Floodplain Mapping and Flood Control

Whether for convenience, conveyance, or economic necessity, development near water can interrupt natural processes in environmentally sensitive areas, making sound flood planning essential. PBS&J offers a full range of flood planning and design services, integrating multidisciplinary teams of engineers, hydrologists, ecologists, and information technology experts to analyze, mitigate, and avoid the adverse impacts of development. PBS&J provides the tools and expertise to estimate current and future flood flow rates and flow stages for systems of streams, channels, culverts, and bridges.

For flood planning, PBS&J uses a combination of hydrologic and hydraulic computer models, such as HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS, as well as more advanced two-dimensional modeling techniques for more complex watersheds. Existing and potential bottlenecks to flood flow are identified, and projects needed to maintain and preserve satisfactory flood discharge are recommended. Flood control system design requires detailed analysis and construction plan preparation, covering a broad range of civil engineering disciplines, including water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, and environmental permitting. Typical PBS&J flood control system designs include levees, floodwalls, channel improvements, detention or retention storage ponds, storm pipe improvements, and culvert or bridge widening projects.

Capabilities:

• Drinking water
• Emergency response
• Erosion control
• FEMA LOMRs
• Flood insurance studies
• Floodplain mapping
• Hydraulic modeling
• Hydrogeologic services
• Instrumentation and controls
• Integrated water resources planning
• Large pipeline design
• Nonstructural flood damage reduction
• Receiving water quality
• Section 404 permits
• Stormwater BMPs
• Stormwater modeling
• Stormwater NPDES permitting
• Training
• Water supply