STRUCTURAL FLOOD CONTROL
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Beltzville
Reservoir Lehighton,
PA/Photo By U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District |
Blue
Marsh Reservoir near Reading, PA/Photo By U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District |
Structural flood control is the use of artificial barriers or channel modifications to contain floodwater. It is different from stormwater management in that it does not seek to control runoff at its source.
Structural flood control measures include dams, levees, modification of roads and bridges, floodproofing, and stream channel modification. Structural flood control responsibilities are shared by many. Large dams are operated and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers, water purveyors, and power companies. Owners of these dams are responsible for emergency plans in the event of dam failures.
The Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District, operates five flood control projects in the Delaware River Basin and inspects its own dams as well as some levees maintained by local governments. The DRBC and Army Corps of Engineers also undertook a joint project to control ice jam flooding in the Port Jervis, N.Y.-area.
Structures funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service are generally maintained by state or county sponsors. Each of the basin states maintains a dam safety and inspection program. Roadways and bridges are maintained by state and local highway departments. Floodproofing of individual structures using berms or walls is the responsibility of the structure owner.
Stream channel modification has moved from simple channelization to improving channel stability from a geomorphological perspective. In combination with watershed flood plain management, this approach has become a part of flood loss reduction activity.
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Voice
(609) 883 - 9500 FAX
(609) 883 - 9522 
clarke.rupert@drbc.state.nj.us