ROOM:
Elizabethan Room B
TRACK:
FLOOD & COASTAL STORM DAMAGE REDUCTION
TOPIC:
Innovative Analytical
Procedures & Tools
MODERATOR:
Tom Hughes, HQ
PRESENTATIONS:
Title:
Presenters: Eric
Thaut, San Francisco District; Timi Shimabukuro,
San Francisco District
Abstract: The town of Pajaro and the city of Watsonville,
located about 75 miles south of the city of San Francisco, are subject to
flooding from several sources, which include the Pajaro River, Corralitos Creek
and Salsipuedes Creek. It is estimated that levees built in 1949 by the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers provide protection to the towns from a 10- to 20-year
flood event. Significant flooding and damages in the area have occurred as
recently as 1998. A General Reevaluation Study is currently underway to
reevaluate a 1966 authorized project to increase the level of flood protection
provided by the existing Federal project.
Water surface profiles, probability-discharge functions,
rating curves, exterior-interior relationships, and geo-technical levee failure
curves were used to compute stage-damage curves, expected
damages/benefits, and project performance statistics in HEC-FDA for this study.
However, the current version (v1.2) of HEC-FDA does not allow for the use of exterior-interior
relationships and geo-technical failure curves at
the same time. The presenters will summarize the reasons for using
exterior-interior relationships and geo-technical failure curves in the Pajaro
study, the HEC-FDA (v1.2) model limitation (not being able to use
exterior-interior relationships and geo-technical failure curves at the same
time), some of the effects this limitation has had on the project (e.g., to
damages/benefits), the “work around” to this limitation, and some of the
lessons learned from this project thus far.
Title: Plan Formulation for Urban
Flood Damage Reduction on White Oak Bayou - How to reduce 12,000 Model Runs to
100 Model Runs
Presenters: Wayne Crull, Harris County Flood Control District; Steve Fitzgerald, Harris County Flood Control District
Abstract: Identification of the NED
Plan is a challenge, especially when there are many interdependent components
or measures. Rarely can a study team perform an exhaustive analysis involving
optimization and combinations of all possible permutations. If only 2
compatible measures are available, then a study team can at least consider
analysis of many possible permutations involving different component sizes. But
how can you be confident of identifying the NED plan when the number of
components is large enough that considering all possible permutations would
require thousands of runs? Exhaustive analysis of even eight components with a
minimum of three sizes would require over 12,000 cases be evaluated.
This presentation demonstrates the
pitfalls of permutation overload and a strategy to overcome this predicament
that can effectively reduce the number of cases to less than one hundred. This
process was employed by the Harris County Flood Control District as the lead
planner for the Section 211(f) White Oak Bayou Flood Damage Reduction Project
General Reevaluation Study.
Title: Producing Graphics and Tables
from HEC-FDA’s “FDA_StrucDetail.out” File
Presenter: Doug Symes, Honolulu District
Abstract:
Several useful techniques will be demonstrated for producing graphic and
tabular output from the “FDA_StrucDetail.out” file, using Excel to create 2D and
3D illustrations of the distribution of the flooding of structures along the
length of a stream by flood depth and event frequency. Uses include providing graphic feedback for
design and review of hydraulic models and report illustration. The FDA_StrucDetail.out file may also be used
to estimate the number of residential or commercial structures flooded by
different frequency events when one is called on to report damages prevented by
Corps projects.
Title: Collaborative Approach to
FEMA Map Modernization: National FEMA PDT.
Presenters: Kate White,
Engineer Research and
Abstract:
With its institutional knowledge of regional water resources management,
numerical modeling capabilities, and familiarity with local conditions over a
long time period, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) provides value-added
service to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in many aspects of
its mission. The Corps is now continuing in that tradition by assisting FEMA in
its Map Modernization Program (MapMod) to update its flood hazard mapping by
converting hard copy flood maps to digital format. USACE Districts working
with, or hoping to work with, FEMA on MapMod studies realized that
collaboration and streamlining communications would be beneficial to the
Districts and to FEMA largely because FEMA regional boundaries cross state and
USACE Division and District boundaries.
In the spirit of the Corps’ 2012 reorganization, a National
Project Delivery Team (PDT) was formed in October 2004 with the objectives to
provide nationwide support to FEMA for its MapMod and other H&H studies,
and to provide for capacity building to the Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Coastal
(HH&C) Community of Practice (CoP) members. This presentation describes the
National FEMA PDT and its activities to date, including two multi-District,
multi-Division projects and intensive training.
ROOM:
Elizabethan Room B
TRACK:
FLOOD & COASTAL STORM DAMAGE REDUCTION
TOPIC: Post-Disaster
Assessment Activities
MODERATOR:
Larry Cocchierri
PRESENTATIONS:
Title: Plan Formulation Aspects of
Shore Protection Project Performance Improvement Initiative (S3P2I)
Presenter: Susan Durden, Institute for Water Resources
The Shore Protection Assessment is an initiative authorized
by Congress following the tropical storm season of 2004 to evaluate how shore
protection projects performed. This is
being undertaken to 1) evaluate project performance, 2) identify and recommend
formulation and design improvements, and 3) develop a hydrodynamic-sediment
transport model.
