Gablehouse slides on DRR environmental factors

1. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org Colorado Flooding Difficulty in Implementing DRR in the Aftermath

2. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org Natural and Economic Setting • Mountains with steep sided canyons and fast rivers – Elevations of 1,500m – 2,500m – Roads are narrow and located in the valley bottoms • Primarily a tourism economy – These communities “eat” scenery – Perceived wilderness and natural setting – Recreational use of rivers and mountains • Infrastructure designed not to intrude on the natural setting

3. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org Flash Flooding • Heavy rain events from slow-moving storm cells – Uncommon, but clearly understood risk – Water flow can grow several orders of magnitude within minutes • Preparedness efforts limited to warning and self-evacuation to higher ground – Projections based on rain rates – Stream flow gauges generally destroyed by the event • Minimal effort to reduce infrastructure damage through ecosystem changes – In this event prior efforts were largely ineffective

4. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org

16. WHAT WAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE? DAMAGE TO RECREATIONAL FISHERY ONGOING INSTABILITY AND EROSION DRINKING WATER SUPPLY HARM WAS MINIMAL - PRIMARILY RELIANT ON RESERVOIRS OR WELLS VISUAL IMPACTS - DEBATE WHETHER IMAGE AS WILDERNESS 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org HARMED OR ENHANCED

17. What was the economic and property damage? • 1,000 miles of roads & highways, 500 bridges • Privately owned infrastructure destroyed • Homes and businesses • Local government buildings and infrastructure • Flood insurance was common • Federal programs for low interest loans and replacement of government assets • Major impact was loss of tourism income 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org

18. NO COMMUNITY-BASED VISION OF SUCCESS • COMMUNITIES WERE INITIALLY FOCUSED ON RECOVERY OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR DAILY LIFE. • Some degree of additional harm to environment • Disputes over highway restoration • VALUE OF THE “WILD” ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE. • “ENGINEERING” OF THE NATURAL RESOURCE TO MITIGATE AGAINST FUTURE HARM OR TO RESTORE DAMAGE IS VIEWED AS “EVIL” BY MANY. • COMPETING PRIORITIES OF STATE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENS 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org

19. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 ‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland www.grforum.org Lessons Learned from this Experience That environmental damage from this event is “natural” and should not be disturbed is a valid position for many. Many feel that viewing the damage will actually draw tourists – disaster has economic value long-term. Once basic services and access are restored, environmental protection has priority over rebuilding infrastructure. Altering ecosystems to protect infrastructure is not popular. As a result infrastructure recovery is delayed.

Gablehouse slides on DRR environmental factors

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Gablehouse slides on DRR environmental factors