Denham Springs Resilience

DENHAM SPRINGS R E S I L I E N C E

DENHAM SPRINGS R E S I L I E N C E

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Denham Springs Resilience

Research reported in this publication was supported by the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation under award number 2000008299. The associated four-year research grant, Inland from the Coast, was organized by LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Gulf Research Program or the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine or the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

COASTAL SUSTAINABILITY STUDIO LEADERSHIP

PROJECT TEAM

Interim Managing Director Traci Birch, PhD, AICP Assistant Director Mary Bergeron Executive Committee Chairman and Interim Executive Director Robert Twilley, PhD

Researchers: Matthew Bilskie Traci Birch Jeffrey Carney Katie E. Cherry Craig E. Colten Melissa T. Daigle Scott C. Hagen Brendan Harmon Aimee Moles Marla Nelson Niki L. Pace Nicholas Serrano James G. Wilkins Clinton S. Willson

Executive Committee Members: Mark Boyer Craig Colten, PhD Marwan Ghandour Margaret Reams, PhD Clint Willson, PhD and PE

SUPPORT LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio National Academy of Sciences Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Chevron Corporation, Gulf of Mexico Business Unit Charles Lamar Family Foundation

Post-Docs: Kim Mosby Rachelle Trahan

Interns: Brendan Bailey Alexandre Cowles Adam Cox Spyedeh Zaraha Fattahi Austin Geurin Kathleen Eubanks Harris Lindsey T. Henriques Xioman Ji Taylor Jones Debbie LaRue Quanjiang Li Xiaowei Lin Yuta Masakane Bahareh Moghanjooghi Ria Mukerji Dylan Roth Tanvi Shah Lindsay Wainwright Allie White Xiangzhou Xu

Credits

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Acknowledgments This report would not have been possible without the generous support of many people, including Mayor Gerard Landry, Jeanette Clark, Rick Foster, Jackie Baumann, Gavin Smith, Kim Marousek, and every Denham Springs resident that participated in activities and completed surveys at community events.

The project team recognizes the support these project partners: Louisiana Sea Grant LSU Department of Civil Engineering American Institute of Architects Baton Rouge American Society of Landscape Architects American Planning Association American Society of Civil Engineers Capital Region Planning Commission Dana Brown & Associates Gresham Smith WHLC Architecture Grout Sanchez Design The Water Institute of the Gulf Louisiana Office of Community Development

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Table of Contents 1 • Introduction

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2 • Foundational Concepts

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Building Community Resilience .................................... 12

Conceptualizing Community Health + Wellbeing ....... 14

Framing Action Around a Watershed ........................... 18

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3 • Denham Springs, Louisiana

Background ...................................................................... 26

Demographics ................................................................. 28

Context ..................................................................

Long Slash Branch Watershed ....................................... 34

Denham Springs and the Floods of 2016 ...................... 38

Local and Regional Planning Efforts ............................. 40

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4 • Community Engagement

Our Process ...................................................................... 46

Wellbeing Statement ...................................................... 54

Issues Raised ..................................................................... 56

Goals of This Document ................................................. 58

5 • Design + Policy Recommendations

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Investing in Multiple Benefits ........................................ 62

Community + Water ....................................................... 66

Community + Mobility ................................................... 94

Community + Active Lifestyles ..................................... 106

Denham Springs Resilience

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6 • Vision for Expanding Historic Spring Park

Introduction ...................................................................... 117

Proposed Strategies ......................................................... 122

Investments that Provide Co-Benefits ......................... 130

7 • Phased Implementation

Ordinance Revision ......................................................... 138

Phased Construction ....................................................... 140

8 • Conclusion

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Image Sources .................................................................. 152

[Appendix]

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About the Coastal Sustainability Studio The LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio (CSS) brings together disciplines that typically work independently—scientists, engineers, designers, and planners—to collaboratively conduct research and address challenges associated with living and working in dynamic and water-intensive environments. CSS studies and responds to critical issues of coastal and deltaic settlement, restoration, flood protection, and socioeconomic sustainability. CSS efforts have deeply impacted Louisiana students, residents, and businesses.

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For people living at the interface of environment, settlement, infrastructure, and economy in the Mississippi River Delta and Gulf Coast region, CSS leads trans-disciplinary research, community outreach, and workforce readiness/development programs to expand the horizon of what is possible. CSS-led processes, systems, and solutions aim to reduce human vulnerability to increased storm damage, coastal hazards, habitat degradation, and global environmental change, impacting a wide variety of communities, well beyond the walls of the university.

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For the problem-solving, planning, and policy communities, CSS leads design thinking with a systems approach using performance-based methodologies. Projects utilize ideas from many disciplines while also embracing the concepts of sustainability (resolving environmental, equity, and economic challenges) and ecosystem design (utilizing green engineering) that expand the design capabilities of any one discipline.

CSS maintains a studio space that fosters openness and collaboration, promoting an inclusive and adaptable problem-solving environment where multidisciplinary project teams meet and work.

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For communities connected to water (coastal and riverine), CSS works directly with elected officials, community leaders, local authorities, and subject matter experts to brainstorm community resiliency projects ideas and facilitate implementation. Project teams frequently translate these community-specific ideas into much broader applications. During the past three years, as part of its Louisiana Community Resiliency Institute, CSS has worked one-on-one with elected officials from 18 Louisiana communities representing nearly a half million Louisiana residents, many of which have experienced extraordinary flooding.

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For local, state, and federal initiatives, CSS works closely with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) to innovate, implement, and extend the State Masterplan for a Sustainable Coast. Similarly, CSS works with the Louisiana Office of Community Development-Disaster Recovery Unit and FEMA to spearhead community resilience programs, while also working directly with local elected officials on specific community project planning ideas.

As a self-funded university research unit, receiving no direct operational funding from the State of Louisiana or the university, the Coastal Sustainability Studio relies on gifts, grants, and contracts. Through these investments, the studio continues its ambitious work on complex issues facing coastal and delta regions of South Louisiana and around the world.

Introduction

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Inland from the Coast:

A Multi-Scalar Approach to Regional Climate Change Responses Inland from the Coast is a multi-disciplinary research endeavor that uses environmental conditions modeling and community wellbeing research to inform building, community, and landscape design for ongoing flood recovery and long-term resilience across the greater Baton Rouge inland-coastal region. This project recognizes that effective storm water management acknowledges and complements connections at all scales, ie: block, neighborhood, city, parish, and region. The project links university researchers with professional architects, landscape architects, planners, policy-makers, and community members to 1) improve understanding of inland-coastal environmental conditions and vulnerabilities, 2) define current and future community health + wellbeing, and 3) develop design and planning best practices for reducing risk and increasing regional adaptive capacity.

The project goal is to create a framework to restore and enhance community wellbeing in the face of extreme weather and climate change, and support adaptation strategies for sustainable futures. Climate change undermines the stability that communities have traditionally assumed existed. Projecting future environmental conditions, allowing communities to prioritize those elements of the community necessary for wellbeing, and applying both measures to improve the community response can vastly improve the future resilience of communities and the health of residents even as climate change brings greater risk.

This project is supported by a grant from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation under award number 2000008299.

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Inland from the Coast strives to create a framework to restore and enhance community wellbeing in the face of extreme weather and climate change, and support adaptation strategies for sustainable futures.

Introduction

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Purpose of Report This report was created to build upon and complement the Denham Springs longterm recovery plan, Denham Strong: Strategy for the Future. Through a participatory planning process, residents and a steering committee of key stakeholders established key recovery projects and priorities to strengthen community resilience after the 2016 floods. In 2017, the city adopted Denham Strong and began implementing high priority projects. This report is intended to be a vision and planning document to help the community complete the next steps in fulfilling the mission and objectives laid forth by the community. The project team solicited further input from residents, key stakeholders, and national experts to formulate the ideas and strategies recommended in this report.

The overall goal of the report recommendations is to improve local quality of life and community wellbeing while reducing environmental threats, such as flooding. The report provides design concepts and policy tools for the City to consider to shape the landscape in ways that facilitate stormwater management, community mobility, and healthy, active lifestyles. The recommended strategies will help Denham Springs develop community systems that can provide benefits in all three areas and thereby increase resilience and wellbeing at the individual and community scale.

Three concepts lay the foundation for the ideas and strategies included in this report.

These concepts are: • Community resilience • Community wellbeing • Watershed planning The next section defines these concepts to provide a framework for the recommendations that follow.

Introduction

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Foundational Concepts

Building Community Resilience Many of the threats to resilience in Denham Springs are not surprises to those who know the city well. The most prominent environmental shocks come in the form of severe storms and flooding events. Floods are often exacerbated by chronic environmental stressors such as the cumulative impact of increased development in the Amite and Comite River floodplains, which reduce natural stormwater capacity.

These shocks and stressors are further intensified by chronic social, economic and infrastructural stressors such as unemployment, poor public health, and old or overburdened infrastructure. In particular, social and economic stresses often coincide with greater vulnerability to shocks: low-income households are more likely to be located in areas with greater risk, and are less likely to be able to recover quickly when a disaster happens. This not only poses risk to individuals, it also weakens the resilience of the entire community over time.

The environment in Denham Springs is changing. Changes in climate and weather intensity, modifications to local waterways, and rapid regional development are all altering natural processes, often with unexpected results. Community resilience is about more than building stronger infrastructure to hold back the water. The capacity to adapt to changing conditions is founded on the knowledge and lessons learned from past experiences with shocks and stresses. It is about fostering the conditions for people, places, and systems to flourish. It is about encouraging adaptation to change, and complete transformation when necessary, to encourage long-term community sustainability. It is about developing and supporting community leadership in ways that build trust and encourage active participation in community processes.

community resilience Community resilience is the capacity of individuals, neighborhoods, institutions, businesses, and systems within a community to survive, adapt, and grow, no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience.

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Community Resilience Foundational Concepts PEOPLE The power to define community values and create an inclusive and resilient vision for the future resides with community members. This requires the active engagement of stakeholders, including typically underrepresented groups, in the resilience conversation.

PLACES There is no place like home, but connections to community can be equally strong. Building attachment to community, often called “sense of place”, is an important foundation to resilience because it helps community leaders understand what residents are attached to and what should be prioritized in the face of adversity.

ADAPTATIONS A community that can adapt to change is resilient. Communities are dynamic places and with change comes challenges that can make resilience seem unattainable. Envisioning adaptation as an ongoing process rather than an endpoint is key to building resilience.

TRANSFORMATIONS Some challenges are so large that it is not possible to simply adapt. Thorough or dramatic change in form, appearance, or function may be necessary. In these cases, stakeholder input and rough consensus is required to increase community resilience.

SYSTEMS Resilience requires us to build infrastructural, economic, and social systems with the ability to reduce the magnitude and duration of disruptive events. The effectiveness of systems depends on the ability of these interrelated elements to collectively anticipate, absorb, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stressors.

LEADERS Resilience is not possible without the individuals and community organizations that take a prominent role in confronting challenging issues, and who take responsibility for the collective future.

Foundational Concepts

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Conceptualizing Community Health + Wellbeing Community wellbeing and resilience are closely related. Wellbeing encompasses the goals and priorities identified as of greatest importance to the community today, and resilience relates more closely to expectations about future wellbeing. Community wellbeing and the ability to cope and adapt over time is closely related to the physical, social, and economic circumstances that people are born into, grow up with, and live in. Prolonged or repeated exposure to negative environmental impacts or crises result in physical and mental tolls to both individuals and communities.

If we measure the health of our communities based solely on wealth and growth, then many are thriving. However, if our definition of wellbeing is expanded to include the full range of physical, social, economic, environmental, cultural, and political concerns that matter to most people, then the diagnoses are far more mixed. In the face of increasing risk, improving community wellbeing requires reducing the challenges that negatively impact daily life, and building capacity to respond to disruption. When considering communities as a whole, there are critical considerations in enhancing overall wellbeing. These include creating high-quality social and infrastructural connections within and between communities, providing healthy options to meet basic needs, and recognizing inequalities within communities that disadvantage some residents.

community Community is a geographically bound group of people on a local-scale who have either direct or indirect relationships with each other.

community wellbeing Community wellbeing is the social, economic, environmental, cultural, & political conditions identified by community members as essential for them to cope with the normal stresses of life and fulfil their potential.

-Wiseman and Brasher, 2008, p. 358

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Community Wellbeing Foundational Concepts CONNECTIONS Social and infrastructural networks that foster a community’s ability to grow and prosper. Social connections offer support to those in need, build trust, foster civic engagement, and empower community members to participate in their community.

Infrastructural connections provide efficient and effective resource management and allow both gray and green systems to flourish.

HEALTHY OPTIONS Community wellbeing is supported by several fundamental elements, including safe housing, accessible transportation, high-quality education, recreation options, employment opportunities, and access to arts and cultural activities.

EQUITABLE OUTCOMES In addition to acute shocks, many people suffer chronic social stresses that put resilience out of reach. Wide disparities exist in employment and wages, educational attainment, and health outcomes. These social stresses are correlated with a greater vulnerability to acute shocks, leaving some that already experience inequity further exposed to risk. An equitable community is supported by values of diversity, social justice, and mobility in ways that build social cohesion and lower barriers to opportunity for all residents.

Foundational Concepts

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Denham Springs Resilience

A CASE STUDY:

Planning for Wellbeing

Greenville, North Carolina, has often faced severe flooding due to hurricanes and tropical storms. Several residential neighborhoods along the Tar River in Greenville flooded repetitively before the city took action. Following Hurricane Floyd, which hit in 1999, the city started a buyout program to transform floodprone neighborhoods into a greenway network. Greenville pursued the creation of greenways as a strategy for supporting the health and well-being of its citizens, increasing and improving the quality of local green spaces, and bolstering tax revenue through increased property values through increasing property values on adjacent parcels while reducing flood risk. The city funds its programs with federal and state dollars, which are won and leveraged with local funds. Their 2004 Greenway Master Plan calls for 42 distinct projects to expand and improve parks and greenspace. One such park, Town Commons, features 21 acres of green space and an amphitheater designed to submerge during flood events – holding water from the Tar River that runs along side it. A network of trails is interlaced throughout the park, connecting the town’s downtown district with peaceful walks along the river. Town Commons, together with the greenways, offer beautiful places for residents to gather, move, and recreate, all the while increasing the capacity of the landscape to store stormwater, raising neighboring property values, and boosting the city budget.

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Foundational Concepts

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Framing Action Around a Watershed “No one city can affect the change needed to control large flooding events and likewise no one project will be enough to solve the problem.”

- Denham Strong Strategy for the Future , 2017, p.12

In 2016, Louisiana experienced two catastrophic rain events. The catastrophic August flooding in and around Baton Rouge took 13 lives and inundated more than 109,000 homes (LED 2017). In its wake there was an estimated $8.7 billion in damages requiring recovery efforts that will take years to complete. Though classified as a “one-in-1,000-year flood” this was the 3rd such event to hit the southeastern US in 2016, and one of 16 since 2010. Climate scientists predict that these types of severe rain storms are likely to increase in frequency and intensity in the future (Prein et al.

2016).

