USACE Levee Safety Program
Presented by Tammy Conforti
ASFPM Conference May 2008
USACE Activities 2
Topics of DiscussionTopics of Discussion
USACE National Levee Safety Program Organization
National Levee DatabaseInspectionsRecent GuidanceNational Levee Safety Act 2007Websites
USACE Activities 3
Levee Safety Program MissionLevee Safety Program Mission
Assess the integrity and viability of levees and recommend actions to
assure that levee systems do not present
unacceptable risks to the public, property, and the
environment.West Columbus, Ohio
Program Objectives:
Hold Public Safety Paramount Reduced Economic Impacts Maximize Cost Effectiveness Develop Reliable and Accurate Information Build Public Trust and Acceptance
USACE Activities 4
• Issued to field in November
• Establish Levee Safety Officers
• Establish Levee Safety Program Managers
• Submit plans for organizational structure
• Use revised inspection checklist
• Describes the different tiers of inspections
• Provides guidance for inspection intervals
• Announces training for the inspection tool
• Informs of future NFRMP guidance
Implementation GuidanceImplementation Guidance
USACE Activities 5
HQUSACE Levee Safety Management TeamLevee Safety Officer – Steve StocktonSpecial Assistant – Eric HalpinProgram Manager – Tammy Conforti
Levee Safety Committee
Inventory & Database
Team Lead:Tim Pangburn
Assessment Methodology
Team LeadAndy Harkness
ICW Inspection Team
Team LeadDale Munger
Policy & Procedures Team
Team LeadMichael Bart
MSC Levee Teams
National Teams
District Levee Teams
Regional Teams
Flood Risk Management Program Champion – Mr. Ed HeckerProgram Director – Pete Rabbon
Levee Safety Program Organization
Certification ETL
Team LeadMike Deering
Levee Inspector Tool
Team LeadKevin Carlock
Leve
l of
Pro
tect
ion
Levee Categories
Area represents all levees throughout the US.
4
Local & Other
NFIP only
3
Local built / Enrolled in RIP
1
Federal O&M
2
USACE built /Local O&M
NFIP & CORPS
No PriorNexus with
USACE or FEMA
USACE Inventory and Assessment
Objective: Assess all levees in USACE programs, regardless of level of protection.
100-year
FEMA NFIP
Objective: Communicate the most current information for flood insurance purposes.
CORPS only
Universe of Levees
USACE Dec07
Not to scale
WRDA Authorities
Objective: Inventory all levees in nation, lead strategic plan for a National Levee Safety Program
New Nexus fromWRDA 2007
USACE Activities 7
Location of Corps LeveesLocation of Corps Levees
USACE Activities 8
National Levee Database (NLD) and InventoryNational Levee Database (NLD) and Inventory
One Geospatial Database Model Collect Relevant Levee/Floodwall Attributes
• Design and construction
• Operations and maintenance
• Repair and inspections
• Potential for failure Maintained by Districts; Accessible by Others FEMA Mid-Term Levee Inventory Data Collected
Using USACE Database Model & Structure
Database Viewers
What will database and national web viewers look like?
Database Viewers
Main viewer will be CorpsMap
Other viewers could include Google Earth
USACE Activities 10
Key data to be collected
floodwall_linefloodwall_line
levee_centerlinelevee_centerline
protected_areaprotected_area
pump_station_pointpump_station_point
levee_relief_well_piontlevee_relief_well_piont
closure_structure_lineclosure_structure_line
levee_crossing_pointlevee_crossing_point
levee_station_pointlevee_station_point
gravity_drain_linegravity_drain_line
piezometer_pointpiezometer_point
borehole_pointborehole_point
sand_boil_pointsand_boil_point
levee_flood_fight_pointlevee_flood_fight_point
levee_failure_pointlevee_failure_point
cross_section_linecross_section_line
encroachment pointencroachment point
rehabilitation linerehabilitation line
USACE Activities 11
Risk Informed Inspections and AssessmentsRisk Informed Inspections and Assessments
Continuous Routine Inspections by Sponsor - More Rigorous Standards & Checklist
Annual Robust Inspections by District - Professionally Managed
Periodic Assessments - Periodic Inspection + Screening Risk Assessment(every 5 years)
Risk Assessments - Rigorous, data intensive effort (every 10 years)
Pre-Screening Based on Inventory Results - Prioritization of Periodic Assessments And Risk Assessments Increasing R
igor, Effort
Continuous Feedback
USACE Activities 12
Levee Inspection ProgramLevee Inspection Program
Routine Inspection: Verifies proper operation & maintenance activities conducted by the public sponsor.
Periodic Inspection: Verifies proper operation and maintenance and evaluates structure’s operational adequacy, structural stability and identifies components and features that the sponsor needs to monitor over time.
Periodic Assessment: Combination of PI and potential failure mode and consequences analysis used for initial screening and prioritization of RA.
Risk Assessment: Process of identifying the likelihood and consequences of levee failure to provide the basis for informed decisions on a course of action.
