US Army Corps of EngineersBUILDING STRONG®

Prioritizing Investments within the USACE Levee Safety Program Process and Methodology Overview

Jason Needham, P.E.Consequence Specialist

USACE Risk Management Center

10 April 2012

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Why am I here? Introduction to USACE Levee Safety Program

►Life of a levee►Portfolio management process

Decision Making►Step 1 - Levee Screening/LSAC

• Example – New Orleans►Step 2 - Base Condition Risk Assessment

• Example - Dallas

Overview

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Why am I here? To learn about how the Dutch manage dike

safety►National and International perception

• The Dutch are the world leaders in water defense►Constantly compared to Dutch water defense

standards While the 1965 team of engineers in New Orleans tried to build levees strong

enough to withstand the strongest possible storm in 200 years, Dutch engineers designed a system strong enough to match the kind of catastrophic storm that only occurs once in 10,000 years.  

“Maybe we can send more government workers on another tax paid trip to Holland where they can go to one meeting about Holland flood protection, go smoke dope together in a Dutch cafe shop and come back home with no plan to build Dutch style flood protected walls.”

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Why am I here? Share recent developments in the US

►New approaches post-Katrina Specific tasks

► Learn more about Dutch risk assessment methodology► Apply USACE methodologies on Dutch levees

• Learn through feedback• Better communication of results at home

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The Life of a Levee - Plan

We get flooded too much, I’ll call USACE and ask

them to help.

Risk Analysis

(no standards)

B/C ($$) etc.

(Local community)

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The Life of a Levee - ConstructFederally constructed, locally maintained

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Large portfolio of existing levees► Risk associated with levees increasing over time

• Inherent risk associated with living near rivers and oceans• Degradation of existing structures• Changing construction techniques• Increase in population, climate change, etc

Increase in public awareness► Katrina and other recent events

Large portfolio - limited funds► How do you decide what to fix first?

• Dutch approach = Safety assessment

The Life of a Levee – Maintain

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HQ

The Life of a Levee – Maintain (old way)

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Assess the integrity and viability of levees and recommend actions to assure they do not present unacceptable risks to the public, property, and the environment.

► Hold public safety paramount► Reduce economic damage► Maximize cost effectiveness► Develop reliable and accurate

information (decision driven)► Build and maintain public trust

USACE Levee Safety Program

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The Life of a Levee – Maintain

(New way)Routine

Inspections

Incident or inspection

finding triggers LSAC

review?

NO

IRRM

Levee issue requires further

evaluation?

No

Implement Risk Management

Measures

Yes

Reassess Risk & Revise LSAC

YES

All Levees

PeriodicInspections

Classification(LSAC)Screening

No Routine O&M& Monitoring

Yes

Study Justified?

Base Condition Risk Assessment

LSAC Communicationand

Plan Non-routine ActivitiesLevee Safety Risk Management Study

(Major Rehab/Feasibility)

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Levee Safety Portfolio Risk Management

Process

Routine Activities

11

RoutineInspections

Incident or inspection

finding triggers LSAC

review?

NO

IRRM

Levee issue requires further

evaluation?

No

Implement Risk Management

Measures

Yes

Reassess Risk & Revise LSAC

YES

All Levees

PeriodicInspections

Classification(LSAC)Screening

No Routine O&M& Monitoring

Yes

Study Justified?

Base Condition Risk Assessment

LSAC Communicationand

Plan Non-routine ActivitiesLevee Safety Risk Management Study

(Major Rehab/Feasibility)

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Levee Safety Action Classification System

Transition from Routine to Non-routine Reflects urgency of action Depicts range of risk

►combination of • likelihood of inundation • consequences of inundation• with an emphasis on life-safety

Provides consistent and systematic guidelines for actions commensurate with the risk

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Levee Safety Action Classification

Class Urgency Characteristics Actions

I Urgent and Compelling(Unsafe)

Likelihood of inundation with

associated consequences

characterizing each class.

Actions recommended for each class and level of

urgency.

II Urgent(Unsafe or Potentially Unsafe)

III High Priority(Potentially Unsafe)

IV Priority(Marginally Safe)

V Normal(Adequately Safe)

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RoutineInspections

Incident or inspection

finding triggers LSAC

review?

NO

IRRM

Levee issue requires further

evaluation?

No

Implement Risk Management

Measures

Yes

Reassess Risk & Revise LSAC

YES

All Levees

PeriodicInspections

Classification(LSAC)Screening

No Routine O&M& Monitoring

Yes

Study Justified?

Base Condition Risk Assessment

LSAC Communicationand

Plan Non-routine ActivitiesLevee Safety Risk Management Study

(Major Rehab/Feasibility)

Levee Screening Tool► Developed to quickly assess

the condition and consequences of levees in the Corps of Engineers portfolio

► Combines information from:• National Levee Database;• Levee inspection process;• Limited Engineering

Assessment of project features.

► Relative Risk Index► Philosophy

• Data consistency• Miss high

► Largo portfolio• Simplify!

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Levee Screening Tool Results

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Initial Results – New Orleans

System levees designed to reduce flooding from Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain

► New Orleans District► Urban Setting► St.Charles/

Jefferson/Orleans Metro

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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Segment Screenings

Vicinity/Segment Map

Pontchartrain LD

East Jefferson LD Orleans LD

2

1

3

5

46

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Screening Results – New Orleans► Recommended LSAC Rating = LSAC 2► Combination of life, economic, or environmental consequences

with the probability of inundation due to overtopping with subsequent breach, is very high.

► Justification:• Performance concern: Breach during overtopping• Evidence:

Good performance expected for events up to 100% loading Incipient overtopping frequency estimated at 200-year return period Studies show breach likely for event at or about 200-500 yr event Breach during overtopping would significantly increase consequences Critical infrastructure includes numerous hospitals, oil & gas refineries, and

chemical industry facilities that could lead to major impacts well beyond the protected area

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Levee Safety Portfolio Risk Management

Process

Non-Routine Activities

21

RoutineInspections

Incident or inspection

finding triggers LSAC

review?

NO

IRRM

Levee issue requires further

evaluation?

No

Implement Risk Management

Measures

Yes

Reassess Risk & Revise LSAC

YES

All Levees

PeriodicInspections

Classification(LSAC)Screening

No Routine O&M& Monitoring

Yes

Study Justified?

Base Condition Risk Assessment

LSAC Communicationand

Plan Non-routine ActivitiesLevee Safety Risk Management Study

(Major Rehab/Feasibility)

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Jason Needham USACE Risk Management Center Jason.t.needham@usace.army.mil Jason.needham@rws.nl

Thank you.