These two 2016 floods highlighted weaknesses in Louisiana’s approach to managing water and risk reduction. In response, the state has implemented the Louisiana Watershed Initiative. This effort coordinates state, regional, and local agencies to reduce flood risk by managing the flow of water along natural boundaries, and encouraging coordinated mitigation action across watersheds. Actions taken in one community can have a downstream impact on the flow of water−increasing or reducing the risk of flooding in other communities. At the same time, decisions about community development across a region are often uncoordinated and may be inconsistent with flood prevention. While in its early stages, the watershed approach will help to coordinate decisions about land use and infrastructure investment to more effectively manage flood risk. When thinking about planning at a watershed scale, these concepts set the framework apart: broad scales, systems, complex systems, and dynamic strategies.

watershed A watershed is an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.

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Watershed Approach Foundational Concepts BROAD SCALES Watershed planning units are defined by their environmental boundaries and functions rather than political boundaries. This can result in large land areas and many different communities being included in a single watershed.

COMPLEX SYSTEMS Watershed planning includes all of the elements in a system (e.g. environmental, social, economic, infrastructural, and political) in the context of relationships with each other, rather than in isolation. This approach strives for biological, social, and economic diversity to protect the integrity of the whole system and promote resilience.

DYNAMIC STRATEGIES Much like communities, watersheds are constantly changing through both natural and man-made processes. Planning for reduced risk and increased resilience requires monitoring and adaptation over time to address ever changing conditions.

Foundational Concepts

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planning Planning is the process of deciding on and arranging in advance. It is also the formulation of long-range visions, goals, policies and strategies for achieving social, economic, and environmental sustainability in order to guide future community development.

watershed planning Watershed planning provides a strategy for achieving resource and community goals related to water quantity and quality for an ecologically-defined system. The watershed planning process uses a series of cooperative, iterative steps to characterize existing conditions, identify and prioritize problems, define management objectives, and develop and implement restoration, protection, and monitoring recommendations at a range of scales.

As watersheds do not adhere to political boundaries, effective stormwater management requires collaboration across jurisdictional boundaries.

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MISSISSIPPI LOUISIANA

Foundational Concepts

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Denham Springs, Louisiana

The City of Denham Springs sits near the place where the Comite River merges with the Amite River on its way to Lake Maurepas. Emerging in the 20th century as a bedroom community to Baton Rouge, Denham Springs continues to attract families seeking to trade a twenty to thirty minute commute for the appeal of a smalltown atmosphere. Accordingly, most homes in Denham Springs are constructed in a single-family style, and businesses are concentrated along primary vehicular transit corridors. The City boasts a well-rated school system and is celebrated as the economic and cultural hub of Livingston Parish which, in recent years, has seen some of the fastest rates of population growth in Louisiana. Much of that growth is attributed to Denham Springs.

While its nearness to the Amite River proved instrumental for initial settlement and the agricultural industry, environmental changes−such as the expansion of development in the FEMA 100-year floodplain−have reduced the area’s capacity to absorb and manage stormwater that can accompany hurricanes and other large storms. These factors compound to significantly increase the severity and frequency of flood events in Denham Springs, which lies in the Amite Watershed.

Denham Springs’ streetscape, S. Range Ave.

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Denham Springs, Louisiana

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Background The origins of the contemporary city date back to the late 18th century when England issued land grants of parcels along the Amite River, wresting it from the Native American peoples who had lived there before. At first, the settlement was composed of a few plantations and the people who lived, worked, and were enslaved there. But mineral springs were quickly discovered and a hotel was soon constructed to house visitors who wished to bathe there. A wellness craze that beguiled the country from the 1850s through the 1930s drove heightened popularity of the springs and the town. Hydrotherapy or, “the water cure”, was a 19th century wellness craze that drove heightened popularity of the town. It suggested that the spring waters possessed healing powers and the hotel, or wellness resort, grew quickly up around the springs. Visitors fleeing yellow fever and seeking the comfort and relief of the springs traveled to Denham Springs from as far away as New Orleans.

The establishment of a railway depot spurred growth, tourism, and industry. With trains running between the city and Baton Rouge, Denham Springs served as a bedroom community for families who preferred to live outside the city, while still needing one member of the household to commute to it. The city suffered with economic stagnation and decline after the train depot closed, but in time, the city core reinvented itself as an antiquing destination.

Today, the City of Denham Springs serves as the economic heart of Livingston Parish, identifying as its banking and commercial center. Antique Village, the downtown commercial center of the city, offers upwards of twenty antique shops, and the city is engaged in planning efforts to increase the area’s charm with bicycle and pedestrianfriendly street improvements.

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Railroad Park Pavilion, downtown Denham Springs.

Spring Park Pavilion, Denham Springs.

Denham Springs Antique District mural.

Denham Springs, Louisiana

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Demographics According to the 2010 census, approximately 10,215 people live in Denham Springs.

The predominantly white community nearly doubled its population between 1970 and 2010. While the number of white residents grew, the number of black residents fell between 1970 and 2000. However, by the 2010 census racial composition was similar to 1970 rates. During this time, the age composition changed significantly.

The number of residents under 18 and over 65 doubled between 1970 and 2010 as the number of children 5 and under fell by half. In 2010, about a third of the community was under 18 years old. The following charts illustrate changes in selected demographics based on historic and estimated census data.

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Denham Springs, Louisiana

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Although Denham Springs housing stock is primarily single-family homes, some neighborhoods have heavy concentrations of rental housing. Due to repetitive flooding, many properties in the neighborhood south of Spring Park have changed from owner- to tenant-occupied over time. As the map shows, by 2010 the neighborhood was 60 to 80% rental property. After the 2016 floods, many of these properties are abandoned, house only squatters, or provide substandard living conditions. Converting this neighborhood to green space can further compound housing affordability issues in Denham Springs. This can be averted through intentional planning for displaced tenants and implementing strategies to increase affordable housing in the city.

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PERCENTAGE OF RENTERS 2010

0% - 20% 20% - 40% 40% - 60% 60% - 80% 80% - 100% Buyout Area

Denham Springs, Louisiana

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Environmental Context Community life is shaped by both the natural environment and the spaces that humans construct, known as the built environment. Topography and soil compositions are two conditions in the natural environment that influence how stormwater flows and settles in a community and the capacity of the ground to absorb and store water. Everyday life is also molded by man-made systems and infrastructure, such as buildings, roads, and drainage systems. Bolstering community sustainability and resiliency requires developing strategies that acknowledge connections between natural and man-made systems. For example, converting repetitive flood loss properties in low-lying areas into open space can be beneficial for many reasons: • Increased stormwater storage capacity can reduce nuisance flooding • Less development in flood-prone areas can reduce economic losses and negative health impacts due to flooding • Space to be active outdoors can improve health and wellbeing The collection of maps that follow show the natural and man-made elements that influence community wellbeing and resilience in Denham Springs.

Denham Springs City Map This map identifies important sites of civic life in Denham Springs, such as schools and parks. The map also shows the town’s street system, which includes local, parish, and state roadways. Each type has its own design standards and specifications that influence active transportation opportunities.

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Denham Springs City Limits Denham Springs City Limits

LEGEND

Denham Springs, Louisiana

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Long Slash Branch

Denham Springs sits entirely within the Amite River Watershed (see page 21). Within watersheds, there are smaller units, known as sub-watersheds, that can experience very different impacts during the same storm events. These impacts are based on the amount of development, the composition of the surrounding environment, and the amount of rainfall. For example, this maps shows how stormwater flows from surrounding areas into Long Slash Branch, which is a sub-watershed tributary through the heart of Denham Springs that carries runoff to the Amite River. High water levels in the Amite River can prevent Long Slash Branch from draining, flooding the area south of Spring Park and downtown Denham Springs.

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LEGEND

Soil Composition

Satsuma silt

Denham Springs sits on a range of soil types, from silt loam to primarily silt soils, each of which has different abilities to absorb and store water. It is important to note that the soils closest to Long Slash Branch have the greatest ability to absorb and store stormwater.

Olivier Silt loam

Ouachita, Ochlockonee, and Guyton soils Dexter very fine sandy loam Gilbert silt loam Gilbert-Brimstone sandy loam

Denham Springs, Louisiana

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Land Development Changes This map shows where Denham Springs is expanding.

Almost all newly developed lands from 2001 to 2016 are located within FEMA’s 100-year floodplain. Further, the development clusters with the highest intensity are concentrated in places with high percent of impervious surfaces and near Interstate 12, both of which are associated with flooding.

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LEGEND Pre-2001 Development 2001-2016 Low Development 2001-2016 Med Development 2001-2016 High Development FEMA Zone AE

Denham Springs, Louisiana

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Denham Springs and the Floods of 2016 In 2016, Livingston Parish experienced severe, wide-spread flooding twice in six months that affected 72% of all households in the parish (Denham Strong, 2019, pg.

13). Residents in Denham Springs were caught off guard in August when street flooding, a common occurrence, didn’t recede. Instead, waters rose overnight and entered most buildings in the city - homes, businesses, city hall, schools, fire stations, police department, etc. This compounded the difficulty of rescue and response activities because critical emergency facilities were damaged and personnel experienced the floods as both residents with families in crisis and as first responders for a community in crisis. The Cajun Navy, a local group of boat owners, helped emergency response personnel rescue those stranded in flooded homes.

The August flood affected most members of the community either through direct flooding or by housing flooded family and friends. 3,114 of 4,025 structures in the city reported flood depths of 18 inches or more, and 508 suffered substantial damages, defined as “restoration costs greater than 50% of market value” (Denham Strong, 2017, pg. 13). Recovery efforts relied heavily on volunteers and local organizations because flooding extended beyond the 100-year floodplain, with floodwaters impacting residents who had not been required to have flood insurance. This left property owners financially responsible for all damages and in need of disaster relief assistance. Many residents were temporarily displaced for more than a year.

Psychological impacts, such as anger, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, were pervasive throughout the community and long-lasting.

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Regional Impact of the 2016 Floods

Denham Springs, Louisiana

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Local and Regional Planning Efforts “The community overwhelmingly identified drainage as the highest single priority for flood recovery. …[N]o single project by itself can resolve the flooding issue. The solution ultimately will require many coordinated regional and local actions.”

-Denham Strong, 2019, p. 26

Following the 2016 floods, Denham Springs residents participated in multiple planning initiatives designed to shape recovery and new development in the city.

In 2017, the city worked with the Capital Region Planning Commission (CRPC) with support from the Louisiana Office of Community Development Disaster Recovery Unit (OCD-DRU) to create and adopt Denham Strong: Strategy for the Future, a long-term community recovery plan. Through this process, the community established the following vision statement:

“Denham Springs is a family-focused, well-connected, clean, safe, active, and resilient community.”

-Denham Strong, 2019, p. 1

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Since adoption, many of the recovery projects identified in the report have been initiated, such as the bicycle and pedestrian master plan that the city adopted in 2019.

In addition to city processes, residents are also impacted by parish plans for future development. Before the 2016 floods, Livingston Parish commissioned a comprehensive master plan. The parish adopted this plan in late 2019, in order to quickly move forward with soliciting funding to begin parish-wide zoning and drainage plans (Kennedy, 2019). The parish is also engaged in hazard mitigation projects in Denham Springs based on its 2016 plan. These projects include buyouts of repetitive flood loss property in the neighborhood south of Spring Park, including the old First Baptist Church building located on River Road.

State processes operate as another level of influence on life in Denham Springs in the present and in the future. For example, the Office of Community Development and the governor of Louisiana started the Louisiana Watershed Initiative, which will cause a shift in stormwater management throughout the state. The Louisiana Watershed Initiative embraces a larger scale, watershed approach to drainage, which is new in Louisiana. This new perspective may help facilitate collaboration over competition among neighboring jurisdictions to help institute sustainable development practices throughout the region to reduce future flood risk.

Denham Springs, Louisiana

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DENHAM SPRINGS PLANNING INITIATIVES A TIMELINE OF RELEVANT PLANNING INITIATIVES THAT HAVE TAKEN a timeline of relevant planning initiatives that have taken PLACE IN DENHAM SPRINGS, LOUISIANA TO DATE. place in denham springs, louisiana, to date.

145,000 homes damaged by flooding events

SILVER JACKETS - LOUISIANA

L.A. FLOOD AUGUST, 2016

The Louisiana Silver Jackets team was established with the main goal of increasing efficiency and cooridnation in developing the comprehensive and sustainable solutions to flood risk management in the state of Louisiana.

L.A. FLOOD MARCH, 2016

2013 LIVINGSTON PARISH MASTER PLAN

A comprehensive Master Plan for Livingston Parish.

2014

2015

2016

LIVINGSTON PARISH HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN

This list is intended to be used to help homeowners properly procure estimates for potential mitigation applications.

LOUISIANA WATERSHED INITIATIVE

A LONG-TERM VISION FOR STATEWIDE SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE

O F F I C E O F G O V. J O H N B E L E D W A R D S

/

AUGUST 2018

Louisiana’s eight watershed regions each coordinate efforts among parishes to reduce the risks of flood damage.

2017

2018

DENHAM STRONG

A community-focused initiative charged with helping Denham Springs, LA become a more resilient community in the wake of the August 2016 flooding that 90% of the city’s homes and businesses.

2019

2020

DENHAM SPRINGS BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN

Aims to define a clear vision for increasing the presence of cyclist and walkers to transform the city into a place where all people have equal access to safe, comfortable, and convenient pedestrian and bike trails.

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Community Engagement

Our Process All communities have a unique history that shapes present day life within their borders. Denham Springs is not a blank canvas, but an active, vibrant community fully-engaged in directing the course of their city and their futures. This project strives to decrease flood risk while improving quality of life for residents affected by the 2016 floods by using a participatory planning framework. The design and policy recommendations in this report are based on the combined knowledge of Amite River Basin hydrology and how local residents define their wellbeing. Participatory planning processes are unique in that they allow the community to determine process goals and desired outcomes. Eknoweling the role socio-cultural histories and values play in shaping ideas of wellbeing, Denham Springs residents were surveyed to identify: •

Important elements of wellbeing

•

Community needs

•

Preferred neighborhood park amenities

To form the design and policy recommendations, the research team used several different data sources. Design interns toured the city to analyze existing neighborhood and environmental conditions. City officials, employees, and residents participated in interviews and focus groups, reviewed design ideas, and answered survey questions at local public meetings and other community events, such as Fall Fest and Pelican State Credit Union’s Annual Kid’s Bike Race. Local professionals, including architects, landscape architects, planners, and civil engineers, also participated in design workshops to create innovative and culturally sensitive design solutions to the challenges raised by residents in community engagement activities. The research team also interviewed local and national experts and studied best practices to understand how to equitably transform repetitive flood loss properties into community parks and open space. While COVID-19 prevented the formation of a traditional in-person steering committee, city employees vetted designs and verified the accuracy of conclusions drawn from community engagement responses.

Denham Springs residents writing on the chalk wall during the Denham Springs Fall Fest Open House, October 2019.

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Community Engagement

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Bike/Ped Master Plan Public Meeting

March 2019

Residents completed mapping exercises with LSU students to show where they would locate different amenities.

LSU landscape architecture students allow residents to design their ideal streetscape with cardboard models at the first public meeting for the city’s bicycle master planning process.

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The scenario building workshop worked through the cascading consequences of different stormwater management strategies.

Scenario Building Workshop July 2019

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Speed Design Lunch N’ Learn

July 2019

Local professionals suggest innovative design solutions for stormwater management in Denham Springs.

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Professional designers drafted ideas to address flooding along Long Slash Branch.

Community Engagement

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Denham Springs Fall Fest Open House

October 2019

Residents decorated City Hall with all the reasons why they love their community, such as family, friends, Fall Fest, and funnel cakes!

