National Floodplain Functions Alliance Webinar Series

The Natural Floodplain Functions Alliance envisions a future in which the values and benefits of floodplains in their natural state are recognized as essential to resilient communities.

Our community of practice connects federal, state, and local agencies, organizations, and practitioners working to protect and restore floodplains and raises awareness of the economic, social, and environmental values of floodplains.

Join the Natural Floodplain Functions Alliance for a series of webinars on expanding floodplain restoration work across the nation, and learn how we can work together to address the climate crisis, the biodiversity crisis, and the racial justice crisis through floodplain restoration.  In this upcoming webinar series, we will dive into current issues, and discuss opportunities for transformational change through an integrated floodplain management framework. 

Webinars

October 16, 2024: Clean Water for All

Noon- 1: 00 PM EST

Since the Sackett v. EPA ruling, clean water protections for the majority of wetlands and streams across the U.S. are now the responsibility of the states and no longer under federal protection. Learn about the current state of clean water protections, and actionable ways you can step in and step up.
Kristine Oblock, Protect Our Waters Senior Campaign Manager, and TBD, Policy Specialist

Register Here. 

January 22, 2025: Community-Led Solutions in Floodplain Management

3:00 – 4:00 PM EST

Hear from Natural Floodplain Functions Alliance (NFFA) members who have worked directly with frontline communities most affected by flood risk. From the South Chicago suburbs to Carson City, Nevada, learn about best practices for centering communities when developing flooding solutions. Dr. Scarlett will provide an overview of the Civic Innovation Hub’s approach with recruiting community members and developing urban flooding related workshops that fit the needs of their local. Debbie Neddenripe will discuss the work the Carson River Coalition has been doing with local, state and federal agencies, tribal governments, and citizen-driven groups to drive an Integrated Watershed Planning Process (IWPP).

Speakers: Dr. Rachel Scarlett, Civic Innovation Hub, and Debbie Neddenripe, CFM, Carson River Coalition


April 23, 2025: State Integrated Floodplain Management

3:00 – 4:00 PM EST

American Rivers is working with partners including The Nature Conservancy and River Network to launch a campaign to advance IFM in more states across the nation by building committed leaders, refining programmatic frameworks that support IFM, providing technical support, and bringing together diverse stakeholders. This webinar will provide an overview of Integrated Floodplain Management and the multiple benefits that states and communities can realize using IFM strategies. We will discuss the enabling conditions necessary for effective IFM at a state level, provide examples of states leading the way on IFM, and lay out strategies for replicating IFM in other states.  

Speakers: American Rivers, The Nature Conservancy;  River Network 


July 23, 2025:  National Floodplain Assessment

3:00 – 4:00 PM EST

American Rivers and Conservation Science Partners have partnered to create a National Floodplain Assessment Map and Report. This project quantifies the degree of floodplain protection and alteration across the United States and will serve as a tool to increase the pace and scale of floodplain protection and restoration to meet the most pressing challenges of our time: climate change, racial injustice, and the loss of biodiversity. Learn more about how to interpret the National Floodplain Assessment Map and use it to inform and advance floodplain restoration projects. 

Speakers: Eileen Shader, American Rivers and Conservation Science Partners

FLOODPLAIN RESOURCE LIBRARY 

American Rivers staff on Yakima River, Washington | Jonathan Loos

American Rivers: Floodplain Restoration Resources 

Schuylkill River flooding, Pennsylvania | Michael Stokes

National Association of Wetland Managers: Floods and Liability Issues Publications

Marsh Creek, California | Amy Merrill

Association of State Floodplain Managers: Library