Abstract
Coastal and riparian flooding are costly and disruptive natural hazards and already a regular part of life in some areas of the USA. Flooding events caused by sea-level rise and climate change are expected to increase in frequency and severity in the future, creating social, ecological, and economic problems at local, city, state, and federal levels. It is clear that normative, infrastructure-oriented, and strictly hydrological solutions to flooding have not appropriately met these challenges, nor have they adequately addressed relevant socio-political factors which shape hydrological processes. Using the case study of Tillamook County, this study draws upon qualitative interview data to identify and explain social factors which have influenced the outcome of a collaborative, socially engaged flood management project. These include previous flood experience; emotions and feelings; interests and concerns; preferred management strategies; barriers to community-scientific engagement; and perceptions of a mediation process. This situation is further explored within the framework of social geometry, which is used to explain changes in social position and relationships through an interactive, collaborative process. In this case, mediation is shown to decrease both relational space and differences in status between the two primary actor groups, leading to mutually agreeable outcomes but not without dispute. Flood managers and researchers may find this case study useful when analyzing qualitative data related to flood risk management, and/or planning flood management strategies, particularly in disaster-prone regions.
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Adapted from Allen et al. (2018) Southern Flow Corridor Landowner Preferred Alternative Management Plan
Change history
21 July 2020
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Acknowledgements
We would like to extend our immense gratitude to the participants in this study, the residents of Tillamook County, and those that allowed us to tour the site and farms. We are also grateful for the documents supplied by the Tillamook Flood Improvement District, Oregon Solutions, the Tillamook Headlight Herald, and the Tillamook Pioneer Museum. Tillamook County is located on the traditional homelands of the Salish linguistic group. Many of the place names are named after the divisions and leaders including Nehalem City and Kilchis River (named after Chief Kilchis). The word "Tillamook" is Chinook for "people of Nekelim (or, Nehalem)". Some descendants of northern Tillamook are enrolled in the Confederated Tribes of Siletz or the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde, while others are part of the federally unrecognized Clatsop Nehalem Confederated Tribes. We would also like to thank the two blind reviewers who provided feedback that improved this manuscript. We are grateful for the research assistants who helped with data collection and transcription: Shersten Finley, Emory Neer, Rikki Oden and Mathern Glass. Our department staff Sherie Huffman and Emma Spadaro were essential in managing behind-the-scenes paperwork.
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This research was funded in part by Oregon Sea Grant NA18OAR4170072 and has been reviewed by the Portland State University Institutional Review Board # 184561. Preparation of this manuscript was also supported by the National Science Foundation’s Sustainable Research Network Grant # 1444755.
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MH conceptualized the study, secured funding designed, and conducted research, processed data, drafted the manuscript, and provided editing support throughout. DH finalized the Introduction and Results sections, created the diagrams, and wrote the Discussion and Conclusion sections. Both authors contributed to manuscript concept development and framing.
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This research has been reviewed by the Portland State University Institutional Review Board # 184561.
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Haeffner, M., Hellman, D. The social geometry of collaborative flood risk management: a hydrosocial case study of Tillamook County, Oregon. Nat Hazards 103, 3303–3325 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-020-04131-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-020-04131-4
Keywords
- Social geometry
- Hydrosocial
- Flood risk
- Disaster management
- Adaptation