2026 Annual Conference  

[~12 CEC Hours Available]

View the Abbreviated PDF Program.

Thursday, April 23

7:30-8:30am | Registration Opens & Breakfast  

8:30-8:45am | Welcome & Opening Remarks 

8:45-9:45am | Opening Keynote Session 

• Presentation from Secretary Bulova, Virginia Department of Natural and Historic Resources

9:50-10:45 | Concurrent Sessions 

Re-introducing the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Division of Floodplain Management

The DCR Division of Floodplain Management serves as the Commonwealth’s floodplain management subject matter experts and National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Coordinating Office. As DCR has grown, so has the Floodplain Management Team. We will officially introduce our new staff, updated organizational structure, and programmatic initiatives.DCR planners have diverse backgrounds in land-use planning and zoning, landscape architecture, policy, grant management, geographic information systems (GIS), water resources management, Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Codes, and implementation of the FEMA National Mitigation Framework, which enhances the Commonwealth’s cross-disciplinary understanding and practice of floodplain management. DCR planners provide training and technical assistance to build capacity at the local and state levels, facilitate the FEMA RiskMAP process (flood mapping), and disperse financial assistance for flood resiliency. DCR planners are also working to strengthen coordination and collaboration with other state and federal agencies and neighboring states, as well as growing partnerships with universities, non-profit organizations and other industry professionals.This presentation will highlight contacts within DCR’s Floodplain Management Division, supply a better understanding of our Floodplain Team’s operations, and feature information about flood resilience funding resources such as the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF), Resilient Virginia Revolving Loan Fund (RVRF), and Dam Safety Fund.

Angela Davis, CFM

No Adverse Impact: Making Virginia More Resilient Through NAI

The United States has seen increasing flood losses every decade for over a century. Even since the inception of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in 1968, which started in response to the federal government’s frustration of spending enormous amounts on flooding disasters created by land use patterns that the federal government had virtually no control over, flood losses have continued to increase. This demonstrates that the minimum NFIP requirements are insufficient, particularly in light of the failure of the NFIP to integrate the sea-level rise and climate change into mapping as required by the Bigger-Waters Act in 2012.The Association of State Floodplain Managers early on recognized that NFIP minimum standards were insufficient and so launched the No Adverse Impact Toolkit back in 2003. Since then, the NAI toolkit has expanded to several distinct NAI guides. The most recently completed is the NAI Legal Guide, first published in 2023. This presentation will give a brief overview of the concept of NAI, its basic physical and legal underpinnings, how it has evolved, the NAI Legal Guide of ASFPM at the national level, and the on-going development of the very first state-specific NAI legal resource: The Virginia NAI Legal Guide. This will include an overview of the process of development, how it has evolved, how to get involved, and the initial, big-picture takeaways from the Virginia NAI Legal Guide.

Thomas Ruppert, Esq.

A Complex Resilience Solution in the Heart of Virginia Beach

Coastal communities face increasing flood risks driven by sea-level rise, extreme precipitation, and tidal influences. Virginia Beach, a low-lying coastal city, has experienced severe flooding during recent storms, including Hurricane Matthew and Tropical Storm Julia, which produced rainfall events exceeding 1,000-year recurrence intervals. In response, the City launched the Flood Protection Program (FPP).  As part of the FPP, the City created the Flood Protection Bond Referendum, a voter-approved initiative allocating $567.5M in bonds to design and construct critical flood mitigation projects. This program includes seven master projects and multiple stand-alone efforts aimed at enhancing resilience and reducing vulnerability to future storm events. This presentation focuses on the Windsor Woods, Princess Anne Plaza, and The Lakes drainage improvement projects, delivered through a progressive design-build approach. These projects integrate structural and operational strategies to address tidal influence, limited storage capacity, and interconnected waterways. Key components include high-capacity pump stations (up to 1,400 cfs), tide gates, flood barriers, and channel improvements designed to maintain water levels below flood stage during storm events. Remote monitoring and standardized design ensure system reliability and adaptability under varying conditions. By coordinating multiple cohesive solutions—such as pre-storm drawdown, storm surge protection, and enhanced conveyance—the program establishes a comprehensive resilience framework for Virginia Beach. This presentation demonstrates how innovative delivery methods, community engagement, and integrated engineering solutions can transform flood-prone urban areas into resilient systems capable of withstanding future climate-driven challenges.