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After decorating City Hall and reviewing options, residents identified the outdoor amenities they want in their community.

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Wellbeing Statement Based on survey responses, residents like the country feel of their small community.

They fondly describe Denham Springs as quiet, peaceful, and remote. Their neighborhoods are safe places where they know everyone. Residents like that they have larger lot sizes that provide space between houses and prevent feeling crowded.

They like green space with mature trees. They like that they have low traffic, are safe from crime and flooding; but are close to parks, library, shopping, and good schools.

Denham Springs also provides options on where to live. Residents can live in the city and have walkability or they can live outside the city while still be close enough to enjoy proximity to the amenities.

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Preferred Park Amenities and Facilities in Denham Springs Engagement activities sought to survey residents about preferred park amenities to inform design decisions regarding the proposed Spring Park expansion. The city specifically requested this feedback. Survey responses showed that residents want family-friendly parks characterized by ample open green space where children can run free and play with friends. To be family-friendly, parks need equipment, such as slides, swings, zip lines, and water features like splash pads and fountains; as well as amenities, like shade, bathrooms, community centers with programming for all ages, and fenced-in playgrounds to keep children safe, especially along River Road. Park programming should include educational activities and skills learning, such as learning about local history, the ecosystem, archery, or fishing. Residents also want the natural springs restored, a stocked fishing pond, a pet park for dogs and cats, shade trees and plants that support pollinators, and easy access to the river, possibly on raised walkways. Residents also requested trails and pathways for bicyclists, pedestrians, and horse-back riding within the park and connecting the area to residential and commercial destinations.

Frequency of responses for preferred park amenities in Denham Springs: 12 people

Water features

9 people

Fishing

5 people

Skate park

4 people

Kids playground

3 people

Swings

5 people

Yard games

3 people

Dig/play in dirt

3 people

Golf

3 people

Zipline

2 people

Special occasion photos

2 people

Gardening

2 people

Jumping

2 people

Music

2 people

Exercise circuit/equipment

2 people

Hiking

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Issues Raised Although residents identified the many reasons they loved living in Denham Springs, they also identified challenges with accessibility, safety, and recovery. To address accessibility concerns, residents want sidewalks and bike paths to the library, shops, and restaurants, especially those downtown in Antique Village. They indicated that road improvements, such as wider roads, speed bumps, and other traffic slowing measures, were needed to improve safety for children, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

They also want development limited−particularly rental housing−so the community maintains its small, country town feel. Residents expressed concern that future development would increase flood risk and challenge the city’s ability to maintain drainage systems. Some community members wanted the city to require pumps in ponds and higher house elevations to reduce future flood risk. Residents in Denham Springs want flooded homes repaired and to see less litter. They also desired more green space, pollinators, a lake stocked with fish, and other outdoor recreational opportunities−especially for kids−such as a pool, parks, play areas, shade trees, and music venues.

Denham Springs Bike/Ped Master Plan Public Meeting.

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Community Engagement

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Goals of this Document The purpose of this report is to advance the recovery objectives and hazard mitigation processes operated and administered by the city of Denham Springs, Livingston Parish, and the state of Louisiana in areas that deal with stormwater management and community health. The goal of this document is to identify design concepts and policy tools the city of Denham Springs can use to improve community resilience and wellbeing, as well as stormwater management. By doing so, the project aspires to assist the city in completing recovery projects determined by community members during the recovery planning processes that followed the 2016 floods. In the longterm recovery plan, residents identified 21 primary recovery projects divided into three categories. The ideas and recommendations in this report speak to multiple projects in each category, including: flood recovery projects, disaster resilience projects, and community development projects.

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DENHAM STRONG: STRATEGY FOR THE FUTURE Long Term Recovery Plan: January 2017

Flood Recovery Projects • Stormwater Management - Update Stormwater Regulations - Provide Support for Regional Efforts - Construct and Incentivize Green Stormwater Infrastructure • Improve Blighted Properties Disaster Resilience Projects • Enhance Community Planning • Increase Services and Activities for Youth • Increase Opportunities for Affordable Housing Community Development Projects • Improved Street Safety and Mobility • Park Enhancement and Beautification

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Design + Policy Recommendations

Investing in Multiple Benefits Historically, cities in the United States have relied on single purpose infrastructure systems that are very costly to construct and maintain. Much of today’s landscape is characterized by aging infrastructure at the end of its lifecycle. Financial constraints caused by shrinking budgets fuel demand among cities for new approaches to infrastructure designed to be more resource efficient by providing multiple, complementary benefits. This need is more acute in communities with high rates of growth and development. These communities often experience difficulty affording system upgrades at the pace necessary to meet local demand and respond to the cumulative impacts from development in adjacent jurisdictions.

To maximize benefits for public expenditures, designers consider social, environmental, and economic factors to design infrastructure systems to serve multiple functions, or have multifunctionality. Recreation, cultural expression, and education are examples of social functions that infrastructure investments can provide. Communities may also consider water storage and filtration, biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, and other environmental benefits that indirectly improve quality of life. Multifunctional infrastructure projects may also offer economic benefits, such as a reduced need for expensive engineering solutions, food production, energy efficiency, and other benefits that have market value.

infrastructure Infrastructure is the fixed system of public works that a community and its economy need to function. There are two general categories of infrastructure, hard and soft. Hard infrastructure refers to the physical networks necessary for basic functions (e.g. roads, water and sewer, drainage, and telecommunications). Soft infrastructure refers to the institutions that maintain community and economic health (e.g. schools, parks and open space, health care).

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drainage infrastructure Typical drainage systems use wide concrete culverts and ditches to direct water out of communities as fast as possible. These systems are expensive, prone to catastrophic failure (especially with increased demands from upstream neighbors), and provide no additional benefits. Alternatives with green infrastructure provide multiple benefits, including: recreation opportunities that support public health, water filtration with riparian buffers that improve water quality and biodiversity, and increased stormwater storage capacity that translates to economic savings.

The picture below shows how a multi-functional drainage way creates space to hold excess stormwater during flood events and provides ecosystem benefits, such as improving water quality and preserving habitats for wildlife.

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Design + Policy Recommendations This chapter presents three driving concepts that address different social, environmental, and economic concerns raised in community survey responses. When layered together, they can help designers create spaces that provide flood risk reduction and community wellbeing benefits. They also represent a shift in thinking that can foster resilience and improve quality of life in urban and suburban environments.

The following concepts build upon stormwater and transportation management best practices recognized by professional organizations and government agencies such as the American Institute for Architects (AIA), the American Planning Association (APA), the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX). The next sections introduce each concept before highlighting important benefits and considerations. A list of tools and implementation strategies is also included that may be useful in creating a multifunctional infrastructure system that provides stormwater management, transportation, and recreation benefits for all Denham Springs residents.

Infrastructure investments with multiple benefits increase quality of life while decreasing flood risk.

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Community + Water Many communities are flooding more often than ever before as more frequent and intense storms overwhelm drainage systems. Adopting new stormwater mangement systems that create space for water in the landscape can bolster resilience. In some places no amount of engineering, landscaping, or infrastructure improvements will protect people and property. In these locations, creating harmony between community and water means restoring and conserving the floodplain through converting, in perpetuity, flood-prone properties into green space. Community + Water recognizes the growing importance of planning for water by creating space to store stormwater in the landscape.

Community + Mobility Integrating stormwater management with transportation improvements allows an individual investment to produce multiple, complimentary benefits, including: increased physical safety for non-motorists, improved water quality, and increased stormwater storage capacity in the landscape. Community + Mobility couples stormwater management improvements with providing safe transit options for all community members, regardless of age, ability, or access to resources.

Community + Active Lifestyles Constructing floodable parks and greenways that border natural waterways can create a recreational destination for residents and tourists that adds needed stormwater storage capacity in the landscape. Community + Active Lifestyles means transforming flood-prone areas into floodable community destinations that support healthy, active lifestyles.

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Community + Water Early cities developed along waterways, which served as major transportation routes before the advent of railroads and automobiles. Although useful in bringing resources and people to and from communities, rivers also bring floodwaters capable of devastating those same communities. Traditionally, the United States relied on structural approaches, such as levees, dams, and floodwalls to manage riverine flooding.

These types of structural flood controls cost billions of dollars and often take decades to fund and construct. Structural projects also tend to disrupt ecosystems, reduce the floodplain’s capacity to store excess runoff, and can encourage development in flood-prone and other high-risk or vulnerable areas by providing a false sense of security. If these systems fail, due to age, human error, or a weather-related event, catastrophic damage is possible.

While communities in this region have always faced riverine and coastal storm surge flooding, communities are now flooding more often due to frequent and more intense storms overwhelming drainage systems. To bolster their ability to withstand and respond to future storm events, many communities−such as Denham Springs−are adopting new ways of managing stormwater, such as green stormwater infrastructure. Where prior approaches sought to drain water as quickly as possible, green stormwater infrastructure emphasizes restoring natural systems and creating space in the landscape to hold stormwater until it can absorb or evaporate. These strategies increase a community’s overall capacity to store and manage excess stormwater. Many green infrastructure strategies provide multiple benefits, such as improving water quality and offering aesthetically pleasing outdoor environments that facilitate and encourage active, healthy lifestyles.

COMMUNITY + WATER recognizes the growing importance of planning for water by creating space to store stormwater in the landscape.

In some neighborhoods, no amount of engineering, landscaping, or infrastructure improvements will protect people and their property. In these situations, local governments can use federal funds to buy flooded properties. Once purchased, all buildings are demolished, and the land is maintained as green space in perpetuity. This strategy, known as a buyout, helps households move out of flood-prone areas while increasing space for water in the landscape, which can reduce excess stormwater in other areas within the community. This strategy may be particularly impactful

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for communities near and encircling tributary streams and rivers that flood with backflow when downstream waters rise. Denham Springs is one such community.

In the 2016 floods, the Amite River backed up with floodwaters and highlighted a need for increased stormwater detention capacity. During the recovery planning process that followed, “convert[ing] structures that flood repetitively to open space” emerged as a desired outcome of the park enhancement and beautification recovery project that is considered an important priority in the community recovery plan (Denham Strong, 2017, p. 50). Planning for water in the landscape can help the city achieve this and other recovery goals, such as park enhancement and beautification, by creating spaces that manage stormwater where it falls.

In Denham Springs, creating harmony between Community + Water means restoring and conserving the floodplain. Through enacting an intentional buyout program that targets neighborhoods with high numbers of repetitive flood loss properties, the city can restore natural streambanks and work to conserve the floodplain from future development. In this way, a buyout program can be a part of a holistic approach to stormwater management. As repetitive flood loss properties are converted to green space, adjacent properties and neighborhoods may have a reduction in flood risk. Additionally, the flood-prone area can be redeveloped into a floodable park space with recreational facilities that encourage healthy, active lifestyles, which can improve community health and wellbeing while increasing community resilience to future flood events.

backflow A condition of downriver or downstream flooding that causes upstream waters to rise and sometimes flood. Backflow can exacerbate localized flood events by blocking the downriver escape route for stormwater, trapping it in city streets, yards, and sometimes homes.

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Strategies Converting Flood-Prone Places into Open Spaces In some neighborhoods, flooding occurs so often the best way to alleviate flood risk is to buyout homes and have residents relocate to safer areas. This strategy removes people from harm’s way while creating the opportunity to build space for water in the landscape. This is possible because all land purchased through buyout processes is converted into green space, which is able to flood. Through intentional planning, the green space can help alleviate pressure in other flood-prone areas by creating a space to store excess stormwater until it can evaporate, absorb into the earth, or drain through gray stormwater infrastructure.

buyouts A buyout occurs when a government agency purchases a homeowner’s property. After purchase, the house is demolished and the land is converted into green space in perpetuity. Buyouts are a common flood mitigation strategy in areas that flood repeatedly. Participation is voluntary. Federal payouts are capped at 75% of the building’s fair market value.

Establishing Safe Building Standards Adaptation to flood hazards most commonly occurs through changes to codes and ordinances that regulate development, such as building height, form, and construction. Communities set minimum standards for buildings to keep residents safe and healthy. For example, they require most buildings to have a working sewer or septic system that doesn’t dump human waste in lawns where kids play. Standards set expectations for safety and relieve the burden for homeowners to know things such as: how big a bolt is needed to secure a deck,the impact of a 10 mph wind on their roof, or if their homes are sufficiently elevated to keep them dry in an anticipated flood. As many communities learn more about their increasing vulnerability to flooding, they adapt their minimum building standards to anticipate greater floods.

For example, communities might require homes and businesses to be built a foot or two above ground.

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Implementing Green Stormwater Infrastructure There are many different adaptation interventions that are collectively known as green stormwater infrastructure. Green infrastructure strategies tend to mimic and restore the natural water cycle, meaning they store runoff until it evaporates or it is absorbed by the ground, water-loving plants, and trees. Other strategies, such as rainwater harvesting, collect and store rainwater for non-drinking purposes, like watering lawns and gardens. Many of the techniques can be used in conjunction with each other. It is important to note that green stormwater infrastructure is intended to operate in conjunction with, not as a replacement for, gray infrastructure, or traditional drainage systems.

gray stormwater infrastructure Gray stormwater infrastructure refers to concrete structures and systems designed to collect and transport rainwater. Traditional stormwater management systems use culverts, storm drains, and underground pipes to move rainwater away from streets, homes, and businesses as quickly as possible. Gray stormwater systems can have negative environmental impacts if they prevent or interfere with natural ecosystem functions, such as preventing the deposition of sediments or fragmenting habitats.

green stormwater infrastructure Green stormwater infrastructure manages stormwater where it falls, by mimicking or restoring natural water systems. Many strategies use soils, plantlife, or permeable surfaces to store and filter stormwater, which improves water quality while reducing nuisance flooding.

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Benefits and Considerations Ecosystem Services Bolster Community Wellbeing When natural environments provide benefits to humans, this is known as ecosystem services. For example, in a balanced ecosystem, pollinators such as bees are responsible for pollinating the crops that end up in grocery stores. One major benefit of creating space for water in the landscape is the increased ecosystem services that a community receives. Installation of green stormwater infrastructure systems that use native vegetation to filter and clean runoff can improve water quality for the entire community. People also experience positive physical and mental health impacts from being outside in nature.

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Cost Effective Risk Reduction Learning to live in harmony with our natural environment is cost effective in the longterm, even if some strategies have substantial initial investment costs. It is important to remember structural solutions often have hefty price tags for initial construction, maintenance, and repairs over time. Additionally, rebuilding repeatedly is also expensive. Adopting more stringent building codes and relocating households out of floodprone areas are cost effective strategies because each reduces the frequency with which communities must rebuild homes, businesses, and critical city infrastructure.

Implementing green stormwater infrastructure systems can also increase wellbeing and reduce healthcare costs by creating outdoor spaces that allow residents to connect with nature in ways that benefit the mind and body.

Maintenance Needs Three Denham Strong action items prioritize the construction, repair, and maintenance of city infrastructure. When designing and prioritizing infrastructure projects, the city should consider not only the installation and anticipated maintenance costs, but also the value and benefit to the community. Some projects, like coupling green infrastructure with bike and pedestrian improvements, may have high initial investment costs. However, they return sizable dividends in economic activity and in improved health and wellbeing for residents−features that traditional drainage or street improvements cannot provide.

As Denham Springs begins to establish green stormwater infrastructure, it should seek training opportunities for staff to learn how to maintain these new technologies.

Maintenance responsibilities will differ from the traditional gray stormwater systems currently used by the city. For example, staff will need to learn which plants support and which plants hinder the functionality of a bioswale median. To overcome these learning curves, Denham Springs could arrange for peer-learning opportunities with sister municipalities that do a good job of maintaining similar systems. The community might also avail itself of the free green infrastructure resources offered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which publishes inspection checklists, detailed instructions for plant upkeep, and remedies to common problems.

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Considerations for Buyout Program Success Create a “Rainy Day” Fund Federal and state funding opportunities for flood risk mitigation and resiliency projects often require a local match. This means that federal funds will only cover a portion of the project with the requirement that the locality contributes the remainder. To position themselves competitively for funding, many communities establish a “rainy day” fund, earmarked for green infrastructure improvements or floodplain restoration projects, including buyouts. “Rainy day” funds may be funded through a general fund allocation, or through taxes on properties that produce stormwater runoff and thereby exacerbate community flood risk.

Engage the Community at All Levels Successful adaptation and relocation programs require all sectors of the community to embrace the necessary changes. For example, developers will have to change where and how they build, which they will only do if residents are willing to buy their homes. Furthermore, some of these changes need to happen on private property in order to protect already developed areas of Denham Springs. Homeowners will only voluntarily retrofit their homes with green stormwater infrastructure or relocate from vulnerable to safer neighborhoods if they are fully engaged in the planning and implementation processes and if it is affordable. Denham Springs has an active and engaged community. Future plans and programs should build upon pre-existing strengths in responding to residents’ desires and in keeping residents informed about flood mitigation options.

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Establish a Clear Vision with Supporting Documentation Local hazard mitigation experts identified having a clear vision as one of the most important factors in creating a community adaptation and relocation project that receives federal funding. Oftentimes, federal funds for relocation programs are available immediately after a disaster. Although one can never know when the next disruption will happen, communities in this region understand another storm or hurricane is likely to occur, creating the potential for another disaster. Having a clear vision with a defined project scope and supporting data, such as vetted addresses, packaged before the next disaster will facilitate completing long, complex funding application processes in a disaster situation. It also increases the ability to seek pre-disaster mitigation funds from private and public sources. Residents need to be involved in creating the vision, so the vision matches what residents want out of their future community. If residents do not understand or agree with the vision and process, they will not participate.

Recognize the Importance of Timing Adaptation and relocation are not quick processes, especially when government funds are involved. However the faster these programs can be implemented, the more successful they tend to be. Timing also becomes a factor because timeframes for applying for funding are limited. Communities must demonstrate political will to transform themselves, considering the short window of opportunity created after a disaster. Although completing a buyout process can take years, families make decisions about rebuilding shortly after a flood event. Vision and timing work together because households are only eligible to receive one federal disbursement per disaster.

In order to avoid duplication of benefits, households that receive money to rebuild are ineligible to receive buyout payments for the same storm event. This process also reduces the cost effectiveness of a relocation program if residents use their own monies to rebuild while waiting for the buyout to be completed.

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Conduct Transparent Communication Another important consideration to achieving success is transparent communication of program goals, plans, and processes. Open communication is necessary to build and maintain trust with vulnerable residents, who may be asked to make drastic changes in their lives, such as relocating. Communication is not a one-way street, simply providing information to residents of what program officials deem they need to know. Program officials need to listen to resident needs and concerns and respond appropriately. Addressing resident concerns by changing program implementation, where necessary, can increase chances of success. Increasing community resilience through adaptation and relocation programs requires collaboration across sectors and agencies. City, parish, and state officials need to clearly communicate their goals in order to avoid developing programs that conflict with the agenda of partner agencies.

Consider Unique Needs of Residents Residents displaced by a disaster or persons living in a buyout area face unique and complex personal realities that impact decisions regarding whether to leave and where to go. Cities should work proactively to find out where displaced residents are going, what types of support are needed, and what roadblocks residents encounter. The costs of moving are both financial and social. Displaced residents are rarely reimbursed by state or federal agencies for all of their relocation costs. Social costs vary widely by household and are best addressed at an individual level. Cities pursuing buyout programs often realize greater success when they seek to understand the unique financial and social costs of relocation and work to reduce or shoulder burdens entirely. Expanding the affordable housing stock and establishing relocation services for residents can help maintain a community’s tax base by finding residents safe, affordable homes nearby.

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Develop Capacity and Leadership The state of relationships between residents and the city as well as between local, state, and federal officials, can be either a barrier to success or a reason for triumph.

Positive working relationships between all stakeholder groups are needed for the buyout process to run smoothly. Poor communication can lead to delays, confusion, mistrust, and resentment among residents. Due to the complex bureaucratic and political structure of the buyout process, it may be necessary to coordinate across federal, state, and local governments as well as with residents and staff from multiple community organizations (Freudenberg, Calvin, Tolkoff, & Brawley, 2016).

Successful buyout programs commonly feature at least one project champion at the city level who serves as a liaison between community members, city staff, and the various participating agencies. Appreciating the complexities of such a position, cities should allocate time, resources, and flexibility for champions to cultivate longterm relationships with agency staff, neighboring municipal staff, and community members, many of whom may be coping with traumatic responses caused by past disasters and episodes of displacement from their homes.

Foster Housing Affordability Denham Strong advocates for policies and actions that reinforce the affordability of the city’s housing stock. Floods and other natural disasters often increase a community’s housing costs by reducing the number of homes and by causing insurance premiums to rise. Denham Springs can bolster housing affordability by planning for and encouraging the development of more affordable housing opportunities in areas less susceptible to flooding. The city’s plans for a centrally-located, mixed-used Triangle Business District with affordable homes accessible to low- and moderate-income families is a good example. Simultaneously, Denham Springs supports affordability by adopting green infrastructure, while other mitigation measures lower insurance rates.

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Community + Water Toolkit There are many tools Denham Springs can use to reduce flood risk and improve quality of life in the city. While some interventions operate at the community-level, others are designed to be implemented on private property, such as rainwater harvesting. Installing green infrastructure on private property in flood-prone areas can alleviate small scale nuisance flooding by directing runoff to rain gardens and other areas designed as stormwater storage. Because many of these tools require some level of initial investment, communities can craft ordinances and policies that incentivize participation.

Cities can also create programs and partnerships with local organizations to provide free technical assistance, site assessments, and/or critical resources, like rain barrels, to help residents to implement these ideas on their property.

The following tools and policies should be considered as Denham Springs updates and revises local stormwater management regulations and moves forward with converting repetitive flood loss properties into open space in fulfillment of flood recovery and park beautification goals.

Managing Water at Multiple Scales To be effective, stormwater management must operate at multiple scales.

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Individual

Community

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4

Green Roofs A green roof uses a layer of plants to absorb rainwater. Depending on the design and the overall weight, structural changes may be needed to transform a traditional roof into a green roof.

Implementing Green Roofs The initial investment of constructing a green roof is significantly more than using conventional roofing practices. However, long-term costs are comparable because green roofs tend to last twice as long as conventional techniques. To alleviate burdens associated with the large initial investment and to make green roofs more affordable, communities can offer subsidies based on the square footage of green roof area created. These types of policies typically establish a maximum, either a set amount or a percent of the total green roof construction cost. Jurisdictions can use stormwater impact fees to fund a green roof subsidy program to help mitigate stormwater runoff from new construction. Green roofs mitigate stormwater by absorbing runoff before it reaches a community’s drainage system. Subsidizing green roof construction on private property is a valid use of public funds because constructing green roofs reduces the cost, size, and maintenance burden of grey stormwater infrastructure.

Some communities incentivize the use of green roofs by designating them as permitted obstructions to established lot coverage maximums.

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5

Rainwater Harvesting Rainwater harvesting means to catch, store, and use rainwater through a number of different techniques, such as rain barrels, cisterns, and under or above-ground tanks. Captured rainwater can be used for toilets, laundry, lawns, and other outdoor activities; but it should not be used for drinking, bathing, or swimming without proper treatment.

Implementing Rainwater Harvesting Although rainwater harvesting happens at the individual property level, it provides several community level benefits. Rainwater harvesting can decrease stormwater collection overflows, demand for potable water for lawn and garden irrigation purposes, and energy required for stormwater treatment as well as mitigating costs.

To encourage high participation rates throughout the community, many cities use a combination of incentives, compliance assistance, and regulations.

Incentives: Popular incentives include programs that provide free disconnection services and storage containers as well as fast-tracked, streamlined permitting processes for participants.

Compliance assistance: Some cities, like New Orleans, form partnerships with local nonprofits to teach residents about benefits and techniques for rainwater harvesting and provide assistance to set up collection systems on private property. Other communities provide training materials, such as brochures and video tutorials about downspout separation, as well as free assessments and technical assistance to help residents install home collection systems.

Regulations: City ordinances can require new developments to install rainwater harvesting techniques. Requirements are typically determined and categorized by lot size. Implementing rainwater harvesting may require amendments to zoning, subdivision, landscaping, and floodplain management ordinances.

Where: Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, Landscaping/Floodplain Management.

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Trees

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Trees are a critical component of our ecosystem. In addition to improving air quality and providing shade to reduce the urban heat island effect, trees have the ability to absorb and store large quantities of water. For example, a single oak tree can absorb 1,000 gallons, or 25 bathtubs, of water daily. Street trees also act as a buffer to muffle traffic noises, which supports the quiet, peaceful environment Denham Springs residents desire.

Implementing Tree-Friendly Policy Although trees provide many ecosystem services and community benefits, their risk reduction properties are often overlooked. In order to meet their full potential, street trees need adequate space and care to mature.

Tree planting and protection: A common strategy to protect the trees that provide the most benefit, such as mature oak trees, is to enact old growth tree protection regulations that prevent new developments from cutting down existing trees.

Municipalities can also create tree planting requirements for commercial and mixed-use developments in order to restore the tree canopy within their boundaries.

Establishing citywide goals for tree canopy coverage, such as 50% coverage by 2030, is a good way to measure success.

Planting standards: Landscape ordinances that set adequate soil volume and quality requirements help ensure street trees reach their potential to provide multiple ecosystem services. Trees require large planter boxes to obtain healthy soil volumes.

They also need proper structural soils and pathways for roots to reach their full size beneath paved surfaces like streets and sidewalks. Creating a healthy environment for trees reduces the time it takes for trees to reach maturity and provides multiple benefits.

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Stormwater absorption capabilities of common trees in southeast Louisiana Stormwater Absorption Per 1 Tree (Gallons/Day)

Stormwater Absorption Per 20 Tree (Gallons/Day)

Quercus virginiana

Live Oak Tree 1

Tree

Magnolia virginiana

Sweet Bay Magnolia 3

Sycamore Tree 3

Platanus occidentalis

Quercus virginiana

Bald Cypress 2

= 1000 gal/day

= 20,000 gal/day

= 880 gal/day

= 17,600 gal/day

= 400 gal/day

= 8,000 gal/day

= 100 gal/day

= 2,000 gal/day

A standard bathtub holds 40 gallons of water.

In 1 year, 1 Sweetbay Magnolia tree can make $9.80 benefit by sequestering CO2, avoiding Storm water Runoff and removing air pollution. www.mytree.itreetools.org

1-www.soulnola.org 2-Keating, Janis. 2002. Trees: The oldest new thing in stormwater treatment? Stormwater MarchApril 2002. http://www.stormh2o.com/march-april-2002/trees-strormwatertreatment.aspx 3-Book: 50 Hikes in Orange County (Explorer’s 50 Hikes) By Karin Klein 4-https://karolinfelix.com/sweet-bay-magnolia-trees/ Base Images: Texas A&M Forest Service_Copy right @ Rovert O’Brien Scientific names: http://www.onlineplantguide.com/

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Permeable Pavement

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Pervious or permeable materials allow stormwater to pass through them and absorb into the ground, which reduces runoff. Using permeable materials to construct urban spaces (ie: parking lots, roads, driveways, sidewalks, trails, etc) reduces the negative impact these uses have on localized urban flooding.

Implementing Permeable Pavement Urban environments contain miles of paved surfaces including streets, driveways, sidewalks, and parking lots that disrupt the water cycle by preventing water from soaking into the earth to be used by plants and animals. Through shifting design and construction material standards to emphasize permeability, excess runoff can be reduced. Paved surfaces are categorized as either public or private property and require different policy solutions to facilitate and encourage the use of permeable materials and other green stormwater infrastructure solutions.

Publicly-owned property: Municipalities have a large degree of control over the design of publicly-owned property. Codes and ordinances can be updated to incorporate green stormwater infrastructure into design standards for roadways, public building sites, and bicycle and pedestrian improvements, such as reduced lane widths, pervious paving, tree-planting, and bioswales. Cities can establish pilot projects at local schools and parks to introduce residents to green infrastructure methods they could implement at home.

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Private property: Unlike public property where governments are more freely able to dictate design and use, municipalities need to employ regulatory and incentivebased tools to support local adaptation measures for improved community resilience on privately-held property. Two important tools include parking regulations and maximum lot coverage standards, which limit the percent of impervious surfaces permitted on a parcel of land.

Maximum lot coverage: As a first step, municipal zoning codes and ordinances should be updated to set maximum lot coverage standards in all districts regardless of residential, commercial, and industrial purpose. Establishing maximum lot coverage standards for non-residential areas should be a top priority as these uses typically create the most stormwater runoff due to their highest rates of impervious surfaces. Maximums can vary depending on the localized flood risk within a watershed.

Parking regulations: There are many different sustainable parking management strategies that municipalities can use to increase parking lot efficiency and design. Most codes are adapted from the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) or similar standards and tend to be one-size-fits-all approaches that prioritize drivers. Developing more accurate and flexible parking requirements can allow parking standards to meet demand while balancing stormwater management needs. Flexible codes may provide incentives such as reductions in parking requirements or increases in square footage in exchanging for installing green stormwater infrastructure. Typical parking lot green infrastructure strategies include: permeable materials, shade trees, planting islands, and enhanced perimeter landscaping.

impervious surface An impervious surface, like concrete, does not absorb water.

Stormwater runoff is created when impervious surfaces, such as roads, walkways, parking lots, and buildings, prevent rain from absorbing into the ground.

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Rain Gardens

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A rain garden is a shallow depression or low-laying area planted with native plants that absorb and filter runoff.

Rain gardens need well-draining soils and allow stormwater to be absorbed by plants and to infiltrate into the ground.

Retention & Detention Ponds Stormwater ponds are a common strategy to store and treat runoff. They function by creating a space to hold stormwater that allows pollutants and other sediments to settle. Detention ponds, which only hold water during storms, are designed to drain from a full condition within 36 to 48 hours to allow sediment particles and associated pollutants time to settle and be removed. Retention ponds always contain some amount of water but have extra capacity to hold runoff during storms.

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Bioswale A bioswale is a broad, shallow ditch with a dense covering of trees, grasses, and other native, water-loving plants. Bioswales, as an alternative to concrete culverts, convey stormwater naturally, promoting infiltration, reducing runoff volume, and filtering pollutants.

Implementing Bioretention There are many types of bioretention strategies including, bioswales, rain gardens, and retention and detention ponds. These interventions are placed around impervious surfaces to collect and clean runoff where it is generated to alleviate pressure on traditional drainage infrastructure.

Incentives: Popular incentives include tax breaks or reductions in stormwater utility fees, and credits or bonuses for other development requirements, such as an increase to the allowable density on a site or a reduction in the required number of parking space.

Compliance assistance: To encourage homeowners to install bioretention strategies on their property, municipalities can develop how-to guides and help residents connect to organizations that provide site assessments and technical assistance.

Implementing public education and assistance campaigns offers the opportunity for cross-sector partnerships to increase community wellbeing and resilience.

Regulations: Development codes should include high standards for on-site retention in non-residential areas. Landscape standards should be flexible to allow the stormwater conditions and needs of the adjacent areas to determine the appropriate intervention, plants, and sub-surface structure to use.

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Enhanced Stream Banks Enhanced stream banks and riparian buffers are created when communities allow trees, shrubs, and other plants to grow adjacent to waterways (ie: rivers, lakes, bayous, wetlands). Forested buffers provide the most ecological benefits, such as erosion control, increased water quality, and habitats that support biodiversity.

Implementing Enhanced Stream Banks Riparian buffers are often established or restored through local development and zoning codes that identify critical floodways and riparian areas on a watershed scale.

Wetlands, riparian areas, and floodplains prioritized for protection or restoration may be safeguarded through restrictions of potential development and the creation of conservation easements.

Incentives: For new projects, jurisdictions can offer double open space credit for the creation or enhancement of riparian buffers along protected waterways. They might also allow the “transfer” of development rights between a floodplain property and another located outside of the floodplain. This effectively stops any development on the property within the riparian buffer and, in turn, supplements the development potential of a property that has less adverse impact on the capacity of the watershed.

Finally, jurisdictions might offer tax breaks or fee reductions for properties that enter into conservation easements that protect the riparian buffer.

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Floodplain & Wetlands Restoration Floodplain and wetland restoration projects focus on repairing or mimicking the natural interactions between the vital parts of any waterway: groundwater, stream flow, and plant root systems. The interactions of these three components provide several benefits, such as filtering pollutants and sediments from runoff to improve water quality, recharging groundwater, or increasing storage capacity to reduce flooding during heavy rain events.

Floodplain and wetland restoration must happen at a scale larger than a single community. Restoration projects use a watershed approach to plan for an entire floodplain, not just the portion within city boundaries; therefore, they require a concerted effort to be made in collaboration with surrounding jurisdictions.

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Identifying Areas for Conservation Conservation seeks to retain or improve the existing ecosystem function of undeveloped or lightly developed land. Conservation plays a critical role in riverine environments as it protects wetlands and open spaces where stormwater and flood water can rest and percolate into the groundwater system. Such land can function as a buffer for riverine flooding. To encourage conservation, some municipalities provide compensation to property owners for a commitment to limit development on key land areas. This type of agreement is called a “conservation easement” and runs with the land.

Conservation Easements Conservation easements offer financial incentives to private property owners who volunteer to restrict development on their properties. Such easements typically allow for continued use of the property for activities that have little or no impact on wetland ecosystem function, such as fishing, hunting, or sustainable logging. Easements are a flexible policy tool that can be applied to entire properties or just critical areas. Financial incentives often take the form of property tax deductions or credits.

Communities should define and coordinate conservation areas in a comprehensive planning process that surveys possible target areas based on their potential to further multiple goals such as equitable access to park and green space, flood mitigation, economic development, and strategic infrastructure planning.

While conservation easements often reduce the amount of property taxes collected, they do not eliminate them entirely, leaving some revenue for the municipality.

Many communities use zoning codes to limit the development potential for properties in floodways and wetlands. However, zoning codes that bar development can be vulnerable to expensive court challenges. Conservation easements offer a flexible, conservative alternative to strict zoning rules. Since property owners enter into conservation agreements voluntarily, this tool is only effective in communities where property owners are willing to participate.

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Floodable Parks and Stormwater Lots Parks and vacant lots can be great spaces to store excess stormwater because people typically avoid parks and outdoor areas when it rains. Through intentional planning, parks and vacant lots can be designed to retain stormwater, which can alleviate street flooding and pressure on city drainage systems. Floodable parks and stormwater lots incorporate the native plants and soil compositions used in rain gardens and bioswales to filter contaminants from runoff. This provides the added benefit of improving water quality while storing and absorbing stormwater.

Implementing Floodable Parks To avoid the challenge of implementing green infrastructure strategies into existing neighborhoods and densely developed areas, vacant or abandoned property and parks can be converted into stormwater lots and floodable parks. To facilitate the creation of these types of spaces, municipalities need zoning ordinances that categorize “stormwater management” as a primary use. Combining these spaces with other development opportunities, such as bike/pedestrian investments or a planning unit development, improves their likelihood of being used as a community gathering-space.

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Stormwater Impact Fee A stormwater impact fee is a one-time fee charged for new developments that fail to adequately manage stormwater runoff on-site. When Denham Springs updates its development codes, it should consider requiring new developments to manage more or all of their stormwater runoff on-site. If a developer can demonstrate that such a requirement prevents them from moving forward with a viable project, the developer could instead pay a stormwater impact fee that the city could apply to green infrastructure projects that offset the increase in runoff due to the development. This assures that community members will not foot the bill to pay for increased demand on local drainage. Denham Springs might also explore offering incentives for new developments that exceed standards.

Developers should only be allowed to opt into paying a stormwater impact fee only if they can demonstrate that conforming to established stormwater standards precludes development on their property. Impact fees must be applied to projects that directly address the negative impact for which they are being collected. For example, stormwater impact fees could not be used to purchase a residential home in a buyout program. As a result, stormwater impact fees should be earmarked as distinct from other funds, such as the flood mitigation fund.

repetitive flood loss property When a building floods multiple times in one decade, it is considered a repetitive flood loss property. Homes and businesses that flood more than four times in ten years are considered severe repetitive flood loss properties, which may increase the percentage the government is willing to contribute to buyout the property.

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Flood Mitigation Fee Green infrastructure and other flood mitigation measures support the wellbeing, economic vitality, and resiliency of the entire community−not just those living in the lowest-lying areas. Accordingly, some municipalities ask that all community members contribute to help pay for projects that support flood resiliency and raise property values for all. Cities and parishes can offer fee reductions for property owners who make improvements that contribute to flood reduction, like creating a rain garden. When setting up a flood mitigation fund, transparency and defining how the money can be used are important to a community’s strategy. A community should consider the scope of flood mitigation projects that are eligible for funding by federal and state programs and position the city to use its flood mitigation program as a local match to leverage those resources.

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Codes & Ordinances Codes and ordinances are the primary policy tools that transform the vision statements and goals set forth in a comprehensive plan into real, tangible change.

Several types of ordinances work synergistically to set a community land use policy.

For example, many jurisdictions have ordinances that set standards for stormwater management, landscaping design, subdivision requirements, and general zoning and building allowances. These are living documents that may be updated regularly and refined to reflect the changing needs and priorities of the community. However, care must be taken that when one ordinance is updated, references to the outdated policy are similarly updated in related documents. When standards conflict between two documents, it leaves them open to interpretation in favor of the developer, and can undermine the intention of the community.

Accordingly, jurisdictions considering sizeable or complicated updates to one or more of their land use codes sometimes choose to revise them all in one action.

This is called a “Unified Development Code.” It assures that all of the codes are in agreement and working toward a unified community vision. Best practices advise that communities located in regions susceptible to flooding update their stormwater and landscape ordinances to require, at a minimum, that new developments manage their runoff on-site. In Denham Springs, updates to codes and ordinances should also establish requirements for green stormwater infrastructure.

checkerboarding This describes a pattern of development in neighborhoods where only some homeowners have accepted buyout offers. Some properties are cleared and converted to open space while others remain as occupied housing. The intermittent distribution of houses and open lots can be reminiscent of a checkerboard.

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Conditional Leases Buyout processes take time. Often a year or two passes from the initial expression of interest by the homeowner to the day the homeowner receives a check for their property. Homeowners rarely sell their homes and leave in a coordinated way. As a result, a settlement pattern called “checkerboarding” has become an unavoidable phase in most buyout programs.

Some communities have successfully employed a conditional lease program to support homeowners through the buyout process. Under a conditional lease, a city or parish purchases a property at market-rate. As part of the deal, the city or parish agrees to lease the property back to its owners until they are ready to move or until the building is rendered uninhabitable. This arrangement has proven particularly effective for properties occupied by renters as it allows the property owner to commit to restoration without immediately losing the property as a source of income. Conditional leases transfer the burden of waiting from the homeowner to the city or parish, allowing homeowners to receive payment quickly and apply it to a new home. The city or parish should review the availability, affordability, desirability, and safety of its housing stock and consider incentivizing or subsidizing the expansion of local housing stock as necessary.

Conditional lease programs have a few drawbacks. They are not commonly funded by state or federal agencies, which leaves local governments to bear the initial cost of property acquisition. Local municipalities can purchase properties with lowinterest loans and use the income generated by the conditional lease to cover the loan payments, leaving the city or parish budget unfettered. However, homeowners who live on fixed incomes may struggle to afford lease payments. Additionally, this program allows people to stay in their homes, which leaves them vulnerable to the next disaster. As such, it is important to remember that households may require different strategies to enable participation. Successful programs provide multiple options to accommodate resident needs.

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Community + Mobility Drainage is not the only infrastructure system being re-imagined in communities across the region. Transportation is also experiencing a shift in design as residents raise concerns about the safety of non-motorized users, such as pedestrians and bicyclists. Traditionally, streets and roadways were built to serve only the needs of vehicular traffic. This creates unsafe conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians in communities, like Denham Springs, that lack facilities for non-motorists, such as continuous sidewalks or bike lanes. In these communities, those without cars must rely on the same street network to commute on foot or bike, which often means sharing lanes with fast moving vehicles. Between 2013 and 2017, twelve crashes including one fatality involved motorists and non-motorists in Denham Springs as reported by Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD) crash data (Gresham Smith, Denham Springs Traffic Volumes and Safety Map, 2019). Developing multi-modal networks that incorporate bioswales, street trees, permeable paths, or other green infrastructure strategies can provide transit and drainage benefits while supporting healthy, active lifestyles.

Through the 2016 recovery process, Denham Springs residents identified “develop[ing] a plan to increase road safety for people traveling by car, foot or bike” as their top community development priority for flood recovery (Denham Strong, 2017, p. 46). To accomplish this goal, the city with support from the Capital Region Planning Commission commissioned Gresham Smith and Dana Brown & Associates to create a master bike and pedestrian plan for Denham Springs. The Bike/Ped and the Denham Strong recovery plans call for the adoption of a “complete street” approach to retro-fit existing conditions and to guide future development.

The complete street approach means designing streets to accommodate all users regardless of transportation mode.

COMMUNITY + MOBILITY couples stormwater management improvements with providing safe transit options for all community members, regardless of age, ability, or access to resources Multi-modal transportation systems meet the needs of cyclists, pedestrians, public transit riders, and drivers, while facilitating safe connections between the different modes. For example, “park & ride” facilities enable those who live further out to park

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cars and bikes in strategic locations while using public transit to complete their commute.

In Denham Springs, community members want continuous sidewalks and dedicated pathways for nonmotorists. Most residents want buffers that provide a physical barrier between drivers and nondrivers to increase feelings of safety, especially on roads where traffic routinely exceeds posted speed limits. Many communities use green infrastructure strategies, like bioswales and street trees, to create a buffer between motorists and nonmotorists. Communities can also use permeable materials for nonmotorist pathways.

Strategic designs allow communities to meet drainage, transportation, and healthy living goals simultaneously while also expanding project applicability and eligibility for different types of funding sources. Incorporating green infrastructure strategies into bicycle and pedestrian improvements is a logical step in accomplishing the recovery goal to increase the use of green infrastructure in the city.

multi-modal transportation Multi-modal transportation refers to the different ways that people travel around town. At the city level, different modes include: walking, cycling, driving, and riding public transit. Multi-modal transportation systems also include connections between the different modes.

walkability Walkability refers to the ease with which citizens can meet their daily needs as pedestrians. Cities are considered walkable when residents can walk to grocery stores, schools, jobs, and recreational sites. Walkability depends on proximity as well as infrastructure, such as sidewalks and crosswalks, to keep pedestrians safe.

network In urban design, a network is a cohesive group of spaces linked to one another by various, accessible, multi-modal pathways and roadways.

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Strategies 13 Complete streets meet the needs

of all types of transit users.

Complete Streets The concept of Complete Streets provides facilities needed for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities to safely travel around and between communities.

The Denham Springs Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan recognizes “there is no universal definition of a Complete Street” and uses Smart Growth America’s recommendations to identify important elements, including “sidewalks, bicycle facilities, frequent and safe crossing opportunities, median islands, accessible pedestrian signals, curb extensions, narrower travel lanes, and standards; and roundabouts, among other potential treatments” (DS Bike/Ped, 2019, pg. 28).

“A Complete Streets ordinance would require that the needs of all users, including motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians, be accommodated on all future transportation system maintenance and improvement projects, with few exceptions.”

-DS Bike/Ped, 2019, pg. 28

Greenways

14 Jean Laffitte Greenway, New Orleans, LA.

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Greenways are mixed-use pathways for cyclists and pedestrians that are physically separate from streets and roadways to increase safety for all transit users. While some greenways run parallel to streets, others follow waterways, such as rivers or bayous, and allow users to enjoy nature as they travel. Some communities use greenways to connect parks and other natural or forested areas, which improves the health and wellbeing of the ecosystem. (Identified in park & beautification plan - Denham Strong, 2017, pg. 50)

Benefits and Considerations Health Improving connections within and among communities can increase community health and wellbeing in several ways. Developing facilities and networks that encourage walking, jogging, and biking, also known as active transportation, in safety and comfort to complete daily travel can improve physical health and fitness.

Increasing reliance on active transportation decreases automobile dependence. This shift decreases air pollution and household transportation costs.

Equity In today’s cities, resources are not always distributed equally around town. Creating multi-modal transit networks can increase equity by facilitating safe and efficient access to education, healthcare, employment, and recreational opportunities for community members, especially those without cars. Planners should ensure multimodal networks connect low-income neighborhoods to all the places residents may need to go.

Safety Safety is a top priority in Denham Springs. Creating dedicated pathways for nonmotorists increases safety by establishing pathways that route bike and foot traffic away from streets where vehicles travel at high speeds. Communities also use public education campaigns that set rules and expectations for interactions among the different transportation modes to improve safety. Integrating green infrastructure improvements into bicycle and pedestrian improvements can also increase safety by reducing nuisance flooding.

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Community + Mobility Toolkit “Improved street safety and mobility” was a key concern of Denham Springs residents that emerged during the recovery planning process (Denham Strong, 2017, pg. 45).

The following toolkit draws on national best practices and local planning processes to describe some of the design elements and policy tools that can be used to improve connectivity in and around Denham Springs.

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Way Finding Creating a city-wide wayfinding system with effective signage can help residents and tourists discover new places as they traverse Denham Springs. Wayfinding signage calls attention to local amenities which can improve the health of the local economy. The city should balance legibility enhancement and community identity when selecting sign materials, dimensions, colors, and forms and use consistent symbology, fonts, colors, and styles on all maps.

Shared-Use Paths

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Shared-use paths are dedicated pathways for nonmotorists that keep pedestrians and bicyclists safe by separating them from vehicular traffic. Denham Springs residents want paved and unpaved shareduse paths to meet the needs of different users and activities−from pushing strollers and roller blading to mountain biking and horseback riding.

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Sidewalks In order to meet the needs of pedestrians of all ages and abilities, sidewalks need to be wide and level. Curb cuts, which are required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), increase the safety and ease with which strollers and wheelchairs can cross the street.

Implementing Sidewalks Sidewalks and Shared-Use Paths: The shape and accessibility of sidewalks, shareduse paths, and crosswalks, as well as the inclusion of lighting are elements often determined by guidelines within a community’s subdivision regulations.

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Crosswalks/Signals/Signage Intersection improvements, such as crossing signals and designated crosswalks, play an important role in increasing safety. Pedestrian crossing signals stop traffic at busy intersections, so pedestrians can cross the street safely. Establishing crosswalks can also increase safety by guiding pedestrians to cross streets where drivers expect to encounter pedestrians and cyclists.

Bike Lanes

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Bike lanes can be added to the existing street network in many ways depending on the speed of traffic and space available. In residential neighborhoods with light, slow moving traffic, pavement markings and signs are added to designate lanes as shared spaces for cars and cyclists. On busier streets with fast moving traffic, separate bike lanes can be added. Physical buffers, such as bioswales or street trees, may be installed in high-risk areas to increase nonmotorist safety and manage stormwater.

Transit Stops In communities that embrace multi-modal transportation and complete streets, transit stops become social hubs, where transit users, cyclists, and pedestrians can rest and wait in aesthetically-pleasing, comfortable surroundings. Transit stops should offer adequate shelter, seating, and lighting that make community members of different ages and genders feel safe while resting. Incorporating bicycle and car parking near transit stops can increase the feasibility of using public transit for community members who do not live within walking distance of public transit.

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Bus Lanes

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Communities that suffer from traffic congestion are encouraging public transit use by establishing dedicated bus lanes. Dedicated bus lanes decrease ride times and increase the efficiency and ease of using public transit for daily trips, which can translate into attracting new riders and increasing overall rider wellbeing. Encouraging public transit use improves air quality by reducing private vehicle use.

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Policy Tools for Implementing Community + Mobility To increase connectivity and walkability in Denham Springs, zoning and subdivision ordinances should be updated to support walking, biking, and transit use. Zoning updates, like bike parking racks and streetscape requirements, can help make streets and future developments safe, inviting places for pedestrians and cyclists.

Subdivision regulations determine open space, lighting requirements, and sidewalk standards among other things that directly impact walkability. These types of policy updates can also increase neighborhood access to new areas and permit a mix of uses that facilitate connection and encourage walkability. These steps can increase neighborhood access to new areas and permit a mix of uses that facilitate connection and encourage walkability.

Adopt a Complete Streets Ordinance Both the Denham Strong Recovery Plan and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan call for the adoption of a Complete Street Ordinance and updating subdivision regulations, so Denham Springs can become a “well-connected, clean, safe, active, and resilient community” (Denham Strong Vision Statement excerpt).

Revise Subdivision Regulations Street Connectivity: Denham Springs needs intentional streetscape design guidelines to build new and retrofit existing infrastructure, so that it is accessible for all ages and abilities. Intentional design enables the creation of safe, pleasing landscapes for people to traverse, explore, or sit and enjoy. Cities can adopt codes that incentivize approaches that prioritize street connectivity and provide multi-modal facilities to support active, healthy lifestyles.

Sidewalks and Shared-Use Paths: The shape and accessibility of sidewalks, shareduse paths, and crosswalks, as well as the inclusion of lighting, are elements often determined by guidelines within a community’s subdivision regulations.

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22 Proportions for multi-modal and multi-functional street design .

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Subdivision regulations also set requirements for the use of green infrastructure strategies (ie: bioswales, street trees) that are often used as physical buffers between motorists and non-motorists. Coupling green infrastructure with transportation improvements allows an individual investment to produce multiple, complimentary benefits: increased physical safety for non-motorists, improved water quality, and increased stormwater storage capacity in the landscape.

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Mixed-use Zoning Communities developed zoning at a time when many commercial uses were public nuisances due to adverse smells, noises, and/or toxicity. Mixed-use developments today combine residential and civic uses with well-designed and environmentally benign commercial uses to encourage walkability and reduce automobile dependence.

Cities use mixed-use zoning to encourage the creation of developments that meet housing, civic, and commercial needs, such as retail, restaurants, and office space.

Denham Springs can designate mixed-use districts or implement “overlay” districts to ensure future development is coordinated, cohesive, and connected.

Incentives are another strategy the city can use to encourage developers to adopt a mixed-use approach on future projects. Incentives that hold local appeal include: •

Variance on permitted housing type

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Additional options or flexibility with design standards

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Reduced open space requirements, if design incorporates innovative and effective water management elements

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Ability to meet parking requirements through alternative methods including shared parking and permeable overflow parking

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Credit for reliance on public transportation, bicycling, or walking; or transportation demand management techniques

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Streamlined process for permitting

23 Mixed use commercial and residential buildings. Norton’s Commons, KY.

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Community + Active Lifestyles Louisiana communities encounter more challenges than just flood risk, when it comes to increasing long-term resiliency. Local resiliency can also be threatened by environmental hazards, such as industrial pollution; social issues, such as income inequality; and chronic health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Communities can experience threats to their economic stability. The community of Denham Springs recognizes these risks and created action steps in the long-term recovery plan to address these challenges. Denham Springs’ multiple strategies include encouraging active, healthy lifestyles through park enhancement, and beautification (Denham Strong, pg. 50).

The design of the built environment (ie: buildings, streets, parks, or open-space) can facilitate or hinder active lifestyles, opportunities for social interaction, and stormwater management. For example, through designing safe networks for walking and biking, Denham Springs can encourage residents to use active means of transportation that improve individual and community physical health through increased exercise and reduced air pollution. Parks, open spaces, and transit stops can be designed as scenic, peaceful areas where families and friends can gather together, which can improve mental health and social cohesion within the community. Parks and trails can also be designed to store stormwater during heavy rains. Together these actions− strengthening social cohesion, reducing flood risk, increasing community health and wellbeing, and raising property values through park improvements−will help improve community resilience to future storm events.

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COMMUNITY + ACTIVE LIFESTYLES means transforming flood-prone areas into floodable community destinations that support healthy, active lifestyles.

Community members, surveyed at Fall Fest 2019, requested water features, especially the restoration of the natural springs in Spring Park, to provide places to relax, fish, and teach kids about their ecosystem. Constructing trails and greenways that border natural waterways can create a recreational destination for residents and tourists that also adds needed stormwater storage capacity in the landscape.

In communities like Denham Springs and Greenville, North Carolina, buyouts may provide a unique opportunity to transform a flood-prone area−where people’s lives and property are under constant threat of the next storm−into a downtown community destination for residents and tourists.

In order to encourage active lifestyles, residents need more than pedestrian/bike routes to travel and places to exercise. Due to the high temperatures Denham Springs experiences most of the year, residents need several design elements to make outdoor recreational opportunities appealing year-round. Communities should consider including natural elements like trees and water features to help residents cool down; sittable space where people can rest; ample lighting that increases feelings of safety; and spaces to gather and share food, a large part of cultural life in southeastern Louisiana.

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Strategies Activate Public Space If designing is the first step, programming is the second step in activating new public spaces. Community members need to be aware of new amenities and how they can be used to enhance quality of life. Programming actives public space by inviting community members to the new space and demonstrating different ways to utilize and enjoy specific design elements. Local organizations, such as nonprofits and churches, can partner with cities to develop programming and events that encourage residents to be active and celebrate local culture.

Design at the Human Scale The design of streetscapes impacts how community members feel about and perceive the world around them. Residents will only choose to use active transportation, such as walking or biking, if they feel safe as they traverse their community. Designing infrastructure to match a human scale can foster feelings of safety. For instance, human scale street lighting is placed at less than ten feet in height rather than twenty to thirty feet which is customary to accommodate oversized vehicular traffic.

Establish Activity Hubs To increase community resilience, Denham Springs residents want many different facilities and amenities developed as a part of long-term recovery. Designers will create nodes or hubs to organize public space by use or function, allowing for the maximization of space and opportunities. This way, similar complementary uses are located in close proximity.

In Denham Springs, facility and amenity requests for park enhancement and beautification could be organized into three different hubs: • History and Education • Arts and Culture • Active Recreation

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Benefits and Considerations Provide Multiple Functions Denham Springs’ long-term recovery plan embraces park enhancement and beautification as a way to provide multiple benefits through single infrastructure investments. The city recognizes that intentional design can transform parks and trails into stormwater retention areas, increasing the capacity of the city’s drainage system to manage runoff during heavy rains−especially during times of flash flooding. In this way, parks, trails, and open space can provide communities with health, connectivity, and stormwater management benefits.

Strengthen Social Connections Designing outdoor community gathering places can improve community wellbeing by providing space and opportunity to strengthen community bonds and cohesion.

Strong connections among neighbors and within the community as a whole increases community resilience because individuals frequently rely on social networks to provide resources and assistance during disasters and other challenging times.

Improve Health and Wellbeing Many chronic health conditions, such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes, can be improved and managed through diet and exercise. Developing opportunities for Denham Springs residents to safely engage in active transportation and other outdoor recreational activities can improve community health and wellbeing. These improvements can increase overall community resilience as well because residents may be better able to respond to future disasters.

Design for Safety Communities are composed of people with different ages, genders, physical abilities, and ethnic backgrounds−individual characteristics that shape people’s perceptions and experiences of space. Design decisions should consider how different users will feel and interact in a space under different conditions, such as time of day, because perceptions of safety are important in activating new public spaces. Designs should feature ample lighting and avoid creating places that could conceal or isolate people from others.

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Community + Active Lifestyles Toolkit 24

Natural Elements

Natural elements, such as trees and water features, help make the outdoors hospitable−particularly in areas, like Denham Springs, with long, hot summer seasons. Protecting mature trees and planting new trees along active transportation routes can provide multiple benefits. Trees provide shade from the summer sun and absorb large amounts of water each day. They can also increase the quiet, peaceful feeling that residents love about Denham Springs, by blocking street sounds. Residents also want water features, such as fountains, streams, and splash pads, to help kids cool down and adults relax in the summer months.

Implementing Natural Elements Landscape ordinances stipulate the regulations and requirements that govern tree planting and protection. Protecting mature trees is important because they provide the most stormwater management and tree canopy cover benefits.

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Community members, surveyed at Fall Fest 2019, requested water features−especially the restoration of the natural springs in Spring Park−to provide places to relax, fish, and teach kids about their ecosystem. Constructing trails and greenways that border natural waterways can create a recreational destination for residents and tourists that adds needed stormwater storage capacity in the landscape. A community’s subdivision and/or floodplain ordinances govern the development of these elements.

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Lighting Lighting plays a big role in making people feel safe outdoors. Parks and pathways should be well lit with fixtures that are scaled to human height. Communities may need to revise subdivision ordinances that govern lighting requirements of multimodal networks to ensure future developments provide the lighting needed to make residents feel safe while using outdoor amenities and cyclist and pedestrian pathways.

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Food Options Sharing meals with family, friends, and neighbors is an important aspect of local culture. As such, outdoor gathering spaces should include facilities such as picnic areas, BBQ pits, and shelters with tables and benches, to accommodate the variety of outdoor celebrations local communities enjoy yearround. Incorporating space for food trucks and establishing affordable permit prices can support local entrepreneurs while creating outdoor destinations for residents and tourists.

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Sittable Space Active people need places to rest. Providing shaded, sittable spaces through a mixture of stationary benches, moveable tables and chairs, and strategically-placed ledges help make parks, trails, pathways, and transit stops more inviting places. In summer heat, pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit users need peaceful resting spots to protect against heat-related illnesses. Installing green infrastructure strategies−like rain gardens incorporating planter boxes with wide ledges−can increase sittable space, beautify rest areas, and help filter and manage stormwater.

Recreational Equipment

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To encourage active, healthy lifestyles, communities can install exercise circuits and recreational facilities in public parks. Fall Fest 2019 survey responses showed residents want exercise equipment, splash pads, a pet park for dogs and cats, and open space for kids to run free in addition to other facilities. Some amenities such as a skatepark or an amphitheater can store excess runoff and increase community stormwater storage capacity.

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Cultural Aspects The city of Denham Springs can work with the Arts Council of Livingston Parish to incorporate art and culture into public parks, along trails, and at transit stops.

Cultural elements celebrate and foster community identity and could include: art installations, such as murals or sculptures, historical markers, welcome signs, or locations for special occasion pictures.

Design + Policy Recommendations | community + active lifestyles

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Vision for Expanding Historic Spring Park

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Introduction In the 2016 flood recovery planning process, residents identified converting repetitive flood loss properties to green space as a park enhancement and beautification goal. With the purpose of increasing resilience in Denham Springs, this chapter will show how strategic planning that considers stormwater management, transportation and mobility, and active lifestyles needs, can lead to intentional infrastructure investments with multiple benefits for improved community health and wellbeing.

Converting flood-prone areas to open-space can improve quality of life for both residents moving out of flood prone locations and the community as a whole if the land is designed and maintained as an amenity to support connectivity and active, healthy lifestyles.

This chapter offers a long-term vision for the future of this neighborhood as a resilient, family-oriented destination for all community members. The purpose of this plan is to continue the conversation and process of adapting to water and strengthening community wellbeing and resilience. The concepts and strategies presented in the previous section will be applied to one location, Spring Park, but many have wider applicability to the community at large, such as installing bioswales as buffers between bike and car lanes. Additionally, the design elements and strategies can be applied in different ways. Identifying places in the community where these ideas can be applied will be important toward increasing the resilience of the entire community, not just areas in close proximity to this particular neighborhood.

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Much of the repetitive flood loss property in Denham Springs is located in the neighborhood south of Spring Park. The area is bounded by River Road to the east, Long Slash Branch to the west, Spring Park to the North, and Bowman Street to the South. This is an area where “every time it rains, it floods” according to Jeanette Clark, former Denham Springs Recovery Coordinator. Flood recovery has been uneven and incomplete, leading to new and repaired houses in some areas and blighted ones in others. Many of the houses along Magnolia, Centerville, and Mattie Streets were demolished or abandoned after the flood. Several property owners in the neighborhood want to participate in a buyout program. A few properties near the park have already been transferred to city or parish ownership. However, not all residents are interested in participating. Some residents plan to stay in the neighborhood for financial reasons tied to an unwillingness or inability to accept 75% of fair-market value or the inability to afford comparable housing elsewhere.

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Property Status in Target Buyout Area This map shows property ownership and status within the study area. Some properties near Spring Park have already been bought out with hazard mitigation funds and are owned by the parish or the city. Some FEMA funding sources require a home or building to be on the property to be eligible for a buyout. Land without structures may require alternative funding sources to purchase those parcels.

LEGEND City Owned Interested Demolished Abandoned

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Schematic Denham Spring Program Map

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Proposed Strategies

Spring Park + Water Strategies There are many different stormwater management tools and strategies the city of Denham Springs can employ in order to reduce flood risk in the downtown area and in the neighborhood south of Spring Park. One aspect of this plan is to conserve the existing wooded areas and widen and extend the floodplain by creating riparian buffers along a naturalized Long Slash Branch. Retention areas would also be added along Long Slash Branch and Bowman Street. The retention areas along Bowman Street will increase stormwater storage capacity to help protect critical city infrastructure located in the area.

Green stormwater infrastructure, such as rain gardens and bioswales, comprise another component of this plan.

These tools would be installed along shared-use paths and along streets such as River Road to help filter and store stormwater coming as runoff from streets. The city can also incentivize installing these techniques and others, such as rain water harvesting and green roofs, on private property in the neighborhood and throughout the community, to provide additional stormwater capacity. The final component would involve developing stricter building standards that require using flood resistant techniques, elevating structures, and installing green infrastructure tools. These adaptations can further reduce risk for those who choose to stay in the neighborhood.

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Spring Park + Mobility Strategies Expanding Spring Park presents an opportunity to expand downtown Denham Springs as a resilient, family-focused destination with something for everyone.

The plan envisions greenways along Long Slash Branch that connect Antique Village and downtown Denham Springs to the proposed Spring Park amenities that support active, healthy lifestyles. The proposed circulation also connects to the city’s bicycle and pedestrian master plan. This can help the city achieve its goal to create more bike and pedestrian destinations and can help connect the area to the Triangle Business District along Florida Blvd and South Range.

Doing so will increase access to open-space for the low and moderate income families in the area and where future mixed-use zoning will encourage affordable housing.

(Denham Strong, 2017).

This proposed vision for Spring Park incorporates different types of trails in addition to greenways. According to Fall Fest 2019 surveys and responses, residents in Denham Springs want trails for walking, running, jogging, cycling, mountain biking, rollerblading/skating, and horseback riding. To accomplish this, the plan incorporates paved and unpaved trails to meet the needs of the different types of uses. Almost every resident surveyed about trails in the course of this project discussed the importance of shade and indicated a preference for trails in wooded, natural environments. Residents also wanted trails near the springs and other water features and recommended amenities, such as cooling misters, to be installed along pathways. Community members were very concerned about safety. Creating a specific destination for nonmotorists can help meet the expressed desire to have safe, well-lit pathways for pedestrians and cyclists to be away from vehicular traffic.

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Spring Park + Active Lifestyles Strategies Expanding Spring Park can increase community resilience by converting floodprone properties into amenities that support different aspects of community wellbeing. Partnering with local organizations will be key to developing programming that will activate the proposed spaces in this plan. Some amenities community members can enjoy, such as an amphitheater, will require event coordination and planning in order to reach their full potential.

Three categories emerged from resident survey responses that were used to organize proposed programming and amenities into distinct nodes or zones: The first node is the education and history node. Residents requested spaces such as an outdoor classroom and trails with historical markers as ways to teach children about the history of their community and the environment in which they live. This node, located north of Long Slash Branch, includes the site of the natural springs for which the city was named, making it an ideal spot to commemorate the town’s history.

The second node incorporates amenities to support local arts and culture. In recovery planning and the Inland from the Coast community engagement processes, residents expressed interest in an outdoor amphitheater in their community to host live music. Constructing an amphitheater along Long Slash Branch can create venue space for local festivals and performances while increasing stormwater storage capacity. This node also includes open green space that can be used as overflow parking or vending space during town festivals. This node provides the opportunity for Denham Springs to expand its cultural offerings to festivals with multiple stages due to the close proximity of Antique Village. The city could also collaborate with the Arts Council to curate culturally relevant art in Spring Park.

The third node creates space for active recreation. It includes amenities such as hiking trails, fishing, recreational courts, a skate park, and a pet park. Fishing ranked number one among responses to surveys about what community

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members do outside. The city may be able to partner with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries to keep the ponds adjacent to Long Slash Branch stocked with fish. This zone also incorporates a pet park next to the city’s Animal Control facility. This would enable city employees to use the pet park to care for the animals in Animal Control. At Fall Fest, residents specifically requested a pet park that accommodates small and large dogs as well as cats. The plan also includes open green space away from busy roads to allow children to run free and play lawn games.

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This is an example of a floodable skate park that can be added during the third node of the active lifestyles implementation for the Spring Park expansion.

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Floodable skate park during a major rain event.

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Investments that Provide Co-Benefits Many of the amenities provided to support active lifestyles also have a stormwater management component. The amphitheater and skatepark create bowl conditions that act as detention ponds and increase stormwater storage capacity. Terracing and constructing greenways and naturalized streambanks along Long Slash Branch provide access to the river, which residents requested on surveys and in Denham Strong. These adaptations also widen the floodplain and slow and filter runoff, which increases the storage capacity of the canal, reduces erosion, and improves water quality. During heavy rains that cause flooding, these spaces would not typically be used by community members, but they can still benefit the community as stormwater retention.

Spring Park

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+ Water + Mobility + Active Lifestyles

The current canal condition.

Future canal/park condition on a typical, non-raining, day.

Future canal/park condition after rain event.

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Proposed stormwater terracing for Long Slash Branch. In dry conditions, the different levels of this proposed stormwater terracing would allow for various active lifestyle implementations.

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During rain events, these levels would fill and hold water, helping to reducing the flooding in the surrounding area.

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Phased Implementation

Implementing the Vision The preceding sections presented a long-term vision for the future of Denham Springs.

This future may be 20 or 30 years away, but it is only possible if action is taken in the present. To complete a project of this magnitude, it is necessary to implement it in manageable steps. This section proposes a multi-phased implementation approach to strengthen community resilience over time.

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Phased Implementation

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Ordinance Revision Community transformation begins through planning and code revision. The first step is creating a comprehensive plan. Comprehensive plans lay out the vision, goals, and objectives for a community’s future development. After the plan is adopted, the community can begin revising codes and ordinances. Codes and ordinances create the legal mechanisms and specifications to ensure development fulfills the vision of the comprehensive plan. The strategies in this report may apply and require updates to several sections, including: zoning, floodplain, streets, subdivision, stormwater management, and landscape standards.

Some communities approach code revision one or two sections at a time. Other communities, like Denham Springs, choose to develop a unified development code and revise everything at the same time. The process to ordinance revision should meet the needs and resources of the community. Ordinances are designed to shift as communities change over time. To strengthen community resiliency, it’s important to address as many pressing challenges as possible in the present, even if it is not feasible to remedy every issue with current codes and ordinances. As communities grow, new planning processes will be needed, and ordinances can be further revised. Additionally, future disasters may provide a window of opportunity to establish changes that require voter support. If a plan exists before a disaster, it can be easier for the city to capitalize on resident sentiments post-disaster to prioritize resilient construction over the pre-disaster status quo.

In order for these processes to lead to community transformation, community members and other stakeholders such as developers and local design professionals need to be engaged at each stage. People need to be aware of the updated requirements as well as why they are necessary. Communicating a clear understanding of how small adaptations can improve community wellbeing and resilience helps ease the cultural shift that may be required. The city can also create programs that provide assistance for residents to retro-fit private property before the next disaster.

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It can be very difficult for communities to make changes to the built environment immediately following a disaster, especially on private property. After a disaster, residents request special building permits that allow them to repair their homes quickly. This desire must be balanced with the need to improve design standards in order to increase individual and community resilience. In areas that flood repeatedly, updating building codes and working with residents to implement changes before the next flood-repair cycle begins can help encourage property owners to build back in more resilient ways. Ensuring residents and contractors are aware of new building code standards, how they improve resilience, and when they will be expected to comply with the new standards will ease the process of adaptation for property owners, contractors, and the city.

SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES ZONING ORDINANCES

CITY MASTER PLAN

BUILDING CODE ORDINANCES FLOODPLAIN ORDINANCES

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Phased Construction Buying private property with federal hazard mitigation funds is a slow process. On average, it can take five to eight years before money is exchanged and property is converted to green space. As such, the proposed Spring Park expansion may take decades to complete. Additionally, it will take multiple funding sources to complete the proposed upgrades after the land is purchased and cleared through the buyout program. This report divides implementation and construction into three phases and recognizes that each phase will incorporate multiple individual projects. The phasing is based on the current property status, as shown in the property analysis map at the beginning of this chapter. Phasing generally moves first from government-owned to those properties with owners interested in participating in a buyout program, then ends with vacant lots and those properties that have been abandoned.

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Phased Implementation

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PHASE 3

30 Year Timeline

PHASE 2 PHASE 1

PHASE 1 The first phase focuses on property already owned by the city or parish because of previous buyout agreements. It also includes several properties that are currently in the process of being bought out. Many of these properties are adjacent or near Spring Park, but some are closer to the southern boundary of the neighborhood.

This phase relies on the existing street network to connect properties on Mattie St. and Willow St. with the proposed amenities along River Road north of Centerville St. This phase envisions remodeling and expanding Spring Park as a catalyst project to establish the area as a community destination for cyclists and pedestrians. It improves Spring Park by expanding the footprint of the park, restoring the natural springs, and adding trails with historical and educational markers, an outdoor classroom, and an ADA accessible playground with a splash pad. It also includes the first steps in naturalizing the streambank and developing an amphitheater, terraces, and riparian buffers with greenways along Long Slash Branch east of Antique Village. All these efforts will increase stormwater storage capacity while meeting local socio-cultural needs to increase community wellbeing and resilience.

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PHASE 2 The second phase focuses on property with owners who are interested in participating in a voluntary buyout program but have not yet initiated the process. Its goal is to address checkerboarding that results from some residents choosing to leave, while some choose to stay. To prevent illegal dumping and a sense of blight, this phase includes ideas for how to use and connect smaller pieces of land that may be adjacent to or bounded by private property. Remedies may include an expansion of the greenway and trail network. However, the existing street network is still required to connect some parcels to the rest of the park network. These trails and greenways also serve to connect rain gardens, bioswales, and other green infrastructure interventions.

With the construction of the skatepark and dog park, recreational amenities, open spaces, and stormwater storage capacity are increased in the southern region of the neighborhood.

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PHASE 3 The final phase focuses on those properties currently vacant or identified as abandoned by city employees. Many property owners in the neighborhood demolished flooded homes after the 2016 floods. This can make it more difficult to use federal funds to buyout the property because in FEMA’s perspective buyout funds require a hazard to be mitigated. If there is not a house or a building that could potentially flood, then there is no hazard to mitigate. In order to buyout these property owners, the city may need to secure other sources of funding. This could be accomplished by establishing a special fund, like a rainy day fund supported by assessing an annual flood mitigation fee for all property owners or sewer and sanitation users. The city can also explore other granting opportunities that would allow for property acquisition and build out.

This phase sees an extension of conserved wooded wetland spaces and the trail network along Long Slash Branch within the expanded park. The expanded trail network increases connectivity and reduces the reliance on existing streets to connect amenities within the newly expanded park footprint. Expanding the trail network will also increase feelings of personal safety and improve interaction with nature.

The final phase completes the build out of the active recreational zone and maintains space for current residents who plan to stay in the neighborhood long-term.

Increasing open-space in the area and constructing amenities that provide stormwater management benefits and support healthy, active lifestyles can reduce flood risk of remaining structures in the foreseeable future.

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Conclusion

Improving stormwater management and increasing community resilience requires more than a single project. Effective stormwater management necessitates collaboration across political boundaries because drainage in Denham Springs is affected by both upstream and downstream development decisions. Using a watershed approach, Denham Springs should form collaborations with jurisdictions across the watershed at all levels (municipal, parish, state, federal). This will allow the city to be a part of larger conversations and influence decisions that impact regional resilience. With the development of the Louisiana Watershed Initiative, the political climate in the region is primed and more receptive than ever before to embracing flood risk reduction and resilience with a collaborative spirit.

In addition to collaborative projects, creating the desired transformation requires prolonged public engagement that goes beyond education to cause a cultural shift.

Residents need to learn about the risks associated with living in a floodplain as well as adaptation measures from relocation to green infrastructure tools. They also need to take the steps to install these systems on their property and to support city expenditures for green infrastructure installations on public land. Further, residents need the information and support to become a different type of consumer.

Residents should know and prioritize construction standards that represent best practices in areas likely to flood, such as inclusion of bioretention spaces or house elevation with pier and beam construction, over the status quo. The city should also revise ordinances to require or incentivize these changes to encourage developers to build in ways that foster resilience.

In flood-prone communities where buyouts are considered, public support is key to program success. Communities support projects when they understand how the project meets their needs and when they are included in shaping goals, processes, and outcomes. If program benefits do not provide adequate compensation for the social and financial costs that property owners accrue when relocating, residents will not choose to participate, and federal law stipulates buyout programs must be voluntary.

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Denham Springs can garner and maintain long term community support by: • Creating a strong unified vision with residents in the buyout area and throughout the larger community.

• Establishing strong relationships with residents, community partners, and parish state officials.

• Using clear, transparent communication.

The designs presented in this report may take 20 or 30 years to complete. When projects stretch over long periods of time, it is easy for residents to become resentful and disenchanted. Clear, transparent communication with regular updates on project progress lets residents know the city is still working to accomplish resiliency goals. This becomes even more important when the work is behind the scenes, such as relationship building, grant-writing, and other measures to support long-term resiliency building.

This report represents one step in a long process of community transformation. This process started with the long-term recovery plan that produced Denham Strong and continued through the bicycle and pedestrian master planning process. Together these reports show the city of Denham Springs is well on its way to improving community wellbeing and resilience through flood risk reduction and infrastructure improvements that provide stormwater management, mobility, recreational, and health benefits.

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Image Sources 1.

https://www.visitgreenvillenc.com/things-to-do/outdoors-and-nature/

2. https://www.greenvillemove.com/greenville-nc-greenway/map/ 3. https://www.iucn.org/theme/water/resources/infographics 4. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-08/sur-permeable-pavement-7.jpg 5. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-08/rainbarrel-1.jpg https://www.epa.gov/ sites/production/files/2016-08/sur-permeable-pavement-7.jpg 6. https://canopy.org/wp-content/uploads/1409623578_ed06c23731_o-e14764890509981024x823.jpg 7. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-08/sur-permeable-pavement-7.jpg 8. https://www.danabrownassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SWM-Lot_1.jpg 9. https://2hx82xt35u717q8072dknqw6-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/ uploads/2015/07/Typical-Bioswale.jpg 10. https://www.soils.org/files/images/sssa/discover-soils/bioswale-smaller.jpg 11. https://www.landscapeperformance.org/sites/default/files/styles/lightbox/public/06Railroad%20Park-Biofiltration%20Garden.jpg?itok=63iqjd4Q 12. LSU Coastal Sustainabily Studio photo 13. https://www.utiledesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Complete-Streets-Diagram-011200x656.jpg 14. https://www.danabrownassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Lafitte_5-1.jpg 15. https://asg-architects.com/portfolio/coc-dixie-graphics 16. https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/get-active/2019/everyday-walking-and-cycling/adviceon-using-shared-use-paths 17. https://smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/nice-sidewalk-1024x683.jpg 18. https://ctycms.com/co-rino/images/creativecrosswalks_in.jpg

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19. https://livingwithwater.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/1_vision-cover_Page_1-766x992.jpg 20. https://www.tolarmfg.com/2019/05 21. https://nacto.org/publication/urban-street-design-guide/street-design-elements/transitstreets/dedicated-curbside-offset-bus-lanes 22. City of Baker Bike/Ped Plan. Project graphics by Dana Brown & Associates 23. https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/fetch/c_fill,h_1024,q_75,w_1024/ https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/crm/greenvillenc/Bridge-atGreenville-Town-Common_GreenvilleNC-20-5995c1eb5056a36_5995c565-5056-a36a06c95be4d6eb268a.jpg 24. https://modelur.eu/complete-streets-in-vancouver 25. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Zuccotti_Park_with_christmas_lights.jpg 26. https://images.theconversation.com/files/118670/original/image-20160414-4709-vaix4b. jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1200&h=900.0&fit=crop 27. https://c0.wallpaperflare.com/preview/201/307/604/friends-grass-leisure-park.jpg 28. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9f/fe/e9/9ffee9a0881b05cc65527381db77d1da.jpg 29. https://www.mommykatandkids.com/2019/06/things-to-do-in-lafayette-la-with-kids.htm

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Appendix

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Appendix 1 • Glossary

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2 • Resources

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Community + Water Resources .................................... 164

Community + Mobility Resources ................................ 165

Community + Active Lifestyles Resources .................. 166

Miscellaneous Resources ................................................ 167

3 • LA 7061 Studio Book: Spring Up! Denham Springs Masterplan

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Glossary BACKFLOW: Backflow flooding happens when downstream conditions disrupt water

flow from upriver. The term describes flooding that happens when downstream conditions, such as high water levels, cause upstream waters to rise and sometimes flood. Backflow can exacerbate localized flood events by preventing downstream drainage, trapping stormwater in city streets, yards, and homes.

