An update from the National Committee on Levee Safety

Presented to the TWCAby

Karin M. Jacoby, PE, Esq.

June 17, 2011

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Presentation Overview

• Levees in the U.S.

• Creation of the National Committee on Levee Safety

• Overview of Recommendations for a National Levee Safety Program

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Levee History in the US

1600’s – 1920’s •Private levees the norm

•No coordination

•No government involvement

•No oversight

1920’s – 1960’s•Congress declares “flood control” a federal interest•Construction of major systems in CA and along the Mississippi River

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1960’s – Present•NFIP established with “100-year flood” set as the insurance standard•Federal policy change requires local “cost sharing” in flood control projects•Levees built in uncoordinated fashion, by different entities, not as a system, resulting in no typical levee, and no typical levee owner

• Many levees designed for one purpose are now serving another

• There are no national levee standards - construction, maintenance, inspection

• Varying levels of responsibility and maintenance – federal, state, local, special districts, private

• Aging infrastructure & growing risk

Levees Today: Lacking Standards and Leadership

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Recognizing the Risk

1993: Midwest Floods

1997: CA’s Central Valley2005: Gulf Coast Flooding

“The Great Flood” of 1993 (PBS & USACE)

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Levee Safety: A National Concern

Do not know location

or condition of

most of the

nation’s levees

14 million people live

behind 14,000

miles of Corps

levees

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WRDA 2007 – Congress created the National Committee on Levee Safety

“The committee shall develop recommendations for a National Levee Safety Program, including a strategic plan for implementation of the program.”

– Federal, state, local/regional government and private sector representatives

– Includes expertise in:• Engineering

• Levee operation

• Law and policy

• Public administration

– Further expertise and feedback on development of recommendations provided via Review Team

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Vision for Levee Safety in the U.S.

An involved public and reliable levee systems

working as part of an integrated approach

to protect people and propertyfrom floods.

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20 Recommendations in 3 Main Categories

National

Levee Safety

Program

Comprehensive

and

Consistent

Leadership

Strong Levee Safety

Programs in all

States

Aligned

Federal

Programs

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Recommendations for a National Levee Safety Program Implementation

Phase of Work

Comprehensive and Consistent National Leadership 1. Establish a National Levee Safety Commission

2. Expand and Maintain the National Levee Database

3. Adopt a Hazard Potential Classification System

4. Develop & Adopt National Levee Safety Standards

5. Develop Tolerable Risk Guidelines

6. Change “Certification” to “Compliance Determination”

7. Require Peer Review of Levee Compliance Determinations

8. Swiftly Address Emerging Levee Liability Issues

9. Develop & Implement a Public Involvement and Education/Awareness Campaign

10. Provide Technical Materials and Technical Assistance

11. Develop a National Levee Safety Training Program

12. Harmonize Safety and Environmental Concerns

13. Conduct a Research & Development Program

Phase I

Phase I

Phase I

Phase II

Phase II and III

Phase I

Phase I

Phase I

Phase I and II

Phase II

Phase II

Phase II

Phase II

Building and Sustaining Levee Safety Program in All States 14. Design and Delegate Program Responsibilities to States

15. Establish a Levee Safety Grant Program

16. Establish the National Levee Rehabilitation, Improvement, and Flood Mitigation Fund

Phase II

Phase II

Phase II

Aligning Existing Federal Programs

17. Explore potential incentives and disincentives for good levee behavior

18. Risk-Based Flood Insurance in Leveed Areas

19. Augment FEMA’s Mapping Program

20. Align FEMA’s Community Rating System to Reward Safety Programs that Exceed Requirements

Phase II

Phase I

Phase I

Phase I

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Six Key Activities of National Levee Safety Program

1.One-time comprehensive inventory and inspection of levees and maintain a comprehensive National Levee Database2.Develop model state levee safety program and incentives to adopt it3.Establish Levee Rehabilitation, Improvement, & Flood Mitigation Fund so qualified states and communities can reduce significant flood risk and improve public safety

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Six Key Activities of National Levee Safety Program

4.Develop model national levee safety standards and encourage federal agencies, states, and communities to adopt standards appropriate to their region and needs5.Align federal programs for incentivizing state programs and appropriate investments in levees and leveed areas6.Understand and address liability concerns

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Program Governance & Structure

Program Administrator and

support staff

Federal Interagency Committee

on Levee Safety

National Levee Safety

Commission

(or Advisory Board)

Safety & the

Environment

Public Involvement &

EducationTechnical Matters

State Programs

Standing Committees

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Thank you

www.leveesafety.org

Questions

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