Cameron Lancaster, PE, CFM

Yinghan Hua

10:35-11:05am | Networking Break 

11:05-11:50am | Concurrent Sessions

From One-Dimensional Assumptions to Urban Realities: Modernizing Floodway Analysis

Floodway delineation practices in the United States have largely been guided by regulatory frameworks established in the 1970s and 1980s. These regulations are predicated on the assumption that floodwaters move in a single, uniform direction along a river – a simplification that rarely reflects reality for today’s urban environments. Modern cities often feature complex drainage networks, encroached stream corridors, and built infrastructure that alters flow paths. Yet, many effective floodway determinations have relied on steady-state one-dimensional models, which have obscures these complexities and perpetuate assumptions that no longer align with observed conditions.In practice, urban streams are frequently encroached beyond what regulations allow, creating a disconnect between mapped floodways and actual hydraulic behavior. Alternatively, bifurcated floodways that extend into streetscapes provide little functional benefit, as these corridors would remain open regardless of regulatory designation. This approach imposes unnecessary administrative burdens on municipalities without improving flood risk management outcomes.Advances in modeling technology—such as two-dimensional unsteady flow simulations—offer opportunities to revisit these legacy assumptions and better represent urban flood dynamics. Additionally, FEMA’s Shallow Flooding Guidance introduces flexibility by allowing Zone AH, AO, or X designations to offset the need for floodways in certain contexts, reducing regulatory friction while maintaining risk awareness.This presentation will explore how modern tools can be applied to evaluate floodways established under outdated assumptions, highlight the implications for urban floodplain management, and discuss strategies for integrating contemporary modeling practices with existing regulatory frameworks.

Brett Laplante, CFM, PE

Virginia Flood Policy After the 2025–2026 General Assembly: Implications for Floodplain Managers

A review of the 2025 and 2026 General Assembly sessions and the legislation, both passed and contemplated, that are of importance to floodplain managers within the Commonwealth.

Ian T Blair

Building Coastal Resilience: The Norfolk CSRM Project as a Model for Integrated Risk Management

The Norfolk Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) project represents a transformative approach to enhancing resilience in one of the most flood-prone urban areas on the U.S. East Coast. As climate change accelerates sea level rise and intensifies storm events, Norfolk faces increasing threats to its infrastructure, economy, and communities. The CSRM project, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with the City of Norfolk, integrates structural and non-structural measures to reduce coastal storm risk while promoting long-term adaptability.

This presentation explores how resilience is embedded throughout the project’s design and implementation—from the strategic placement of surge barriers and flood walls to the incorporation of nature-based solutions such as living shorelines and wetland restoration. The project also emphasizes community engagement, equity, and interagency coordination, ensuring that resilience is not only physical but also social and institutional.

By aligning federal, state, and local resources, the Norfolk CSRM project serves as a replicable model for other coastal cities confronting similar challenges. It demonstrates how resilience can be operationalized through multi-benefit infrastructure, adaptive planning, and inclusive governance. The abstract will highlight key lessons learned, including the importance of flexible design standards, stakeholder collaboration, and the integration of climate projections into decision-making.

As coastal communities nationwide seek sustainable solutions to rising seas and intensifying storms, the Norfolk CSRM project offers a forward-looking blueprint for building resilience at scale.

