Abstract

Flood: Are You at Risk? or Ambiguity in Data
Track: Environmental Management
Authors: Dave Hansen

This concerns studies in support of a determination on whether it is in the public interest to remove four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River. Of particular interest to those living along the Klamath River downstream of these dams is the effect on flood risk. FEMA conducted a risk assessment and produced 100 year maps along the river several years ago. High resolution LiDAR data has been collected in 2010 along this segment of the river. LiDAR data is the basis for current flood inundation models both with and without the dams. These sources of flood risk are of different resolutions with significantly different underlying coordinate control. This paper examines the various data layers available. Methods are presented to effectively permit those living along the Klamath River to identify whether they may be at risk from a 100 year flood with or without the dams.