Abstract

GIS Decision Support for Managing Risk in Alluvial Fan Zones
Track: Disaster Management and Emergency Response
Author(s): Lisa Pierce

The Water Resource Institute's use of GIS for decision support for a California State Alluvial Fan Task Force effort, focused on 10 Counties in Southern California. The effort involves the development of a policy program dealing with the challenges facing Southern California communities and the risks associated with building in alluvial flood plains.

The WRI integrated a variety of existing risk datasets from the state's FRAP and OES resources while also evaluating these risk areas against a regional representation of generalized alluvial fan areas. The results will be integrated into policy recommendations that will help County officials manage the development trend of building in these remaining areas, which are often the highest risk areas for debris flow, fire and ground shaking. With the use of GIS, the collaborative opportunities for policies based on better decision support will increase the regions ability to implement development design recommendations for improved community protection.

Lisa Pierce
Water Resources Institute
5500 University Parkway
San Bernardino , California 92373
United States
Phone: 909-537-3685
E-mail: lpierce@csusb.edu