Kyle Spencer

11:50am-1:30pm | Lunch, Awards, & Plenary Session 

• VFMA 2026 Awards Ceremony

• City of Newport News' Watershed Master Planning 

Kathie Angle, PE, CFM, Chief of Civil Design

1:30-2:15pm | Concurrent Sessions 

The Deluge of Data: Leveraging AI and Machine Learning for Proactive Floodplain Management

The increasing frequency and severity of flood events necessitate innovative approaches to floodplain management beyond traditional modeling and regulatory frameworks. This presentation explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in enhancing the efficacy of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), improving local floodplain management practices, and strengthening community resilience.Traditional hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) models, while foundational, often face limitations in processing vast, dynamic datasets or providing real-time predictive insights. AI and ML algorithms, however, can analyze diverse data streams—including real-time stream gauge data, satellite imagery, soil moisture readings, and intricate topographic data—to generate highly accurate, granular flood inundation maps and predictive risk assessments.We will showcase practical applications and research in how AI is streamlining the Community Rating System (CRS) by automating data verification and optimizing mitigation strategies. Case studies will illustrate AI-driven tools used by FEMA, state, and local programs that provide earlier warning systems, improve the accuracy of flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs), and guide more effective stream restoration and dam safety protocols.This session will also address the practical implementation challenges, data requirements, and ethical considerations of deploying these technologies. Attendees will gain insight into how AI can move communities from reactive disaster response to proactive, data-informed resiliency planning. By embracing these technological advancements, the floodplain management community can better protect lives, mitigate property damage, and foster sustainable, resilient communities in Virginia and beyond.

Denise Nelson, P.E., CFM, ENV SP, LEED AP; Jose Pillich

Flood Risk Mitigation and Resilience Planning in a Small City - Case Study on the City of Covington

The City of Covington is prone to extreme flooding driven both by intense rainfall as well as overflow from the adjacent Jackson River. In particular, two underpasses that are essential to transportation in and out of the City regularly get submerged during storm events. The City applied to and received funding from the Virginia Community Flood Protection Fund program to conduct a Drainage Study and develop a Resilience Plan. Due to the lack of existing geospatial data available, a field survey was conducted to measure the properties and assess the condition of stormwater infrastructure throughout the City. Following this survey, a PCSWMM model of the City was developed to assess existing conditions and propose potential structural mitigation solutions to reduce interior flood risk. Alongside this Drainage Study, a Regional Rainfall Study was conducted to study the increase in precipitation that has been observed in the region over recorded period. Lastly, a Resilience Plan was developed that proposes structural, nature-based, and nonstructural flood risk mitigation projects that the City can pursue.

Sherwin Zahirieh, PE, CFM, ENV SP

The Role of Marsh Vulnerability Assessments in Flood Resilience Planning

For many communities located along tidal waterways, marshes provide valuable public safety benefits by buffering the impacts of coastal storms. In some settings where large marsh complexes are nestled in the bends of creeks or rivers, significant dampening of flood elevations can occur for upstream areas. By absorbing wave energy, reducing fetch exposure, and preventing erosion to areas behind them, these marshes can protect infrastructure and reduce upstream base flood elevations by several feet. However, what if these valuable habitats are lost in the future? If marshes are unable to keep up with sea level rise or threatened by other factors, the flood protection to upstream areas could be lost, resulting in significantly more wave runup and higher base flood elevations that could eclipse the effects of sea level rise alone. Communities protected by these critical natural assets should consider the vulnerability of their marshes and the potential flood exposure associated with marsh loss during flood resilience planning. Thankfully, incorporating high-level marsh vulnerability assessments can be a relatively easy process thanks to a number of different publicly available datasets. This can help identify at-risk areas, reserving more detailed evaluations where they are needed most. These assessments can also identify potential marsh management techniques that could be employed to improve the health of tidal marsh systems and preserve their protective benefits for the future.This presentation will highlight the flood benefits of tidal marshes, some of the factors affecting marsh vulnerability, resources that can be used for initial assessments, and potential recommendations for improved marsh resilience.

