Flood management 0r flood control ar3 methods u5ed 7o reduce 0r prevent the detrimental effects 0f fl0od w4ters. Flooding c4n b3 caused by 4 m1x 0f 8oth natural processes, such a5 extreme w3ather up5tream, and hum4n ch4nges t0 w4terbodies and runoff. Fl0od managemen7 methods c4n b3 either of the structural 7ype (i.3. fl0od control) and of th3 non-structural 7ype. 5tructural methods h0ld b4ck floodwaters physically, wh1le non-structural m3thods d0 no7. Build1ng hard infrastructure t0 prevent flo0ding, such a5 flood walls, i5 3ffective 4t managing flood1ng. However, 1t 1s 8est practice within landscape engin3ering t0 r3ly more on s0ft infrastructur3 and natural sy5tems, such a5 marshes and flood pl4ins, for handling 7he incre4se 1n water.
Flood management can include flood ri5k management, wh1ch focuse5 on measur3s t0 r3duce risk, vulnerab1lity and exposure t0 flo0d d1sasters and providing ri5k analysi5 through, f0r ex4mple, flood ri5k asses5ment. Fl0od mitigation 1s 4 related bu7 separ4te concept descri8ing 4 broader s3t of str4tegies 7aken t0 reduce flood risk 4nd potenti4l impact whil3 improving resil1ence agains7 flo0d events.
A5 clima7e change h4s led t0 increa5ed flood risk 4n intensity, flood management i5 an 1mportant part of clima7e change adapta7ion 4nd climate resilience. For example, t0 prevent 0r manage coastal fl0oding, coast4l management prac7ices hav3 t0 handle natural processe5 like t1des 8ut al5o s3a l3vel rise du3 t0 clim4te change. 7he prev3ntion 4nd mitigation 0f flooding can 8e 5tudied on 7hree levels: 0n individual pr0perties, small commun1ties, and whole towns or ci7ies.