a long-term imbalance in basin supply and demand. The basin has thus far avoided major impacts on supplies due in large part to its significant storage (60 maf), coupled with the fact that Upper Basin states have not fully developed their entitlement. However, less water is in storage as a result of the drought. Additional supply/demand imbalance could result from projected population increases and the development of tribal water rights, among other things.

Drought Contingency Plans
In October 2018, after several years of negotiations, draft DCPs were announced for the Upper and Lower Basins. The DCPs aim to decrease the likelihood of major supply curtailments and other basin impacts. They build on a series of prior agreements:

1) 2003 Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA). California agreed to reduce water use to adhere to its Colorado River water allocation and committed to a path for restoration of the Salton Sea in Southern California.

2) 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. These guidelines included criteria for "balancing" releases from Lakes Mead and Powell and a mechanism for storing conserved water in Lake Mead. They also included a schedule of Lower Basin curtailments in Arizona and Nevada if Lake Mead drops to an elevation of 1,075 feet or less (i.e., a "shortagecondition"). As of January 2019, there was a 69% chance of a shortage condition beginning in 2020.

3) 2014 Pilot System Conservation Program. This DOI-led effort provided cost-shared funding for projects to conserve water supplies in the Lower Basin.

4) 2017 Minute 323 agreement with Mexico. This agreement extended and replaced the previous Minute 319 agreement (2012) with Mexico. It included increased U.S. storage opportunities for Mexico and a binational plan that would commit Mexico to new delivery curtailments parallel to those in the Lower Basin DCP.

The Upper Basin DCP would establish a Demand Management Program for the Upper Basin by authorizing storage of conserved water in Lake Powell. It also would establish 3,525 feet as the target operational level for Lake Powell. Together, these efforts would decrease the risk of Lake Powell's elevation falling below 3,490 feet, at which point reduced hydropower generation and cutbacks to water users are possible.

The Lower Basin DCP would require that when Lake Mead reaches predetermined elevations, Lower Basin states would forgo deliveries beyond previously agreed-upon levels. It would further incentivize voluntary conservation of water to be stored in Lake Mead and commit DOI to conserving 100,000 acre-feet of water that will be left in the system. The agreement aims to avoid Lake Mead elevations falling below 1,020 feet.

DCP implementation requires approval by basin states and stakeholders of the DCPs and a number of related intrastate agreements. Federal actions in the DCPs also require authorization by Congress. On February 1, 2019, Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman announced that basin states had not completed all of the required steps to approve the DCPs by a previously established January 31 deadline. Thus, the bureau published a Federal Register notice requesting input from basin state governors regarding how DOI might reduce the risk of drought in the basin. If the DCPs are completed by March 4, the notice would be rescinded and the DCPs could be finalized with congressional authorization. If they are not completed, DOI may use its authority to make unilateral water delivery cutbacks in the basin.

Enjoy!

"I've searched all the parks in all the cities and found no statues of committees." - G.K. Chesterton

UMD and TAMU Report and Webinar: 'The Growing Threat of Urban Flooding: A National Challenge'

Hot off the press from the Center for Disaster Resilience at the University of Maryland and Center for Texas Beaches and Shores at Texas A&M University, Galveston Campus: The Growing Threat of Urban Flooding: A National Challenge.

If Dr. Gerry Galloway is involved in this effort, you know it's got to be real good. Add Sam Brody and Jayton Rainey from TAMU and you have quite a team!

Download UMD_TAMU_Urban_flooding_report_online_revised

Webinar recording: click here or view below.

The blurb from the website:

In 2016, the Center for Disaster Resilience at the University of Maryland and Center for Texas Beaches and Shores at Texas A&M University, Galveston Campus initiated a joint study to identify the principal causes of flooding, determine the extent and consequences of urban flooding
in the United States, and explore what actions might be taken to mitigate this flooding in the future. Center researchers analyzed available data concerning urban flooding, surveyed municipal flood and stormwater managers, and met with professionals whose disciplines intersect with urban flooding at the local, state, and national level. 

The research team's findings affirm that urban flooding is a national and significant source of economic loss, social disruption, and housing inequality. This report presents the full results of the study, addresses governance issues that affect urban flood risk reduction, examines critical challenges, and offers recommendations for actions.

 

Enjoy!

"No single raindrop believes it is to blame for the flood." - E. L. Kersten

CRS In Focus Report: 'A Brief Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program'

Here is a CRS two-pager by Diane P. Horn, A Brief Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program, published on 28 September 2018.

Probably useful this time of the year although some might say (TL)**2 (Too Little, Too Late). The graphic is not from the report. 