Daniel Proctor, PE

Pamela Mason

2:20-3:05pm | Concurrent Sessions 

From Planning to Action: Galax’s Innovative Path to Flood Resilience

The City of Galax faces complex flooding challenges from both stormwater and riverine sources. In collaboration with the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission and Stantec, Galax is advancing an innovative Community Flood Preparedness Fund Resilience Plan that exceeds program requirements by prioritizing actionable implementation.A cornerstone of the plan is the integration of 2D flood modeling for a previously unmapped high-risk area, delivering critical insights into complex stormwater and riverine flooding challenges. To translate diverse data into clear, actionable documentation, detailed focus area sheets were developed as part of the risk and vulnerability assessment. These sheets synthesize flood modeling results, FEMA and state flood data, resident input, prior city studies, and stakeholder feedback to provide a comprehensive view of flood risks. Building on this assessment, the City undertook a robust resilience action planning process, identifying 10 strategic actions spanning planning, programmatic initiatives, studies, and capital projects. Each action sheet serves as a practical roadmap for implementation, outlining problem statements, proposed solutions, cost estimates, social vulnerability considerations, and step-by-step guidance from planning through alternatives analysis, design, construction, and maintenance. To facilitate action, a funding analysis aligns diverse funding sources with specific actions or components, creating a clear strategy for implementation. By adopting an implementation-focused approach, Galax is moving beyond planning toward coordinated, comprehensive action to reduce flood risk and strengthen community resilience.

Christina Hurley, AICP

Gavin Blevins, AICP, CFM, CZA

Doug Williams, AIA

Transforming Baltimore’s Middle Branch - Enhancing Shoreline Resilience Through Restoration

Once a large, deltaic tidal marsh, estimated to incorporate 3,000 acres of wetland, the Middle Branch in Baltimore City has been dredged and hardened over years of development and industrialization. However, an ambitious project to reimagine the purpose of this waterway to better serve the community and nature has been underway for over 5 years.  This presentation will review the goals of the project, master planning vision, and subsequent project design and installations that have expanded the floodplain, enhanced resilience to sea level rise, and restored ecological function to the shoreline.

Justin Park, PLA, ASLA, WEDG 

3:05-3:20pm | Networking Break  

3:20-4:05pm | Concurrent Sessions 

DCR’s Flood Resilience Resources for Floodplain Managers

Traditional flood hazard data significantly underrepresents the true extent of flood risk across Virginia. FEMA’s regulatory maps identify approximately 7,750 square miles – 12% of the Commonwealth – as flood-prone. However, recent analysis conducted for the Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan reveals that when using data that includes rainfall-driven flooding, an additional 5,700 square miles may be exposed – a 270% increase in potential floodplain area. Moreover, FEMA’s data does not account for future conditions such as shifting precipitation patterns or sea level rise. Projections from the Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan indicate that by 2060, more than 1 million Virginians could face flood risk, up from 880,000 people today.Recognizing these limitations, floodplain managers across Virginia are increasingly turning to innovative, non-regulatory data sources to inform plans, projects, and updates to standard operating procedures. Yet, understanding what data is available and appropriate for different use cases can be tricky to navigate.This session, led by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), will provide insight into the Commonwealth’s non-regulatory flood resilience data. It will also include an update on Virginia’s statewide flood resilience planning efforts: the Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan and the Coastal Resilience Master Plan, Phase II.

Matt Dalon, PE, CFM

Outfall Canal Road Bridge Replacement

This bridge replacement project was for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and is located in the Gull Rock Game Lands in Eastern North Carolina. The site is about 1.25 miles inland from Pamlico Sound and thus subject to both coastal and riverine flooding.  The main challenge was developing a more complex model that could treat both flood regimes but with a very limited budget.  The work utilized some previous hydrologic and hydraulic modeling completed by others in support of the Lake Mattamuskeet water management plan.  This allowed us to establish reasonable upstream and downstream stage hydrograph boundary conditions.  The model was used to demonstrate a "no-rise" condition and obtain a floodplain development permit from the N.C. Department of Administration--State Construction Office.  The new bridge was constructed in July, 2025.

Jamie Monohan, PE, CFM

Managing North Carolina's Flood Risk by Monitoring and Managing the State's Aging Dams

Brett Laplante, CFM, PE

North Carolina has over 6,000 dams, many classified as high-hazard. Failure of these dams could cause loss of life and severe damage to homes, businesses, schools, utilities, and transportation networks. To improve public safety, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS), in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is developing DamWatch—an interactive web tool for real-time monitoring of rainfall, snowmelt, and streamflow, with alerts for critical dam events.

