Month: September 2024

Land Use Visioning Increases Support for and Participation in Flood Buyouts

Last modified on January 29th, 2025 at 8:55 am

September 18, 2024

As an example of “visioning,” shown above is a concept design for a floodplain restoration project. Blue Acres’ survey asked if similar designs used in public engagement processes would influence respondents’ views on flood buyouts. Graphic from: Creating Flood-Resilient Landscapes, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources

Blue Acres administered an online survey to understand if more public engagement is needed around buyouts and to see if post-buyout land use visioning efforts would improve support for buyout participation and community land stewardship.  For context, land use “visioning” refers to preparing digital renderings of a site that display proposed restoration options for implementation. The visioning being discussed in this survey would occur in consultation with community members to provide visual examples of how the land might be utilized once it becomes open space. 

Survey Distribution
The short, seven-question survey went live on February 28th, 2024, and accepted survey responses for sixty-two days, concluding on April 30th.  To solicit responses, it was shared via email with those on the Blue Acres listserv and the Governor’s Office of Innovation’s email list. The survey was also promoted by Blue Acres staff during presentations at three professional conferences during March and April.  

Survey Responses
The survey yielded eighty-six responses from community members, homeowners, or government representatives. Most respondents (93%) seemed to favor more public engagement around buyouts, and over 87% of respondents felt that if visual aids were available to define post-buyout land use, they would be more likely to support buyouts.  Similarly, the responses to two questions asking how participants connect open space to flood protection showed that most people believe more open space in the floodplain and a naturally functioning floodplain can meaningfully reduce damage from flooding, 94.3% and 76% respectively. Likewise, the majority of respondents indicated they support funding to address long-term management of buyout lands. 

Survey Outcomes
The responses collected support Blue Acres’ ongoing initiatives to better engage communities focusing on flood risk and mitigation communications and post-buyout land use visioning. By creating opportunities for post-buyout land use visioning, Blue Acres aims to grow support for buyouts while empowering community members to advocate for the optimization of buyout lands to meet community goals and needs such as climate resilience, beautification, passive recreation, etc. 

 

Blue Acres thanks all who participated—community feedback is essential as the program works towards innovative, sustainable solutions for flood-impacted areas. 

 

 

Home buyout programs adapt to worsening flood risks

September 1, 2024

An article published by Grid Magazine examines the growing role of home buyout programs in response to worsening flood risks, with a particular focus on Pennsylvania and New Jersey. As extreme weather events increase in frequency due to climate change, buyouts are being embraced as a key flood mitigation strategy. The article spotlights Collegeville’s recent buyouts and New Jersey’s Blue Acres program as models for tackling the challenges faced by flood-prone communities.

Collegeville’s efforts to relocate residents after repeated flooding, funded by $6 million in FEMA assistance, demonstrate how municipalities are leveraging federal resources to protect residents and eliminate flood risks. Meanwhile, New Jersey’s Blue Acres program, which has acquired more than 1,100 homes since 1995, is hailed as an exemplary approach due to its reliable state and federal funding, as well as its homeowner-focused support system. With dedicated case managers and faster processing times, Blue Acres helps streamline the difficult decision of relocating, offering a smoother path for those affected by recurring floods.

As other areas, including Philadelphia, grapple with logistical and financial hurdles to implementing buyout programs, the success of Blue Acres provides a blueprint for proactive flood risk management, highlighting the importance of strong funding, comprehensive planning, and community support.

Read the full article here!