Presently, the formulation and design practices for shore
protection projects vary dramatically by District. Some of this variability is due to different
physical, economic, social and environmental conditions, which vary by
region. The variability in the
formulation and design approach is also likely due to a shortage of corporate
tools being available, a lack of unified procedures, and the result of
evolution of regional practices in designing, formulating, constructing, and
maintaining these projects.
This effort is intended to utilize the information available
from the 2004 Tropical Season to review the design and formulation procedures,
to identify and recommend formulation and design improvements that could be
incorporated into the planning process.
Products from this effort generally include:
1. Overview of current formulation and design
procedures,
2. Risk-based beachfill design guidelines
3. Beach-Fx, Operational Guidelines
4. Project Implementation, Monitoring and
Maintenance Guidelines
This presentation will present an overview of the analyses,
status of the efforts, and findings to date.
Title:
Shore Protection Project
Performance Improvement Initiative (S3P2I): Economic and Social Effects Work Unit
Presenters: Harry Shoudy, HSC; Almodovar, Institute for Water Resources
Abstract: The
following is a suggested interactive workshop topic to be presented by Harry
Shoudy: This is the first comprehensive post storm engineering, economic,
social, and environmental analysis performed for a Federal storm damage
reduction project. In general, monies
have simply not been available to document the value of these Federal projects
to the nation. The early initiative of
this work unit is to analyze the economic value of shore protection projects by
performing post storm analyses and to report the findings to Congress, the
Administration, and the general public.
Consequently, the methodology developed is extremely important in
appropriately measuring damages and impacts avoided during hurricanes in the
Federal project areas analyzed. Due to
the importance of the task and the uniqueness of the analytical approach, the
methodology will be peer reviewed in the future by academic and technical
experts to assist in identifying an appropriate procedure for this and future
post storm analyses.
Prior to review outside the Corps, there is the unique opportunity
to discuss the draft methodology and preliminary results for a test area with
economists within the Corps. That is the
purpose of this workshop.
Title: The Use of Remote Sensing
Techniques for Environmental Assessment of Hurricanes
Presenter: Jeff Lillycrop, Mobile District
Abstract: In
the past 2 years, major hurricanes have hit the
This presentation will provide an overview of existing
methods for assessing hurricane impacts on coastal ecology and provide
preliminary results of ongoing assessments related to hurricane damages during
the 2004 and 2005 season in the southeast.
Title: GIS Application to Estimate
Flooding Damages From Hurricane Katrina
Presenters: Kevin
Lovetro, New Orleans District; Brian Maestri,
New Orleans District
Abstract: A
GIS model was developed by Corps personnel to display the depth of flooding
above the first floor elevation of the structures that were inundated when the
levees were over-topped or breached by the storm surge from Hurricane Katrina
in
Inputs to the model included depth of flooding grids for the
inundated areas, an inventory of residential and non-residential structures
obtained from the General Building Stock portion of the HAZUS-MH program, which
is a multi-hazard loss estimation model developed by FEMA and the National
Institute of Building Sciences, and first floor elevations based on a sampling
of the structures in the area.
Depth-damage relationships developed by a panel of building and
construction experts were used to indicate the percentage of the structural and
content value that was damaged at each depth of flooding. The damages calculated by the model for each
Census block were then aggregated to obtain the flood damages for each
neighborhood, community, and parish.
The analytical tools used in this model can also be used to
efficiently estimate the damages from future flood events.
ROOM: Elizabethan Room B
TRACK:
FLOOD & COASTAL STORM DAMAGE REDUCTION
TOPIC:
Innovations in Flood
Damage Reduction Planning
MODERATOR:
Boni Bigornia, South Pacific Division
PRESENTATIONS:
Title: A View from the Bluff: Wetland
Mitigation and the Historic Viewshed at the Finderne Farm Site,
Presenter: Kirsten Smyth, New York District, Nancy Brighton,
New York District; Lynn Rakos, New York District; Megan Grubb, New York
District
Abstract: Accomplishing wetland mitigation within the
developed areas of
Title: Formulation of a Multiple-Purpose
Plan for the
Presenters: Scott Miner, Sacramento District; Jerry Fuentes, Sacramento District
Abstract: A
study is being conducted to reformulate the authorized Truckee Meadows
flood damage reduction project on the
Title: Integrating Tribal Coordination
into the Planning Process: The
Presenter: David Bauman, Sacramento District
Abstract: The
Corps recognizes that tribal governments are sovereign entities, with rights to
manage tribal resources, and be involved in Federal decisions which may affect
these resources. The objectives of the
Truckee Meadows Project are to reduce
Vital to the Corps’ planning process is the establishment of
good working relationships with stakeholders.
