Resilient Landscapes uses scientific data to visualize the 1972 Black Hills flood, paleo “mega” flooding, and more recent flooding from extreme weather. It builds on the Journey Museum’s programming on the 1972 flood and recent US Geological Survey research. Although focused on the floods from extreme weather events, it also provides a big picture perspective on water. It begins with a from the surface of Earth to see how water originated in the solar system, revealing how the habitable zone allows liquid water (and therefore life) to exist on Earth. It then explores how the water cycle on Earth contributes to the unique conditions and history of flooding in the Black Hills area. It highlights floodway community planning and preparations as well as the importance of heeding warnings from the National Weather Service and Pennington County Emergency Management.
This event originally took place at the Journey Museum (Rapid City, SD) on March 26, 2013. The presentation was followed by a public forum with a panel of experts from the US Geological Survey, National Weather Service, SD School of Mines and Technology, Pennington County/Rapid City Emergency Management and the City of Rapid City.
Mega Floods: The 1972 Awakening
Flooding is the nation’s most common, costly and deadly natural hazard — and it is also a natural part of the river’s processes, serving to improve water quality and provide essential habitat to species among other benefits. Nurture Nature Foundation, a non-profit organization developing the Nurture Nature Center in Easton, Pennsylvania, a small city at the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers and the Bushkill Creek, is working to share with public and professional audiences the critical information about flooding that can help communities to learn to live with rivers and streams as common neighbors.
Flooding is a matter of scientific interest, as well as cultural significance — and it is a critical land-use planning and policy topic. It is also a vital concern to the safety and welfare of communities with floodprone areas. We invite you to join Nurture Nature in a conversation about flooding, and to learn more here about our key message: “Floods Happen. Lessen The Loss.
http://nurturenaturecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Focus-on-Floods-Final-Report.pdf
http://nurturenaturecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/NNC-FINAL-REPORT-NO-APPENDICES-11-29-10.pdf
An evaluation of the Nurture Nature Foundation’s Flood Forum Project