Comparative Study of Flood Risk Management and Land Use in the Deltas of Rhine River, Yellow River and Mississippi River

The Rhine River in the Netherlands, the Yellow River in China and the Mississippi River in the U.S. are three great rivers in the world. Each of them is performing a significant role in the country. The delta area for each river, in particular, is served as the centre in importance and commonly the most developed region in the whole river basin. These three deltas are not excepted. All of them are the economic and cultural centre either in the district or in the whole country and all have a big harbour. However, because of the special location, near the sea and the river passing through, the delta area is always threatened both by river flood and the storm surge or hurricane. As a result, flood risk management is the main task for the local people and the government. The objective of our study is focused on the flood risk management and land use in these three deltas, and a comparison is made on several aspects: physical, socio-economical, technical, organizational and institutional, legal and policy. First we would put forward the main problems on flood risk management existing in each region, then make an analysis for each problem, after that come up with possible solutions, at last a comparison between three deltas is discussed and recommendation is followed. The whole report is composed by five parts, part A, B and C are separated for each delta. It includes the problems, analysis of the problems and possible solutions; part D and E are comparisons and recommendation respectively. The problems existing in each delta are similar in some extent or in a certain scope. The common problems are high flood from the river, storm surge (hurricane) from sea, land subsidence and land loss, coastal erosion, sea level rise, etc. In each delta area, there are common or special reasons for different problems and traditional or peculiar measures are carried out in problem addressing. These measures are very valuable for each other, and could be learned from their experience and lessons.Civil Engineering and Geoscience