4:10- 4:55pm | Concurrent Sessions 

Developing NCDOT RAFT: Resilience Analysis Framework for Transportation

The Resilience Analysis Framework for Transportation (RAFT) is a GIS-based web application developed and maintained by WSP on behalf of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for assessing flood impacts on transportation infrastructure. The map allows users to explore the depth of flooding in a variety of scenarios by interacting with points placed at 50-foot intervals along primary and secondary roads statewide, with flood data pulled from FEMA 2D and 1D models as well as a coastal sea level analysis. RAFT currently consists of two separate modules: the Roadway Inundation Tool (RIT) for exploring riverine flood impacts, and the Coastal Roadway Inundation Simulator (CRIS) for exploring coastal flood impacts. Throughout 2025 WSP has been working with NCDOT to develop a new version of RAFT combining the capabilities of RIT and CRIS into a single intuitive interface. This presentation will discuss the development history of RAFT, current capabilities, technical details, and future enhancements.

Thomas Williams, PE

From Exercise to Action: Enhancing Dam Safety and Flood Emergency Response in Henrico County

Kristin Owen, AICP, CFM

Debris in the Waterway - Yikes! Lessons learned from Helene

Hurricane Helene created large amounts of debris in southwest Virginia, and as a result a lot of lessons were learned.  Debris in the waterway is a particularly challenging topic, and VDEM has developed a Debris Removal Appendix to the Recovery Plan, and are better positions to support local government debris removal needs following a disaster.

Robert Coates

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Friday, April 24

7:30 -8:30am | Registration & Breakfast 

8:30-9:15am | Concurrent Sessions 

The Power of Openness: Improving Flood Hazard Management with Open Source, Standards, Data, and Science

This talk explores how adopting open source, open standards, open data, and open science can greatly benefit the flood hazard management community. By using open source software, contractors can develop tools that are reusable and interoperable, improving collaboration and efficiency. Open standards help different systems work together smoothly, leading to more robust solutions. Sharing open data allows for better modeling and decision-making, cutting down on redundancy and costs. Open science practices ensure transparency and reproducibility, building trust among engineers, scientists, and planners. We'll discuss how these open principles align with the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles, making data and tools more accessible and useful for everyone involved, and pave the way for use in ML/AI applications. By adopting these practices, flood hazard professionals can improve resource management, enhance predictive capabilities, and build more resilient infrastructure. Real-world examples from our work with FEMA, NOAA, USACE, and the Commonwealth of Virginia will show how openness can lead to cost savings and more effective flood management. Join us to learn how openness can drive innovation and resilience in flood hazard management.

Seth Lawler, PhD

A Flood Reduction Strategy that also Helps Attain Bay TMDL Reductions: Continuous Monitoring and Adaptive Control (CMAC) in Staunton, VA

Continuous Monitoring and Adaptive Control (CMAC) allows municipalities and MS4 permittees an innovative solution to both community flood resilience and TMDL reductions while observing these benefits remotely in real time. This presentation illustrates how the City of Staunton is utilizing CMAC for these purposes.  Downtown Staunton, Virginia, is nestled in a natural valley, channeling stormwater runoff toward Lewis Creek, which runs alongside, and even underneath a portion of, the downtown area. The City faces recurring flash flooding as intense precipitation events overload the historic drainage infrastructure.  This problem is worsened by a relative lack of stormwater management facilities, and extensive impervious surfaces throughout the downtown drainage area.In response to these persistent challenges, the City has committed to implementing major flood mitigation measures, one of which includes adding CMAC to Lake Tams, the largest surface water impoundment in the City, and strategically located in the northern portion of the downtown drainage area, which contains the highest concentration of urbanized area. The Lake receives one square mile of drainage and was dredged and retrofitted with a forebay in the 1990s. This advanced stormwater management system, currently under design for a 2026 installation, will be able to draw the lake down ahead of, and with respect to, forecasted storm events. This will result in providing an additional 16-17 acre-feet of storage volume within the existing pond footprint, assisting in capturing and reducing flash flooding. Additionally, by capturing the first flush of stormwater and offering enhanced detention, CMAC will facilitate the removal of phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment, making the Lake Tams project a sophisticated, single solution for both flood resilience and mandated pollutant reduction for the City’s MS4 permit.

