Cultivating Transdisciplinary Support for Equitable and Resilient Floodplains

Project Update

November 2023

The goal of our project is to convene a transdisciplinary team to co-define potential research directions that aim at supporting equitable and resilient floodplain management in the lower Nooksack River floodplain. Our team includes one student in landscape architecture (Camille Forest), three community representatives, and seven academics with expertises ranging from political ecology to anthropology to civil engineering.

The local planning process evolved significantly since we proposed the project, so we have adapted our approach to better accommodate the needs of the community. Specifically: (1) the design charrette has been indefinitely postponed; instead of coordinating with that effort, our aim is to help our community do additional advanced preparation to ensure a successful charrette, and (2) In working with our team, it became clear that we need to build trust with the wider community before engaging with them in a research effort. As a result, we have refocused our efforts to work exclusively with the three community representatives who are on our team. This allows us to have more open discussions about the pros and cons of our ideas, before considering whether or not to share them more widely.

We have now conducted four workshops with the project team, aimed at cultivating a shared understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the area, sharing our perspectives as researchers and practitioners, and getting to know each other more generally. We have also begun brainstorming potential study ideas that the team could pursue as a follow-on to the current work. Some of this research has already begun — for instance, four members of our team are currently working to evaluate and document the process of bringing this diverse team together. Other research ideas are in the beginning phases of ideation and will be further developed in our Dec-Apr team workshops.

Project Overview

Flooding is one of the most costly and disruptive natural hazards in Washington State, with climate change intensifying both its frequency and severity. In 2021, a devastating flood on the Nooksack River caused widespread damage to communities, ecosystems, and local economies. Addressing flood risk requires more than infrastructure solutions—it involves understanding the connections between housing, agriculture, Tribal Treaty Rights, salmon recovery, and community resilience.

This project brings together an interdisciplinary team of researchers to collaborate with local partners in Whatcom County. By integrating expertise from fields such as anthropology, engineering, psychology, and environmental ethics, the project supports ongoing efforts to develop floodplain solutions that are effective, equitable, and community-driven.

Goals

Strengthen existing floodplain planning efforts by incorporating academic research and analysis.
Examine how flood response, recovery, and planning intersect with community values and decision-making processes.
Identify opportunities to make floodplain management more inclusive and just.
Elevate perspectives that have been historically underrepresented in flood planning discussions.

Approach

The project builds on the Floodplain Integrated Planning (FLIP) process, a regional collaboration in Whatcom County that includes Tribal Nations, local governments, environmental groups, and landowners. Researchers contribute to this effort by:

Synthesizing academic research to inform ongoing flood planning discussions.
Engaging with community-driven floodplain management initiatives.
Identifying research gaps that could shape future studies on equitable flood resilience.

Research Focus

The research team applies expertise from multiple disciplines to explore the social, ecological, and technical dimensions of floodplain management:

Tribal sovereignty & Indigenous studies – Examining historical and legal contexts for Tribal participation in flood planning.
Planning & design – Investigating frameworks for integrated and adaptive floodplain solutions.
Engineering & environmental science – Assessing technical feasibility and environmental implications of flood management strategies.
Social sciences & psychology – Exploring how community identity, lived experiences, and risk perception shape flood response and planning.

Why It Matters

Conventional flood management approaches often prioritize infrastructure, such as levees and dams, without fully considering broader ecological and social factors. This project emphasizes solutions that:

Ensure that Tribal Nations, farmers, and community members have a role in decision-making.
Address both immediate risks and future climate impacts.
Recognize and address inequities in flood risk and resource distribution.

Activities

The project follows a phased approach to integrate research and community engagement:

1. Research & Preparation (Fall 2023)

Conducts an in-depth review of past flood events, policy frameworks, and ongoing planning efforts.

Develops a briefing packet summarizing key floodplain challenges and opportunities.

2. Field Engagement & Charrette Participation (Fall 2023 – Winter 2024)

Participates in site visits and design workshops (charrettes) with flood planners and community stakeholders.

Engages in collaborative discussions to explore potential floodplain solutions.

3. Analysis & Framework Development (Winter 2024)

Analyzes findings from community engagements and identifies key themes.

Develops a visual framework illustrating connections between flood risk, equity, and resilience.

4. Findings & Dissemination (Spring 2024 and beyond)

Produces a white paper outlining research insights and future directions.

Documents the collaborative process as a potential model for future flood resilience efforts.

Expected Outcomes

A briefing packet summarizing key floodplain challenges and research insights.
A visual framework illustrating interdisciplinary approaches to flood resilience.
A white paper identifying research gaps and policy recommendations.
A process evaluation documenting best practices for integrating academic research into community-driven floodplain management.

Dissemination of Findings

Findings from this project will be shared with a broad audience to ensure accessibility and impact, including:

Community partners – Research insights will be integrated into ongoing floodplain planning efforts.
Tribal partners – Findings will be shared in alignment with Tribal priorities and knowledge systems.
Policymakers & planners – Recommendations will be made available through reports and policy briefs.
The public – Outreach materials, presentations, and potential public events will communicate key takeaways.

Research Team:

Principal Investigator: Guillaume Mauger, UW Seattle, College of the Environment, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Co-Principal Investigator: Sara Jo Breslow, UW Seattle, College of the Environment, Environmental & Forest Sciences
Community Lead: Deborah Johnson, River & Flood Engineer, Whatcom County
Student: Camille Forest, UW Seattle, College of Built Environments, Landscape Architecture
Collaborators: Carol MacIlroy, Independent Consultant focusing on Integrated Floodplain Management
Kas Guillozet, Bonneville Environmental Foundation
Bethany Gordon, UW Seattle College of Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Celina Guzmán, UW Seattle College of Built Environments, Landscape Architecture
Shana Hirsch, UW Seattle College of Engineering, Human Centered Design & Engineering
Michelle Montgomery, UW Tacoma School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, Ethnic, Gender, and Labor Studies
Sameer Shah, UW Seattle College of the Environment, Environmental & Forest Sciences
Dylan Stevenson, UW Seattle College of Built Environments, Urban Design & Planning
Carlie Stowe, UW Seattle College of the Environment, Environmental & Forest Sciences