USACE Activities 13
Current Land Use in the Protected Area
Project Design Event
Interval of Inspection Type of Inspection
Urban/Rural Agricultural 100 year event or greater
Annual Routine
5 yr Periodic Inspection & Assessment
TBD Risk Assessment
Urban/Rural 50 to 99 year event Annual Routine
5 yr Periodic Inspection & Assessment
TBD Risk Assessment
Urban/Rural 10 to 49 year event 2 year Routine
Agricultural 5 to 99 year event 2 year Routine
Levee Inspection Program
USACE Activities 14
Levee System Inspection Automated Field ComponentsLevee System Inspection Automated Field Components
• USACE Levee System Inspection Application
• ArcGIS Software
• Crystal Reports (Included with ArcGIS)
• Laptop Computer or Tablet PC
• GPS Receiver
USACE Activities 15
Risk Assessments OutcomesRisk Assessments Outcomes
Levee Safety Action Classification Consequences
• Relative Annualized Loss of Life• Relative Economic Damage• Others, environmental, etc
Component Risk – What is driving risk Information on data quality and gaps Issues that influence certification Documentation of confirmed failure modes Recommended risk management actions
USACE Activities 16
Levee Certification ETL (EC)Levee Certification ETL (EC)
Implementation concurrent with field reviewComment period completeFormal ITR and peer reviewHighlights –
•Systems based, no “partial” certifications•10-year validity period•Addresses residual risk•Requires LCR•Will be updated to reflect advances with risk-based approaches
USACE Activities 17
Vegetation StandardsVegetation Standards
Vegetation policy development includes four steps -
Review standards and vegetation management policy using current engineering and science.
Conduct an external peer review of standards. Identify related regulations and policies that require
modifications to implement the new vegetation management policy. Create an implementation plan.
Conduct national roundtable to discuss updated policy, standards, and implementation plan.
USACE Activities 18
FY 2008 Inspection PrioritiesFY 2008 Inspection Priorities
Priority 1 – Complete I-Wall Evaluations Priority 2 – Routine Inspections Priority 3 – Automated Inspection Tool Training Priority 4 – Vertical Datum Evaluations Priority 5 – Coordination with FEMA on PALs Other Activities – HQUSACE Approval No inspection funds will be allocated to perform
certifications
USACE Activities 19
USACE Support-Floodplain Management Services ProgramUSACE Support-Floodplain Management Services Program
Can provide support for levee certification determinations for others to certify
Support activities can include •Data Collection•Mapping •H&H Analyses•Geotechnical Investigations
100 Percent Federally Funded, If Available
USACE Activities 20
Floodplain Management Services Program (Cont’d)Floodplain Management Services Program (Cont’d)
USACE can accept voluntary contributions from State or local government to expand scope
USACE cannot certify levee systems under this program
USACE Activities 21
National Levee Safety ActNational Levee Safety Act
Establishes a Committee on Levee Safety to develop and recommend a program to the Secretary and Congress
The program must address nine goals, including consideration of delegation to qualified states
Establishes a levee database (all levees) to be maintained by the Secretary
Levee inspections for the Act are to be cost-shared Authorizes $20 million annually for 2008-2013
USACE Activities 22
Background on WRDA 2007 National Levee Safety ActBackground on WRDA 2007 National Levee Safety Act
Complements Existing Activities & Authorities
Two Major Components:• A Strategic Plan, Not a
Program• Safety Data Collection
“One Time” Nature Levees Include:
• Hurricane, Storm & Flood• Structures:
Earthen embankments Floodwalls Structures along canals
NationalLevee Safety Act
Title IX Section 9000
Section 9003:
Levee Safety Committee
Section 9004:
Inventory, Inspection, Database
And Assessment
USACE Activities 23
National Levee Safety ProgramWRDA 2007 Title IXNational Levee Safety ProgramWRDA 2007 Title IX
Levee SafetyAct
CommitteeInventory/Inspection
USACE (Chair)LSO
ReviewTeam
FEMA 8 State Reps 2 PrivateSector
2 Local/Regional
2 Tribal
Database NLDTeam
InspectionTeam
Inventory Team
NationalConsequence
Team
365 days + Sustainment
Nominees
HQ Leadership
ASA(CW)
Congressional Committees
Other Feds
Professional Organizations
USACE Title IX Implementation
Team
Facilitator
PM 1
Admin
SA LS
LSPM (PM2)
FRMP
MSCs
Work Group Support/PPT
ERR DX
Working Groups
180 days
Technical Assistance
PublicAwareness
Districts
Others
Other Feds
ProgramDevelopment
StateImplementation
USACE Activities 24
An Interactive Map To Identify Closest USACE Office Available at
http://www.usace.army.mil/howdoi/civilmap.htm
USACE Local OfficesUSACE Local Offices
USACE Activities 25
National Flood Risk Management Program WebsiteNational Flood Risk Management Program Website
http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/nfrmp/
USACE Activities 26
USACE Website Home Page USACE Website Home Page
USACE Activities 27
USACE Website (Cont’d) USACE Website (Cont’d)
Levee Guidance and Policy (Including Memorandums)http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/nfrmp/guidance.cfm
Engineering Manualshttp://www.usace.army.mil/publications/eng-manuals/ cecw.htm
Engineer Regulations
http://www.usace.army.mil/publications/eng-regs/cecw.htm
USACE Activities 28
USACE Website (Cont’d) USACE Website (Cont’d)
Engineer Technical Lettershttp://www.usace.army.mil/publications/eng-tech-ltrs/
Other Documents (USACE HQ Library)http://www.usace.army.mil/howdoi/publications.htm
USACE Activities 29
Questions? Questions?