Glossary of Flooding Terms G-Z GROUNDWATER RECHARGE – The infiltration of water into the earth. It may increase the total amount of water stored underground or only replenish supplies depleted through pumping or natural discharge. HYDRODYNAMIC LOADS – Forces imposed on structures by floodwaters due to the impact of moving water on the upstream side…
Read MoreGlossary of Flooding Terms E-F
Glossary of Flooding Terms E-F THE EMERGENCY PROGRAM – The initial phase of a community’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) if no flood hazard information is available or the community has a Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM), but no Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). A limited amount of flood insurance coverage at…
Read MoreGlossary of Flooding Terms A-D
Glossary of Flooding Terms A-D BACKWATER EFFECT – The rise in water surface elevation caused by some obstruction such as a narrow bridge opening, buildings or fill material that limits the area through which the water must flow. Also referred to as “heading up”. BASE FLOOD – A term used in the National Flood Insurance Program…
Read MoreFrom Paris to Missouri: Taking Action on Climate Change
By Tamara Slater, J.D., Harris Institute Fellow, Washington University In the finals weeks of 2015 under the auspices of the UNFCCC, 195 nations adopted a global climate change agreement in Paris, France that has the potential to save humanity from the increasingly devastating impacts of climate change. The so-called Paris Agreement and accompanying decision is…
Read MoreThe Parks, Soils, and Water Sales Tax: Protecting More than Public Lands
On Sunday, April 24, 2016, we celebrated Earth Day across the globe, and Missouri Coalition for the Environment made it out to Earth Day in Forest Park. Nearly 75 people signed up for the #moparkschallenge, and many more stopped by our booth to learn about our efforts to protect our local environment! Below are three reasons…
Read MoreDoe Run Seeks to Permanently Divert the West Fork Black River
By Alicia Claire Lloyd Several sinkholes have appeared near the West Fork Black River in Reynolds County in southeastern Missouri beginning in spring of 2014 with consequences for the river and the surrounding land. As reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch,the sinkholes developed above an underground lead mine operated by the Doe Run Company. The…
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