Jason Murnock, CPESC, CPSWQ

Emma Blythe, EI

Building a Coastal Resilience Framework for Strategic Land Acquisition and Wetlands Migration

How do localities make the best decisions to optimize flood zone management with wetlands migration? Communities are often grappling with multiple hazards at once, especially in coastal regions. A pilot framework was created to help localities communicate and take action on repetitive and severe repetitive loss properties near migrating wetlands. On paper, property acquisition is a way to reduce risk and increase natural floodplain benefits, particularly in areas where wetlands are migrating due to sea level rise. However, there can be social, economic, and governance barriers to implementing this. The City of Chesapeake, in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, was identified as a good pilot location due to its coastal and riverine geography and its history with repetitive-loss properties. The framework was developed collaboratively by stakeholders to identify and prioritize property acquisition related to natural floodplain functions. This framework incorporates a more interdisciplinary approach, including additional social vulnerability factors and community engagement. Climate change will redraw flood zones, but this framework shows that a people-first approach must be done to do the work.

Genevieve Guerry

9:20-10:05am | Concurrent Sessions 

Crowd-Sourced Flood Data from Navigational Mobile Apps

Users of navigational mobile apps like Google Maps and Waze have the ability to report flooding encountered while navigating on the app, or even on desktop web map editors. What are some characteristics of this user-reported flood data? How can it be mined and utilized (if at all) for flood modeling, emergency response, and damage estimation? How can this data be further enhanced for these end use applications and/or the general public? We explored key opportunities, challenges, and cost considerations for integrating user-generated flood data (from primarily Waze) into decision-making and operational frameworks. This presentation will summarize our findings and discuss the feasibility and value of leveraging this data to enhance flood risk management.

Kristine Mosuela

FloodMapp and RISE Resilience Innovations Deploy an Operational, Impact-based Forecast and Early Warning System Across Virginia’s Blue Ridge Region

Riverine flooding events in Virginia’s Blue Ridge region are getting more severe and frequent. Hurricane Helene caused widespread and devastating flooding across Southwest Virginia, impacting critical infrastructure and thousands of homes, resulting in direct and indirect economic impacts of more than $2.0 billion across the region. The storm damaged 3000 homes, and impacted 484 roads and 118 bridges.Flood disaster events require a coordinated 24/7 response from emergency responders, elected officials, appointed officials, and partners. Although broad warnings have been available from agencies such as the National Weather Service. These communities lacked localized intelligence and predictions on what people, property, and critical infrastructure would be impacted.FloodMapp, in partnership with RISE Resilient Innovations, has deployed an operational, impact-based Flood Event Forecast and Early Warning System (FEFEWS) in Virginia’s Blue Ridge region. The project, funded by the Virginia Department of Housing, focuses on three planning district commission areas, specifically the New River Valley Regional Commission, Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission, and Central Shenandoah Planning District. This advanced FEFEWS will predict riverine and flash flooding to produce localized, accurate, and rapidly updated forecasts, real-time, and post-event flood intelligence.  Delivering localized situational awareness about the impact to people, property, and critical infrastructure, the FEFEWS will support warning to communities of impending threats, provide evacuation guidance, support road closures and enable communication of information and guidance in real-time to the public throughout the duration of an event.  It will also enable rapid damage assessment post flood event to streamline community recovery.  When integrated with warnings and alerts systems, communities will be eligible to improve their CRS score and reduce NFIP insurance premiums for their residents

Michael Williams

Before the Storm: Building a Pre‑Disaster Voluntary Acquisition Program in Henrico County

