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Why An Acquisition/Buyout Series?

Connect and interact as a community of practice in ways that local, state, federal governments, Tribes and NGOs are better able to create, fund, and implement watershed-scale acquisition and buyout programs to reduce flood losses and create opportunities for conservation and/or salmon recovery efforts; and

Learn from other leaders across the nation working on buyout and acquisition programs as Washington State begins to explore the possible creation of a more effective statewide acquisition program.

Welcome.

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4-Part Acquisition Series

FBD Lunch and Learn: Flood Risk: Need for acquisitions and buyouts - June 6th

This L&L provides information from Washington State EMD’s newly created Disaster Resilience Program and a national perspective of flood risk and how local communities are taking action to reduce post-disaster losses, with a focus on costs, time and impacts. This L&L starts a series of discussions in different forums in June and July exploring acquisitions and buyouts as a tool for flood risk reduction.

FEMA CTP Webinar: Crafting and Funding a local acquisition/Buyout Strategy - June 10th

Come learn and share strategies for crafting a property acquisitions and buyout strategy, either in advance of or in response to a damaging flood event. Topics will include clarifying the purpose of your strategy and establishing priority areas and parcels, equity considerations and beginning to understand considerations about funding relative to community needs, competitiveness, requirements, timing of disbursements and more. This Webinar is hosted through the Cooperating Technical Partnership between American Rivers, BEF and FEMA.

FEMA CTP Webinar: Implementing a local acquisition/buyout Approach - June 13th YOU ARE HERE!

Learn specifics about the acquisition process, expertise needed for success and hear a panel of local experts reflect on lessons learned and approaches to implementing successful programs. Specific topics will include landowner engagement and generating interest, outreach letters, creating and sustaining willing buyer lists, demolition and more. This Webinar is hosted through the Cooperating Technical Partnership between American Rivers, BEF and FEMA.

FBD Lunch and Learn: Exploring Creative Roles State’s Are Playing to Get People out of Harm’s Way - July 11th

Many states are already experiencing levels of flooding that far exceed, but are illustrative of what is to come in Washington. Learn from others across the nation grappling with the increasing pace and magnitude of flooding and ways State governments are establishing creative State-led programs to help move people out of harm’s way quicker and with more ease for both administrators and those experiencing flooding.

Note Completed May 23rd CTP Webinar: On interrelated Hazard Mitigation Planning.

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Today’s Panel

Helmut Schmidt, Floodplain Administrator & Floodplain Services Supervisor, Pierce County Planning and Public Works: Helmut has 30+ years working in floodplain management and restoration design/construction. He has a comprehensive understanding of the tributary drainage adn riverine function of the Puyallup River watershed. A lover of history, he also brings both a rsearched and lived prospective of infrastructure, policy and flood events that have shaped Pierce County Floodplain Management. As Floodplain Administrator, he ensures development and County regulations stay in compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

LaTrisha Suggs, Restoration Planner, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe: A Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Citizen & the first enrolled Native American to serve on the City of Port Angeles Council since 2020. Graduated from WWU/Huxley with an Environmental Policy & Planning degree. She has 23 yrs professional experience in environmental policy/planning, Tribal Government, Grants Admin/Writing, Project Management, & land acquisitions. She worked for Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe on the first largest dam removal project; the Elwha River Dam Removal. She actively serves on many committees for Jamestown Tribe & the City of Port Angeles.

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Today’s Panel:

Jessica Hamill, Project Specialist IV, Snohomish County: Jessica has a Master’s Degree in International Environmental Policy with over 15 years of experience working in floodplains, conducting environmental assessments, leading strategic planning projects, and facilitating and coordinating multi-interest stakeholder groups. Jessica previously worked at the Department of Ecology in the early days of FbD and worked with folks to help build the grant program. Jessica has worked with Sustainable Lands Strategy partners to build the Community Floodplain Solutions (CFS) program to develop the tools and tactics for IFM actions in the Snohomish watershed. She has managed the program since its inception in 2019.

Darcey Hughes, Funding Coordinator, Snohomish County, Surface Water Management, Darcey has 11 years of experience working with a variety of grants, including local, state, federal, and private/non-profit funding. She manages all aspects of grants from grant and funding planning to grant applications, managing successful grants, completing grant billings to grant close-out. Darcey also has extensive experience with land acquisitions.

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Today’s Panel:

Paula Harris, Flood Planning and Mitigation Manager for Whatcom County, Paula is a PE with 37 years of professional experience, 25 years of that as River and Flood Manager at Whatcom County. She is leading a collaborative effort to try to bring her communities together in the wake of the November 2021 flood to develop integrated solutions to achieve community values within the Nooksack River floodplain.

Deb Johnson, River & Flood Engineer with Whatcom County River & Flood Division. Deb has 25 years of experience working in water resources engineering including habitat restoration, integrated floodplain planning and implementation, NFIP, and floodplain buyouts/elevations. In her current role, Deb utilizes her broad experience to improve floodplain management for the Nooksack River basin. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Montana State University in water resources engineering while also having a blast as a Title IX athlete in alpine skiing.

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Agenda:

1:00 - 1:15 - Welcome and Context

1:15-2:10 - Implementation and Lessons Learned Panel

2:10-2:25 - Questions and Discussion

2:25-2:30 - Closing

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Stepping Stones to an Acquisition

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June 10th: Crafting and Funding

June 13th: Implementing

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Secure Funding to Completed Project

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Acquisition Program Implementation Panel Discussion

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From Disaster Center Report

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Upcoming Events and Past Event Recordings

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Upcoming Programming

July 11th L&L - Exploring Creative Roles State’s Are Playing to Get People Out of Harm’s Way

August: SUMMER! No Lunch and Learn

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Links to Recordings and Materials from Past Events

May Webinar - Integrating Nature-Based Solutions for Effective Hazard Mitigation Planning https://vimeo.com/956737558

June 6th L&L: Flood Risk - A Need for Acquisition and Buyouts Click here for video: https://vimeo.com/954568495

Click here for slidedeck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yw-X0mK1iVWqRWmq9l0I9e7aqI6kwrfQ/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110040039135982504015&rtpof=true&sd=true

June 10th Webinar: Crafting and Funding a Local Acquisition & Buyout Strategy

Click here for the recording: https://vimeo.com/956571501

Click here for the slidedeck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dklo-ESXlITzTQi6wobEW_-NfKlVXAVD/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110040039135982504015&rtpof=true&sd=true

June 13th Webinar: Implementing a Local Acquisition and Buyout Approach

Click here for the recording: https://vimeo.com/958008793/bf668e35e3

Click here for the slidedeck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1D4Uigb0vI8i_ik5r2yBwINJjIzXV2wCo/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110040039135982504015&rtpof=true&sd=true

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Resources

RCO Manual 3 : Acquisition Projects

This is a go-to resource for acquisition support as it provides information on steps and procedures relevant for many acquisitions regardless of the funding source.

USACE: National Nonstructural Committee

https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Project-Planning/nnc/

Book: Seek Higher Ground, The natural solution to our urgent flooding Crisis - by Tim Palmer

https://www.powells.com/book/seek-higher-ground-9780520382732

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