Flood risk management reduction

The Corps of Engineers became involved in flood Risk Management Reduction through the 1917 Flood Control Act which authorized the Corps to have a significant federal role in flood control activities nationwide. Today the Corps is responsible for all projects containing Federal flood control storage and is responsible for flood risk management reduction projects, which are joint ventures between the Federal government and non-Federal sponsors.

In 1991, FEMA estimated that 94 million acres of the United States lie within the 100-year floodplain. Floodplains are complex systems that provide vital functions to support ecological, social and economic benefits. Many of the benefits of floodplain systems cannot be put into actual economic return, but some of the recognized value is benefits to fish and wildlife habitat, natural vegetation and trees, surface and ground water quality, open space, agricultural land, recreation, historic and archaeological preservation, residential and commercial development and commercial transportation. 

The Great Lakes and Ohio River Division built and maintains 83 flood control lakes and reservoirs to protect communities across this 335,000 square mile region. The majority of the reservoirs are within the flood-prone Appalachian mountain region. In addition, the division has 539 miles of levees and over 100 local flood protection projects which include walls, levees and channel improvements. These flood risk management reduction control projects cost $3.6 billion but have saved lives, homes, businesses and prevented over $18 billion in damages.  

Ohio River Flood Risk Management Reduction System  

The Ohio River Flood Risk Management System has 75 reservoirs and five dry dams. All of these projects are located on the Ohio River tributaries. The visible dams adjacent to navigation lock structures on the Ohio River are designed for maintaining navigation pools or reservoirs, not flood control.  

Reservoirs on the Ohio River Tributaries are as follows:  

• Great Lakes Flood Risk Management Reduction Projects
  In the Great Lakes region, there are two significant flood damage reduction initiatives. In Chicago, the Corps of Engineers is working with the Greater Chicago Tunnel and Reservoir Plan to create a reservoir overflow system at McCook and Thornton Quarries to ease basement flooding for 170,000 residents. Mount Morris Dam, a dry dam on the Genesee River protects the city of Rochester, New York. 
  
• Great Lakes Storm Reduction Measures
  The Corps of Engineers works to improve the Great Lakes shorelines from storm damage, erosion and drift. Much of the Great Lakes coastline is characterized by erodible dune and bluff shore types comprised of sand and clay. The natural protection of these shore types is provided by sand beaches, offshore bars and gentle near shore slopes. Where the natural protection is eroding away, the Corps of Engineer shore protection structures attempt to replace or improve natural features such as beaches and bars to reduce wave energy directly by acting as a barrier or indirectly by building artificial beaches to absorb wave energy.
  
  The Presque Isle Peninsula is protected from erosion with 55 segmented offshore breakwaters. The seven miles of shoreline protect Erie harbor and offer natural and recreation opportunities to millions of visitors.