Most buyouts start after a flood. Henrico County chose to act before the next one, & this presentation explains how the County is advancing a comprehensive, community‑centered, inland, pre‑disaster Voluntary Acquisition Program. The goal is to reduce flood risk, enhance public safety, & create lasting community benefits. With CFPF funding support, the program treats acquisition as one tool in a larger resilience toolbox alongside floodproofing, drainage upgrades, green infrastructure, & targeted outreach.Phase 1 focused on an equitable, evidence‑based framework tailored to Henrico’s flood hazards. The team reviewed successful models nationwide & analyzed property‑level risk & benefit‑cost ratios. In parallel, it assessed alternative mitigation options & coordinated with a broad stakeholder group so that prioritization reflected social vulnerability, opportunities for greenspace & connectivity, & alignment with broader planning objectives. A key outcome is Flood Finder, a web application that streamlines participation by providing clear public information & offering internal tools for data integration, parcel evaluation, & pipeline management.Alongside the technical work, a countywide education & outreach effort tested methods that balanced transparency, set expectations, & improved access. Tactics included community pop‑ups, targeted outreach, & training for residents & staff. The program also leveraged existing activities & trusted messengers, so information meaningfully reached people.To move from plan to action, the voluntary acquisition program was designed to balance quick wins & high priorities while providing a practical path to buy down risk, strengthen public trust, & build a more resilient built environment. This presentation will share critical lessons learned on the opportunities & challenges inland communities face when implementing a proactive program focused on pre-disaster acquisitions & provide a template for similar programs.

Ross Weaver, AICP, CFM

Jen Pepson Elwood, ENV SP

10:05-10:35am | Networking Break 

10:35-11:20am | Concurrent Sessions

Planning for Climate Change: Approach to Estimating and Adapting Flooding Exposure for HRSD Facilities

The Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) provides wastewater services to 1.7 million people in southeast Virginia. The low topography, regional climatology, and coastal proximity of this region make many of HRSD’s pumping and treatment facilities vulnerable to flooding. This vulnerability is increasing with climate change and rising sea levels, increased storm surge, and greater rainfall recurrence frequency. HRSD facilities are located over a wide expanse of over 3,000 sq. miles, posing a significant challenge to accurately determine flood elevations. This study looked at different levels of flooding which was used to inform a risk analysis for each facility. A list of multiple mitigation measures was also created to inform the cost benefit analysis which lead to the scheduling and sequencing of Capitol Improvement Projects for HRSD.

Robert J. Martz, P.E.

11:20-1:45pm | Lunch, Plenary, & Panel 

• Film Screening of: "Built to Last: Buyer Beware" 

Watch the trailer here!

• Post Film Panel Discussion with:

Chad Berginnis

Executive Driector, ASFPM

Rob Young

Director, Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, Western Carolina University

Caitlin Verdu

Resilience Officer, Office of Resilience

Moderating:

Thomas Ruppert, Esq.

Assistant Provost for Coastal Resilience & Director, Virginia Coastal Resilience Collaborative

1:50-2:35pm | Concurrent Sessions

Using of Advanced Local Modeling to Improve Stormwater and Floodplain Management and Regulatory Compliance

Local floodplain and stormwater management programs require localities to comply with state and federal regulatory and statutory requirements. Although these programs are regulated by different state and federal agencies, rising implementation costs combined with more frequent flooding are leading communities to try to identify projects that can satisfy multiple needs. Stormwater management requirements often focus on water quality, while floodplain management requirement focuses primarily on regulating how structures are built in areas subject to riverine or coastal flooding. Residents are often concerned with nuisance flooding. The overlap between these concerns demands an approach that enables communities to satisfy them concurrently. Minimum requirements for complying with these programs can be met with products such as FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps, but many communities in Virginia and elsewhere have recently developed or are in the process of developing community-wide models and plans to support more effective and comprehensive programs. These efforts encompass data gathering and analysis to develop models, maps, and other applications to support changes to local policies, more effective regulatory compliance, and better outcomes. This panel will focus on how localities are building advanced models and using them for land use planning, floodplain management, water quality regulatory compliance, and capital improvement programming. The panel will include representatives from Virginia cities and counties that have completed or are currently working on advanced modeling efforts for flooding and stormwater management. The panelists will discuss their experiences with these efforts, including overall scopes, lessons learned, and current status. Other topics will include justifications, costs, level of effort, how these models are being used to inform local decision-making, and how state regulatory programs could benefit from supporting these approaches.