BIORETENTION: Bioretention includes a range of strategies such as rain gardens,

bioswales, and retention/detention ponds that can handle quantities of runoff from impermeable surfaces adjacent to where it is generated.

BIOSWALE: A broad, shallow ditch with a dense covering of trees, grasses, and other

native, water-loving plants. Bioswales, as an alternative to concrete culverts, convey stormwater naturally, promoting infiltration, reducing runoff volume, and filtering pollutants.

BUYOUT: A buyout occurs when a government agency purchases a homeowner’s

property. After purchase, the house is demolished and the land is converted into green space in perpetuity. Buyouts are a common flood mitigation strategy in areas that flood repeatedly. Participation is voluntary. Federal payouts are capped at 75% of the building’s fair market value.

CHECKERBOARDING: Checkerboarding describes a pattern of development in

neighborhoods where only some homeowners have accepted buyout offers. Some properties are cleared and converted to open space while others remain as occupied housing. The intermittent distribution of houses and open lots can be reminiscent of a checkerboard.

COMMUNITY: Community is a geographically bound group of people on a local-

scale who have either direct or indirect relationships with each other.

COMMUNITY + WATER: Community + Water recognizes the growing importance

of planning for water by creating space to store stormwater in the landscape.

COMMUNITY + MOBILITY: Community + Mobility couples stormwater

management improvements with providing safe transit options for all community members, regardless of age, ability, or access to resources.

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COMMUNITY + ACTIVE LIFESTYLES: Community + Active Lifestyles means

transforming flood-prone areas into floodable community destinations that support healthy, active lifestyles.

COMMUNITY RESILIENCE: Community resilience is the capacity of individuals,

neighborhoods, institutions, businesses, and systems within a community to survive, adapt, and grow no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience.

COMMUNITY WELLBEING: Community wellbeing is the combination of social,

economic, environmental, cultural, and political conditions identified by individuals as essential to create meaningful futures. It considers basic needs like food, housing, education, and income, as well as social and emotional needs like sense of place, safety, social connections, and life satisfaction.

COMPLETE STREETS: Complete Streets provide the facilities needed for drivers,

cyclists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities to safely travel around and between communities. The Denham Springs Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan recognizes “there is no universal definition of a Complete Street” and uses Smart Growth America’s recommendations to identify important elements, including “sidewalks, bicycle facilities, frequent and safe crossing opportunities, median islands, accessible pedestrian signals, curb extensions, narrower travel lanes, and standards; and roundabouts, among other potential treatments” (DS Bike/Ped, 2019, pg. 28).

CONNECTEDNESS: Connection is fostered by a community’s networks that

provide social support, enhance trust, foster civic engagement, and empower community members to participate in community and democracy.

DRAINAGE: Typical drainage systems use wide concrete culverts and ditches to

direct water out of communities as fast as possible. These systems are expensive, prone to catastrophic failure (especially with increased demands from upstream neighbors), and provide no additional benefits. Green infrastructure alternatives provide multiple benefits, including: recreation opportunities that support public health, water filtration with riparian buffers that improves water quality and biodiversity, and increased stormwater storage capacity that translates to economic savings.

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ECOSYSTEM: An ecosystem is made of the living and nonliving elements that

coexist in an area. This includes plants, animals, soils, land, water, and weather.

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: The benefits people receive from living in harmony with

their natural environments are known as ecosystem services.

ENHANCED STREAM BANKS AND RIPARIAN BUFFERS: Enhanced stream

banks and riparian buffers are created when communities allow trees, shrubs, and other plants to grow adjacent to waterways (ie: rivers, lakes, bayous, wetlands).

Forested buffers provide the most ecological benefits, such as erosion control, increased water quality, and habitats that support biodiversity.

EQUITY: An equitable community is supported by values of diversity, social justice,

and individual empowerment where everyone is treated fairly, basic needs are met, and there is an equal opportunity to get education and meet individual potential.

FLOODABLE PARKS: Through intentional planning, parks and vacant lots can be

designed to retain stormwater, which can alleviate street flooding and pressure on city drainage systems. Floodable parks and stormwater lots incorporate the native plants and soil compositions used in rain gardens and bioswales to filter contaminants from runoff. This provides the added benefit of improving water quality while storing and absorbing stormwater.

FLOODPLAIN AND WETLAND RESTORATION: Floodplain and wetland

restoration projects focus on repairing or mimicking the natural interactions between the vital parts of any waterway: groundwater, stream flow, and plant root systems. The interactions of these three components provide several benefits, such as filtering pollutants and sediments from runoff to improve water quality, recharging groundwater, or increasing storage capacity to reduce flooding during heavy rain events.

GRAY STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE: Gray stormwater infrastructure refers

to concrete structures and systems designed to collect and transport rainwater.

Traditional stormwater management systems use culverts, storm drains, and underground pipes to move rainwater away from streets, homes, and businesses as quickly as possible.

GREEN ROOF: A green roof uses a layer of plants to absorb rainwater. Depending

on the design and the overall weight, structural changes may be needed to transform a traditional roof into a green roof.

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GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE: Green stormwater infrastructure

manages stormwater where it falls through mimicking or restoring natural water systems. Many strategies use soils, plantlife, or permeable surfaces to store and filter stormwater, which improves water quality while reducing nuisance flooding.

GREENWAYS: A greenway is generally a mixed-use space that is separated from the

roadway and can be used safely by both cyclists and pedestrians. Some greenways follow roads while others take different routes, such as following rivers or bayous to bring users closer to nature. Greenways can also connect natural spaces, such as forested areas or parks, to each other, which improves ecosystem wellbeing.

IMPERVIOUS SURFACE: An impervious surface, like concrete, does not absorb

water. Stormwater runoff is created when impervious surfaces, such as roads, walkways, parking lots, and roofs, prevent rain from absorbing into the ground.

INFRASTRUCTURE: Infrastructure is the fixed system of public works that a

community and its economy need to function. There are two general categories of infrastructure, hard and soft. Hard infrastructure refers to the physical networks necessary for basic functions (e.g. roads, water & sewer, drainage, and telecommunications). Soft infrastructure refers to the institutions that maintain community and economic health (e.g. schools, parks and open space, health care).

LIVABILITY: Livable communities are supported by functional infrastructure,

including safe housing, accessible transportation, high quality education, parks and recreation, human services, public safety, and relevant arts and culture.

MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION: Multi-modal transportation refers to

the different ways that people travel, including such modes as: walking, cycling, driving, and riding public transit. Multi-modal transportation systems facilitate safe connections between different modes.

NETWORK: In urban design, a network is a cohesive group of spaces linked to one

another by various, accessible, multi-modal pathways and roadways.

PERVIOUS PAVEMENT: Pervious or permeable materials allow stormwater to pass

through them and absorb into the ground, which reduces runoff. Using permeable materials to construct urban spaces (ie: parking lots, roads, driveways, sidewalks, trails, etc) reduces the negative impact these uses have on localized urban flooding. [continued]

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PLANNING: Planning is (1) the process of deciding on and arranging in advance;

(2) the formulation of long-range visions, goals, policies, and strategies for achieving social, economic, and environmental sustainability in order to guide future community development.

RAIN GARDEN: A shallow depression or low-laying area planted with native plants

that absorb and filter runoff. Rain gardens need well-draining soils. They allow stormwater to be absorbed by plants and to infiltrate into the ground.

RAINWATER HARVESTING: Rainwater harvesting means to catch, store, and use

rainwater through a number of different techniques, such as rain barrels, cisterns, and under or above-ground tanks. Captured rainwater can be used for toilets, laundry, lawns, and other outdoor activities, but it should not be used for drinking, bathing, or swimming without proper treatment.

REPETITIVE FLOOD LOSS PROPERTY: When a building floods multiple times in

one decade, it is considered a repetitive flood loss property. Homes and businesses that flood more than four times in ten years are considered severe repetitive flood loss properties, which may increase the percentage the government is willing to contribute to buyout the property.

RESILIENCE: Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties;

toughness; the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape and elasticity.

STORMWATER PONDS: Stormwater ponds are a common strategy to store and

treat runoff. They function by creating a space to hold stormwater that allows pollutants and other sediments to settle. Detention ponds, which only hold water during storms, are designed to drain from a full condition within 36 to 48 hours to allow sediment particles and associated pollutants time to settle and be removed.

Retention ponds always contain some amount of water but have extra capacity to hold runoff during storms.

SYSTEMS THINKING: The ability to perform problem solving across complex

systems, by understanding complex, interrelated risks and what they mean for a similarly complex community.

WALKABILITY: Walkability refers to the ease with which citizens can meet their

daily needs as pedestrians. Cities are considered walkable when residents can walk to grocery stores, schools, jobs, and recreational sites. Walkability depends on proximity as well as infrastructure, such as sidewalks and crosswalks, to keep pedestrians safe.

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WATERSHED: Watershed is an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to

different rivers, basins, or seas.

WATERSHED PLANNING: Watershed planning provides a strategy for achieving

resource and community goals related to water quantity and quality for an ecologically-defined system. The watershed planning process uses a series of cooperative, iterative steps to characterize existing conditions, identify and prioritize problems, define management objectives, develop recommendations, and implement protective measures at a range of scales.

WELLBEING: Wellbeing is the state of being happy, healthy, and prosperous.

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Resources COMMUNITY + WATER resources Stormwater and Hazard Mitigation: Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism http://www.crt.state.la.us/ USACE Civil Works (dam, flood risk, levee) http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/ USACE Emergency Operations (drought, floods, hurricane season) http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Emergency-Operations/ Repetitive Flood Claims Grant https://www.fema.gov/repetitive GOHSEP – Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program http://gohsep.la.gov/GRANTS/RECOVERY-GRANTS/Hazard-MitigationAssistance/FMA Economic Development Administration https://www.eda.gov/funding-opportunities/ Louisiana State University – Coastal Sustainability Studio http://css.lsu.edu

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COMMUNITY + MOBILITY resources Bicycle / Pedestrian Plan for the City: ExxonMobil Foundation http://corporate.exxonmobil.com/en/community/worldwide-giving/exxonmobilfoundation/overview People for Bikes http://www.peopleforbikes.org/ Master Parks and Recreation Plan: (can also be Community + Active Lifestyles resources) DOI National park Service (Federal Lands to Parks) https://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/flp/flp_get_land.html Louisiana Culture, Recreation, and Tourism (Recreation Trails Program) https://crt.louisiana.gov/louisiana-state-parks/grant-opportunities-for-outdoor-recreation/ recreational-trails/index Funding Sources: SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund https://swbg-conservationfund.org/ Tony Hawk Foundation http://tonyhawkfoundation.org/ DOT Federal Highway Administration (Recreational Trails Program) http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreationaltrails/ Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation http://penningtonfamilyfoundation.org/ National Environmental Education Foundation https://www.neefusa.org/ Walmart Foundation http://giving.walmart.com/apply-for-grants/national-giving National Endowment for the Arts’ Our Town Grant https://www.arts.gov/grants-organizations/our-town/grant-program-description

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Grants: U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Choice Neighborhood and Sustainable Communities Planning Grants https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/cn/ planninggrants Orton Family Foundation and Soul Grants https://www.impact.upenn.edu/orton-family-foundation/ Joyce Foundation Community Grants (This could apply to all 3 categories) http://www.joycefdn.org/apply/what-we-fund

COMMUNITY + ACTIVE LIFESTYLES resources Community Quality of Life Projects (EVENTS): Louisiana Community Development Authority Governmental, Industrial and Non-Profit Programs http://www.louisianacda.com/applications Louisiana Office of Community Development Block Grants (public facilities, LaSTEP, demonstrated needs, economic development) http://www.doa.la.gov/Pages/ocd/cdbg/lcdbg_programs.aspx Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (Extension Disaster Education Network) http://eden.lsu.edu/ Orton Family Foundation https://www.orton.org/ Reconnecting America http://reconnectingamerica.org/ Smart Growth America https:// smartgrowthamerica.org/about-us/

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Boo Grigsby Foundation http://www.boogrigsbyfoundation.com/ Cisco Foundation http://csr.cisco.com/pages/global-impact-cash-grants Foundation for the Mid South http://www.fndmidsouth.org/about/ Irene W. and C.B Pennington Foundation http://penningtonfamilyfoundation.org/ Local Initiatives Support Corporation http://www.lisc.org NeighborWorks America http://www.neighborworks.org/ State Farms Company Foundation https://www.statefarm.com/about-us/community/education-programs/grantsscholarships/company-grants

MISCELLANEOUS resources Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development: Louisiana Office of Community Development www.doa.la.gov/pages/ocd/index.aspx University of New Orleans Urban Planning Department www.uno.edu/cola/planning-and-urban-studies/ American Planning Association www.planning.org American Institute of Architects www.aia.org [continued]

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Louisiana State University: School of Landscape Architecture http://design.lsu.edu/landscape-architecture/ Southern University www.subr.edu Louisiana Economic Development www.opportunitylouisiana.org LED/Louisiana Quality Jobs Rebate https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/business-incentives/quality-jobs LED/Small and Emerging Business Development Program https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/business-incentives/small-business-loanand-guaranty-program HUD Capacity Building Programs www.hudexchangeinfo/programs/section-4-capacity-building/ American Planning Association: Planning for Post-Disaster Recovery (Next Generation); Planning Commission Agility Recovery www.planning.org/research/postdisaster Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX) www.cpex.org NewCorp www.newcorpinc.com East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority www.ebrra.org Project for Public Spaces www.pps.org Smart Growth America www.smartgrowthamerica.org Boo Grigsby Foundation www.boogrigsbyfoundation.com/

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Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation www.mrbf.org/ Needmor Fund www.needmorfund.org Porticus North America Foundation https://us/porticus.com/en/homeus Robert Wood Johnson Foundation www.rwjf.org/

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LA 7061 Studio Book: Spring Up! Denham Springs Masterplan This map is taken from the LSU Landscape Architecture Graduate Studio report, Spring Up! Denham Springs Masterplan. The aim of the studio’s project was to help the city of Denham Springs envision a more resilient future by identifying and illustrating potential interventions for building resilience. The resulting designs, featured within the studio book, show communities at risk of flooding how to develop policies and build their capacity to win funding and grants for implementation.

The map [to the left] shows the spatial context of the studio’s work−from North College Street in the North, Railroad Avenue in the South, the Amite River in the West, and Pete’s Highway in the east−overlaid on a larger context map of Denham Springs’ City limits.

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