Why is it important to consider existing and anticipated development during encroachment reviews?

Considering existing and anticipated development during encroachment reviews is crucial for understanding the cumulative effects on flood levels and hazards. This understanding helps floodplain managers assess how new projects and developments could interact with the existing landscape and contribute to changes in flood behavior.

When evaluating encroachments, it's essential to recognize that even minor intrusions into floodplains can have significant implications for water flow, drainage patterns, and flood risk. By analyzing both current and future developments within a defined area, floodplain managers can better predict and mitigate potential increases in flooding or other hazards.

This consideration is key in ensuring that floodplain management strategies are effective and that the safety of communities is maintained. Cumulative impacts may include altered runoff patterns, increased impervious surfaces, and changes in local vegetation—all of which can exacerbate flooding.

Other choices focus on different aspects such as zoning laws, property boundaries, or aesthetics, which, while important in their contexts, do not address the core issue of flood risk and management as directly as understanding cumulative effects does.