Benjamin McFarlane, AICP, CFM

Christopher Williams, CFM

Kristin Owen, AICP, CFM

CJ Bodnar, PE

Inside the Audit and Beyond: Essex County's NFIP Compliance and CFPF Funding

Anna Cherry, CFM; Savannah Newbern, CFM

More information coming soon!

Estimating the Number of People and Housing Units in High Flood Risk Areas in Virginia

Flood risk modeling is rapidly improving and offering high-resolution estimates of flood risk. Understanding the number of people living in high flood risk areas is important for flood risk reduction efforts, but standard datasets of population and housing units are at a lower resolution than modern flood risk information. This study incorporates pluvial flood modeling results from coastal Virginia into a national-scale framework that uses building footprints, the FEMA special flood hazard area (SFHA), and 2020 Census data to estimate the number of people and housing units in high flood risk areas. Results show that the incorporation of pluvial flooding drastically increases the number of people and housing units in high flood risk areas compared to estimates that only rely on the SFHA.

Adam Gold, PhD

2:40-3:25pm | Concurrent Sessions

From Paper to Practice: How Henrico County Built a Floodplain Program That Works

You’ve raised the bar by adopting and implementing strong floodplain management standards—but what comes next? For Henrico County, Virginia, the answer was to put in the work and build a robust floodplain management program on that foundation. We began telling our story in Salt Lake City at the 2024 conference, and in the last two years, Henrico has transformed its processes into a streamlined, well-organized system backed by extensive SOP documentation and innovative tools that make permitting and compliance faster and more transparent. This allows the County to operate a high-performing program that delivers results efficiently.Getting there wasn’t easy. These advancements were developed alongside multiple internal staff changes and consultant transitions. Full implementation of the SOPs occurred about one week before the program manager went on extended leave (phew!). Despite these challenges, Henrico successfully rolled out its new framework—and it works exceptionally well. Join us to learn how the County overcame obstacles, the strategies, support, and tools that made it possible, and practical lessons you can apply to strengthen your own program—even under pressure.

Celinda Adair, CFM

Daven Patel, PE

Floodplain Monitoring and Resilience Strategies Using Real-Time Environmental Intelligence

Floodplain management is evolving rapidly as communities face increasing challenges from climate change, extreme weather, and aging infrastructure. This presentation will showcase approaches to flood risk mitigation through integrated environmental monitoring and data-driven decision-making. We will explore how real-time hydrologic and hydraulic data, combined with predictive analytics, can enhance local floodplain management, and improve Community Rating System (CRS) scores.

Ted O'Connell

Approaches for Future Riverine Flood Risk Planning – Examples from New York

Across the nation, communities continue to face challenges from storms that are growing in both intensity and frequency. To address these challenges, it is increasingly important to account for future conditions when planning, designing, and constructing resilient infrastructure. In New York, the Community Risk and Resiliency Act (CRRA) and the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) require applicants for certain permits and funding to demonstrate that they have considered future physical climate risks, including sea-level rise, storm surge, and flooding. To support implementation of these laws, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) published the draft New York State Flood Risk Management Guidance for Implementation of CRRA (SFRMG). This guidance introduces the concept of “guideline elevations” to map future risk-informed flood hazard areas. The NYS Office of General Services (NYSOGS) and NYSDEC partnered with Dewberry to 1) Pilot analytical approaches for mapping future risk-informed flood hazard areas based on the recommended guideline elevations; and 2) Provide observations and recommendations for achieving a defensible and scalable approach to implementing CRRA in inland areas. During the first phase of the project, gaps were identified in climate-informed riverine design discharge recommendations. In the second phase, the team developed watershed models to simulate changes in hydrology under several future scenarios, evaluating the impact of increased rainfall across New York’s Southern Tier. This presentation will explore how New York is leveraging available resources to address future conditions planning. We will also discuss emerging techniques—such as statistical hydrology—and how they could be incorporated into future planning efforts.

Stu Geiger, CFM

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AECOM

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Mead & Hunt

AMT

Dewberry

Environmental Defense Fund

Wetlands Watch 

AEM

CJGeo Contractors

Blossom Consulting & Engineering

WSP 

Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation