The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is offering a free workshop on flood mitigation strategies to municipal, county and regional officials.

If your community or park is near a river, stream, or in a low-lying area, it’s only a matter of time before you will have to contend with flooding. With information from this workshop, you can take action now to:

• Minimize flood damage and impacts on your community or park
• Implement smart planning that will save money and prevent damage
• Enhance local water quality and recreation benefits

The free workshop will be held on Tuesday, August 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis—Campus Center. [Click here for directions and a map.]

This workshop is designed primarily for municipal leaders and planners, although anyone with an interest in flood mitigation could benefit and is invited to attend. The session will cover:

• Rivers: Their role in shaping the landscape and the human impacts on rivers
• What is a flood and who can help prevent flooding?
• Flood mitigation strategies—from simple to sophisticated
• What happens in the no-action scenario?

The workshop will include case studies of real communities that have been proactive in planning ahead for those really rainy days that will come sooner or later.

Instruction will be provided by Indiana water resource engineers and wetlands experts. Lunch will be provided free of charge to all registered participants

Please mark your calendar and register now. Space is limited, and demand for similar workshops offered in the past has exceeded capacity.

Advanced registration is required. To register, go to: http://www.jfnew.com/event-calendar.asp. Please note as of July 10 only 20 slots remain.

We hope you will be able to attend!

Photos courtesy of JF New