A strategic framework for integrated flood management of the Lake Champlain Richelieu River system

Session: Hydraulics, Hydrology, and Human Interactions in the Lake Champlain/Richelieu River Basin

Syed Moin, International Joint Commission, [email protected]
Ted Yuzyk, International Joint Commission, [email protected]
Bill Werick, International Joint Commission, [email protected]

Abstract

Following the widespread flooding in the Lake Champlain Richelieu River system in 2011, the International Joint Commission initiated a major binational study. The objective of this study was to develop measures that will reduce the risk of future flooding damages. This framework consist of two goals; first, to reduce high water levels and thereby flooding impacts through moderate structural solutions; and, second, to reduce vulnerability to high water and build flood resiliency through non-structural solutions. The moderate structural solutions encompass thematic approaches of reducing water levels in the river and the lake and impeding the flows from watersheds into the lake. Similarly, the non-structural solutions embody flood response features and floodplain management options. The mitigation framework entails two steps; initially, examining a broad range of solutions; and, subsequently to effectively address flooding requiring implementation of a combination of solutions. This is achieved through planning, developing and implementing a Collaborative Decision Support Tool (CDST) as a central piece of evaluation. The CDST takes input from a spectrum of stakeholders, decisionmakers, government agencies at the three levels, municipal, state/provincial and federal. As most of the flood damages were along the Richelieu River reaches require the assessment of several instream features like the eel traps, submerged

Twitter handle of presenter
@Afaqmoin