The Corps and the PLPT have an established relationship dating back as
least 20 years, and the Corps has sought and received tribal input into the
most recent phase of the Truckee Meadows Project since 1997. The Truckee Meadows Project is ongoing. Historically, the interaction between the
Corps and the PLPT has been mutually beneficial, but there is still more work
to be done to establish and maintain a government-to-government relationship
with the PLPT.
Title: Planner Lessons Learned and
Sculpting the Post Authorization Planning Process on the
Presenter: Tom Adams, Sacramento District
Abstract: As a result of the recent
significant increase in the estimated construction cost for the American River
Folsom Dam Modifications Project, the Corps initiated and completed an After
Action Report (AAR) on this project, seeking lessons learned which are
applicable in the future to our civil works project development process. In addition, given the potential for
significant project construction delays in a significant flood risk area, the
Corps’ has also developed and applied a project specific policy for ‘value
management’ documentation to support the required Post Authorization Change for
this project, which may result in a significant time savings for the completion
of the project design and construction activities. The Corps is collaborating with the US
Bureau of Reclamation on a plan to resolve dam safety issues as well as flood
damage reduction.
This
presentation covers some of the more interesting aspects of the Planners’ role
in the post authorization project development process and consultation for the
ROOM:
Elizabethan Room B
TRACK:
FLOOD & COASTAL STORM DAMAGE REDUCTION
TOPIC:
Pre-Disaster Planning
and Management
MODERATOR:
Clark Frentzen, South Pacific Division
PRESENTATIONS:
Title: Interagency
Flood Mitigation Program - The Silver Jackets
Presenter(s): Tammy Conforti,
Institute for Water Resources
Abstract: The
Silver Jackets Program, involves the US Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and State
officials acting as lead facilitators in establishing an interagency team at
the State level focused on flood mitigation.
This concept provides a more formal and consistent strategy
for implementing an interagency approach to planning and mitigating for flood
hazards and linking activities to the response and recovery of these
hazards. The Silver Jackets Program will
serve as the mechanism for developing and maintaining interagency
partnerships.
The team’s primary goals are to,
Title: Assessing National Risk from
Dams: National Dam Safety Assurance Program
Presenter(s): Eric Halpin,
Abstract: At the same
time that the USACE Dam Safety Program is under-going significant transitions
to a risk based framework, we have been tasked with the development of a
National Levee Safety Program. Each program breaks new ground in terms of how
we operate, manage, assess, justify, formulate, and make investment decisions
for significant elements of the national infrastructure. The intent of this
paper is to update the Planning Conference attendees and the Planning CoP with
the status of progress in each program and to identify specific points of
intersection between the programs and the anticipated interests of the
audience.
Title:
Presenter: Richard Ring,
Abstract:
The purpose of this presentation is to relate a PDT success story from the year
2000 and beyond that includes elements of: virtual teaming, regional teaming,
vertical teaming, and collaborative planning.
It is a retrospective of a team that was assembled informally and
accomplished a very difficult goal, in an abbreviated timeframe, using
experience, knowledge, professionalism and large doses of common sense and
mutual respect. Collective focus was the glue that held the whole operation
together. The “Back to the Future”
connection is that all of this took place years before the establishment of the
Regional Business Centers and the publishing of EC 1105-2-409, Planning in a
Collaborative Environment. The Waterbury
Dam PDT proved that the process works!
The PDT and
PM functions for the Dam Safety Assurance Report for Waterbury Dam were managed
by New York District. New England District performed the hydrology and
hydraulics, dam-break modeling, economic analysis, loss-of-life analysis,
environmental assessment, cultural resources, wrote
the main report and produced the entire report.
Baltimore District performed the geotechnical, design, cost, and
contacting tasks. Also on the PDT, as
full contributors, was a member of the North Atlantic Division, HQ, the State
of VT Dam Safety Officer, and VT Agency for Natural Resources, and VT Division
of Fisheries. Monthly meetings of the
entire PDT were held.
The team
produced a Dam Safety Assurance Report (main report and 11 appendices) under a
7-month compressed schedule at a cost of over $300,000. It also produced two Addendum reports due to
project changes. The team has remained
together, in a virtual sense, during project construction performing
environmental monitoring, and other tasks relating to features added during
construction.
Title: Advancing
Corps Leadership in Floodplain Management
Presenter: Larry Buss, Omaha District, Boni Bigornia, South Pacific Division
Abstract: The Nation’s attention on floodplain
management has been recently raised due to recent hurricane damages in the
southeastern
The Corps’ Civil
Works Strategic Plan recognizes the need for collaboration with other
stakeholders ranging from FEMA to The Nature Conservancy, from local levee districts to land
developers. Development of this new
culture will require explicit change within the Corps. Programs like the Floodplain Management
Services Program (FPMS) and Planning Assistance to the States (PAS) allow us
the opportunity to develop and sustain relationships and increase networking
that is needed for future success.
The purpose of this
presentation is to highlight ways that the Corps can make strides in addressing
floodplain management needs, at the local (district) level, at the regional
(division) level, and at the national (HQUSACE) level. It will address both low-hanging fruit
(potential immediate opportunities) and also offer a plan for the future.