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meeting between US and Mexican IBWC sections regarding the border wall in the Rio Grande floodplain. US will act unilaterally, despite Mexican objections, 6 days later. These walls pose a tremendous flood risk to communities on both sides of the Rio Grande
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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION UNITED STATES AND MEXICO
ENGINEERING SERVICES DIVISION
MEMORANDUM OF MEETING FOR INFORMATION February 9, 2012
PARTICIPANTS :
SUBJECT
Mr. Armando Reyes, MxiBWC Mr. Fabian Marquez, MxiBWC Mr. Jose Nufiez, USIBWC Dr. Padinare Unnikrishna, USIBWC
Mr. Valentin Arzola, USIBWC
Visit by Armando Reyes and Fabian Marquez of MxiBWC to USIBWC to
Discuss 0-1, 0-2, 0-3 Fence Segments
The following are the main points covered during the meeting:
• Representation of fence and debris blockage. Dr. Unnikrishna explained with a spreadsheet printout the representation of the 6-inch x 6-inch bollard fence with the diagonal side facing the flow and with 4-inch clear spacing in the model with the 10% and 25% debris. The reduction in the clear spacing due to the debris was explained including the cross-sectional data used in FlowMaster
to generate the rating curve for the fence that is represented as a hydraulic structure in FL0-2D. Several rating curves were generated depending upon the fence length within a grid element (500
feet, diagonal length or portions of fence) and the debris blockage. All rating curves were included in the Drainage Report DVD provided to the Mexican Section. It was recognized that the Mexican Section may prefer a higher percent debris blockage. It was explained that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wanted minimum debris blockage and a percentage that was felt to be reasonable was agreed upon in the meeting on February 23, 2011, during which the modeling methodology was finalized between USIBWC, DHS, the U.S . Army Corps of Engineers and Michael Baker Jr., Inc. Minutes of this meeting are included in the Drainage Report DVD. Mr. Jose Nufiez also stated that DHS would be requested to implement a debris management plan along the fence to minimize debris blockage. Mr. Armando Reyes requested the design plans for the fence segments. Mr. Jose Nufiez said that DHS has not prepared design plans at this time. The fence segments will be the same as other pedestrian fence segments along the alignments indicated in the drainage report.
• Problems with running some models. This was related to the Fence Segment 0-3 proposed condition model. Dr. Unnikrishna mentioned that he received a new computer a couple of days ago and experienced the same problem. Dr. Unnikrishna recalled that he demonstrated that the model
ran to completion with the simulation summary indicating excellent results during the visit of Mr. Fabian Marquez to U.S . Section on December 7, 2011. The problem is likely related to the
numerous updates that FL0-2D has been making to the software and/or the Windows 7 operating system in the new computer. Dr.Unnikrishna pointed out that these software updates are described
in the FL0-2D web site. The results presented in the DVD were from a previous build version run on a 32-bit computer with the Windows XP operating system.
2
• Analysis with a lower discharge and fully blocked fence. Mr. Armando Reyes asked if it was
possible to analyze the models showing the fence as being completely blocked off and also a run
with a lower discharge. Dr. Unnikrishna responded stating that making modifications to the
hydraulic structures may result in model instabilities which will take time to address. Mr. Jose
Nunez stated that the analyzed flows covered the flows described in the 1970 treaty.
• Managing development in the Rio Grande floodplain. Both Mr. Jose Nunez and Mr. Armando
Reyes recognized the need for a guidance document to manage development in the Rio Grande
floodplain. Dr. Unnikrishna explained the concept of the FEMA floodway and Mr. Armando Reyes
was interested in more details of the same. Mr. Jose Nunez said that we have recently finalized a
document titled 'Technical Drainage Report Requirements for USlBWC Review' listing the
documents required to be submitted by proponents for drainage report reviews that we could share
with the Mexican Section.
After the meeting on Fence Segments 0-1, 0-2, and 0-3 , Mr. Armando Reyes and Mr. Fabian Marquez
had meetings with USlBWC staff members Mr. Guillermo Martinez and Mr. Gabriel Duran on other
projects. Dr. Unnikrishnna emailed the link to the FEMA Guidelines and Specifications pointing out the
section on FEMA floodways and the file on 'Technical Drainage Report Requirements for USlBWC
Review' to Mr. Armando Reyes on February 10, 2012. _
~ Dr. Padinare Unnikrishna, P.E. , CFM 2/29/12