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AGENDA

An Approach to Levee Assessment and Contingency Planning Presentation to the National Waterways Conference 7 September 2006 Portland, Oregon By Rob Vining Vice President HNTB. AGENDA. Status of Levees Perspectives from New Orleans Katrina and Rita

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AGENDA

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  1. An Approach to Levee Assessment and Contingency PlanningPresentation to the National Waterways Conference7 September 2006Portland, OregonByRob ViningVice PresidentHNTB

  2. AGENDA • Status of Levees • Perspectives from New Orleans • Katrina and Rita • Relationship of Levees to Storm Damage Prevention • New Orleans Levee Assessments • Vulnerable Levee Areas • Relationship of Flood Protection to the Health of our Waterways • Next Steps

  3. Levee Status • There are over 30,000 miles of levees in the Country • Most levees are well over 50 years in age – many over 100 years • Levee “systems” in this Country were infrequently originally built as systems • Most levees were originally built by local interests and as a result of WRDA 86, maintained by local interests • Design standards do not measure up to other water structures • A significant number of communities rely on levees for flood protection

  4. Katrina Impacts • Largest Natural Disaster in the Nation’s History • Major disruption on the Nation’s economy • Over 90,000 square miles impacted • Nearly 10,000 bridges impacted • Over 12,000 miles of roadway impacted • Over 1,000,000 displaced residents • Estimated damages exceed $125B* • An additional $60B in insurance claims expected* *Source: USA Today

  5. Perspectives

  6. New Orleans Levee Assessments • HNTB selected for A/E IDIQ in January, 2006 • Contract negotiated in March • Initial Work Order to inspect 32 miles of levees by May 15 • Currently we have received six task orders totalling over 50 miles of levees • Levee assessments are the basis for follow on work to repair and upgrade the levee system • Over 1000 miles of levees need repair or replacement • Requirements • Very rapid turn around • Technically sound • Apply technology to assist in • accuracy and speed of delivery

  7. New Orleans Levee Assessment • Inventory • Field condition assessment • Survey • Data analysis • Project recommendations

  8. An Achievable Vision - Applied Models Condition Assessment Establish protocols for reasonable and consistent measures Assessment elements include: • Erosion/settlement • Cracking/spalling • Metal deterioration • Undermining/scouring • Debris/sediment • Others Damaged Levee

  9. An Achievable Vision - Applied

  10. An Achievable Vision - Applied

  11. An Achievable Vision - Applied Models Establish a relative ranking within each category. Establish weighted factors for each category to run through the scenario builder. Planning and Evaluation • Prioritization • Using engine of decision making model • Web-based scenario builder • Budgeting • Scheduling Multi-dimensional decision making • Cost of repair • Benefit resulting from repair • Risk to population • Risk to environment • Risk to critical infrastructure

  12. Vulnerable Levee Areas • A National Problem • Levee Condition uncertainty exists to one level or another throughout the Country • Critical levee situations • New Orleans • Sacramento • Lake Okechobee • Red River of the North • Albany, NY • St. Louis area • Trinity River, TX • And Others

  13. Relationship to our Waterways • Our waterways operate and need to be looked upon as a system • Key population and economic centers including ports rely on levee systems for protection • Port of Portland • Waterways are maintained by levee systems • Mississippi River Navigation • With the current level of investments in our waterways, there is competition for scarce Federal dollars to support a healthy waterway system

  14. Next Steps • The Corps of Engineers has received funding to perform a National Levee Assessment • Additional support for this effort is needed to complete the effort and be able to develop a plan on addressing our nations vulnerability in this area • Levee assessments and related flood protection needs to be looked upon as integral to the health of our waterways • Waterway and flood protection advocates can benefit from coordinated communication and discussion • Public/Private Partnerships will be required to address this only recently recognized problem • Heightened National attention and discussion of our Water Policy and long-term Dependency on our waterways is necessary

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