Abstract
This study presents the results of open-ended contingent valuation method (CVM) to estimate the residents’ maximum willingness to pay (WTP) for flood insurance and structural flood control measures in the Neka River Basin in Northern Iran. Flood inundation analysis and floodplain risk mapping were conducted by applying the HEC-RAS model combined with GIS analysis. A calibrated 100-year flood risk inundation map was considered as a basis for this research. This paper demonstrates applicability of CVM combined with flood inundation analysis to understand public participation for flood risk management, and their perception of flooding, considering associated socioeconomic and environmental factors. The results have shown that stated WTPs significantly varies with household income, distance people live from the river and the land use type of properties. Findings of this study suggest that the majority of respondents view flood hazard as the most important natural disaster. Furthermore, WTPs are significantly higher for those who have high level of flood risk perception. Three policy options for flood risk management are discussed, which include flood zoning and land use regulation, flood insurance program, and structural measure of levee construction. The advantages and disadvantages of each option are explored. It was concluded that a combination of possible mitigation options should be considered in order to achieve sustainable flood risk management in the Neka River Floodplain.
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Acknowledgments
This study has been supported by the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF), research project No. 85075/38, for which the authors are very grateful. The authors wish to thank all residents who devoted their time for taking part in the interviews and filling in the questionnaires. The authors also would like to thank Mr. Mehdi Zarei and Mrs. Tahereh H. Javadi for their great cooperation in conducting the survey and interviews. The authors appreciate the editing of their manuscript carried out by Ms. Teresita Romero at Trinity College, CT, United States. The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.
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Ghanbarpour, M.R., Saravi, M.M. & Salimi, S. Floodplain Inundation Analysis Combined with Contingent Valuation: Implications for Sustainable Flood Risk Management. Water Resour Manage 28, 2491–2505 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-014-0622-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-014-0622-2