A Multi-Benefit Approach to Flood Protection in California
Protecting People, Restoring Rivers
News and Resources
Multi-Benefit Projects in the News
Sacramento Bee After Oroville, a flood policy for both deluge and drought
by the Editorial Board
NPR Where Levees Fail In California, Nature Can Step In To Nurture Rivers
by Lauren Sommer
Los Angeles Times Houston’s floods are a warning for California to shore up its water systems. The good news: We’re getting started
by the Editorial Board
San Francisco Chronicle San Joaquin Valley floodplain coaxed back
by Peter Fimrite
Multi-Benefit Fact Sheets
Click here for more news coverage about multi-benefit flood management in the Central Valley
New York Times In California, a Move to Ease the Pressures on Aging Dams
by Henry Fountain
Sacramento Bee Overhaul California’s water system with 21st century flood solutions
by Jacob Katz and Brian Stranko
Capitol Public Radio West Sacramento Breaks Ground On Largest Levee Project
by Amy Quinton
Sacramento Bee Here’s how rice farmers prevent flooding and help wildlife
by Sean Doherty and Bryce Lundberg
Los Angeles Times Epic rains and snow help the ‘inland sea’ of Sacramento roar back to life
by Rong-Gong Lin II
Modesto Bee Let’s protect San Joaquin Valley residents from floods
by Mike Machado
Chico Enterprise Record After the Storms: A fresh look at the work of setback levees
by Heather Hacking
San Francisco Chronicle ‘Living river’ rejuvenates Napa, brings needed flood control
by John King
Stockton Record Big risk, big ideas: Flood control no longer just levees
by Alex Breitler
Associated Press/US News and World Report California Flood Protection Starts Giving Rivers More Room
by Ellen Knickmeyer
Other Resources About the Multi-Benefit Approach
Using Nature to Address Flooding
Website by Naturally Resilient Communities
“What is Floodplains by Design?”
Video by The Nature Conservancy
Multi-Benefit Flood Management in California’s Central Valley
Photo essay of multi-benefit projects
Juvenile salmon fare better when they spend time on floodplains.
High water on the Feather River, 2017.
Credit: US Army Corps of Engineers
Fish/Wildlife Habitat
Floodplain farm fields provide novel rearing habitat for Chinook salmon
By Katz, Jeffres, Conrad, Sommer, et. al.
By Carson A. Jeffres, Jeff J. Opperman and Peter B. Moyle
By Edwin Grosholz and Erika Gallo
Climate Change Resiliency
Harnessing nature to help people adapt to climate change
by Holly P. Jones, David G. Hole and Erika S. Zavaleta
by Seavy, Gardali, et. al.
Flood Risk Management
Sustainable floodplains through large-scale reconnection to rivers
by Opperman, Galloway, Fargione, et. al.
Ecologically functional floodplains: Connectivity, flow regime, and scale
by Opperman, Luster, McKenney, et. al.
Additional Benefits
Washington State’s approach to multi-benefit projects
Restoring floods to floodplains: Riparian and floodplain restoration at the Cosumnes River Preserve
by Ramona Swenson