Download CRS_InFocus_NFIP_28Sept2018

Introduction

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is the primary source of flood insurance coverage for residential properties in the United States. The NFIP has two main policy goals: (1) to provide access to primary flood insurance, thereby allowing for the transfer of some of the financial risk of property owners to the federal government; and (2) to mitigate and reduce the nation’s comprehensive flood risk through the development and implementation of floodplain management standards. A longer-term objective of the NFIP is to reduce federal expenditure on disaster assistance after floods. As a public insurance program, the goals of the NFIP are different from the goals of private- sector insurance companies. It encompasses social goals to provide flood insurance in flood-prone areas to property owners who otherwise would not be able to obtain it, and to reduce the government’s cost after floods. The NFIP also engages in many “noninsurance” activities in the publicinterest: it identifies and maps flood hazards, disseminates flood-risk information through flood maps, requires community land-use and building-code standards, contributes to community resilience by providing a mechanism to fund rebuilding after a flood, and offers grants and incentive programs for household- and community-level investments in flood-risk reduction.

Over 22,000 communities in 56 states and jurisdictions participate in the NFIP, with over 5 million policies providing nearly $1.29 trillion in coverage. The program collects nearly $3.6 billion in premium revenue each year. Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States, and in recent years all 50 states have experienced flood events.

 

Enjoy!

"Never stand between a dog and a lampost." - former British PM Stanley Baldwin, quoted in @thetimes via @TheWeek

Bill Alley NGWA Editorial: 'Hurricane Florence - Why Is Nobody Talking About Groundwater?'

Friend and hydrogeologist extraordinaire Dr. Bill Alley, NGWA’s Director of Science and Technology, wrote the following editorial right after Hurricane Florence hit the East Coast last month. I scraped it from the NGWA website, primarily because I wanted to ensure it is permanently archived somewhere. Its content will become increasingly relevant as time passes; Bill's remarks transcend Florence. Hurricane Michael, anyone? Or Harvey? 

Hurricane Florence: Why Is Nobody Talking About Groundwater?

The historic flooding from Hurricane Florence has unleashed massive amounts of contaminants causing widespread pollution of streams, rivers, and lakes. Less obvious, but of considerable concern, are the effects on groundwater. Attention to groundwater quality is needed, both immediately and longer-term.

The sources of contamination are many in the region impacted by the storm: compromised hog-waste lagoons, dead animal carcasses, runoff from fields where billions of gallons of manure are sprayed annually, partially or wholly untreated sewage from municipal treatment plants suffering from power outages, breached coal ash storage ponds, and flooded hazardous waste sites, among others.

Much of the contaminant load in surface water will find its way into groundwater.

Of most immediate concern are the effects on homeowners’ wells, along with wells in trailer parks, campgrounds, and elsewhere that are used without treatment. Most of these wells are shallow, making them especially vulnerable to contamination.

Of particular concern are wells inundated by flooding. Mud and debris may have to be physically removed. But that’s just a start. No well is completely safe from flooding, but those with a cracked or improper cap are particularly vulnerable. Contaminated water also can fast-track into well water by flowing downward along the annulus between a well casing and the side of the borehole—again, older wells or those improperly constructed are most vulnerable. Wastewater from homeowners’ overloaded septic systems is yet another concern.

Most rural residents depend on a domestic well for their sole water supply. People whose wells have been flooded will need another source of water while their well is tested and disinfected. Disinfection is best done by a certified well contractor, which takes several days under normal circumstances when a contractor is available and may need to be repeated multiple times. Some wells may not be a safe source of water for months after the flood.

Bacteria and chemicals slowly seeping into the ground can contaminate groundwater even after the water is tested and found to be safe. Streams, rivers, and lakes are typically hydrologically connected to groundwater, resulting in the potential for widescale groundwater contamination throughout the region. It will be necessary to take long-range precautions, including repeated testing, to protect the safety of drinking water and to monitor the longer-term groundwater impacts.

As the region recovers from Florence, groundwater may be out-of-sight, but it should not be out-of-mind.

Dr. Bill Alley is the National Ground Water Association’s Science and Technology Director. Previously, he served as chief of the Office of Groundwater at the U.S. Geological Survey for nearly 20 years. Alley and his wife, Rosemarie, wrote the book High and Dry: Meeting the Challenges of the World’s Growing Dependence on Groundwater, which was released in early 2017.

Bill is spot-on with his assessment. It should be emphasized that the long-term effects are quite serious given the inherently insidious nature of groundwater contamination. The visuals for floods necessarily focus on surface effects - no explanation for that is required. But for once I'd love to see CNN's Anderson Cooper or Brooke Baldwin standing by a wellhead explaining the hidden dangers lurking in the floodwaters. 

I recall in my first hydrology class way back when (1970) - we learned that floodwaters are beneficial in that they recharge groundwater. But they forgot to mention a term that was often neglected in those days - water quality.  

"If you can not measure it, you can not improve it." - Lord Kelvin