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Christopher Knotts, P.E. Public Works & Water Resources

Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana Annual Meeting December 3, 2015. Christopher Knotts, P.E. Public Works & Water Resources. Departmental Overview Responsibilities Funding Accomplishments Public Works & Water Resources Statewide Flood Control Program

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Christopher Knotts, P.E. Public Works & Water Resources

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  1. Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana Annual Meeting December 3, 2015 Christopher Knotts, P.E. Public Works & Water Resources

  2. Departmental Overview • Responsibilities • Funding • Accomplishments • Public Works & Water Resources • Statewide Flood Control Program • Levee Safety Program (non-coastal districts) • Ongoing Federal Projects • Dam Safety Program

  3. Safety Initiatives Improving Roadway Safety

  4. DOTD Safety Initiatives • Public Safety is DOTD’s #1 priority • Overall reduction in fatal crashes since 2007 • Recent initiatives include: • » Destination Zero Deaths • » Cable Barriers • » Roundabouts • » Enhanced Mile Markers • » ITS Traffic Cameras and Signs

  5. Public Works & Water Resources • - Statewide Flood Control Program • Levee Safety Program (non-coastal districts) • Ongoing Federal Projects • Dam Safety Program

  6. Statewide Flood Control Program Overview • Primary goal to reduce existing flood damages by considering both structural and non-structural solutions • Funded by Transportation Trust Fund • $8.9M funding last two years ($9.9M average in prior years) • Applicants can be: » Parish Governments » Municipal Governments » Levee Boards » Drainage Districts

  7. Statewide Flood Control Program Funding • 90% of the construction cost for non-federal projects • 70% of the local sponsor’s non-federal share for federal projects • Local sponsor pays for engineering, R/W, utilities, etc. Eligibility • Equitable distribution of funds statewide » (55% invested in rural areas, 45% invested in urban areas) • All levels of local government from the largest parishes and cities down to the smallest towns and villages can successfully compete.

  8. Levee Safety Program Inspections • Assist Levee Districts with the Quarterly and Semi-Annual Inspections • Provide Semi-Annual Inspection Reports • Provide Recommendations/Options for Corrective Actions Inventory/Mapping • Inventory Levee Assets • Develop GIS Maps

  9. Levee Safety Program Permits • Review permit applications • Provide Letters of Response to appropriate Levee District » Non-coastal (DOTD) » Coastal (CPRA) • Ensure compliance with engineering standards Engineering Support • Set-back Design • Drainage Design • Cost Estimates

  10. Mississippi River Levee Raising Project Purpose – Flood Prevention • 200 miles of mainline Miss. River levee construction in NE LA • Raising 3 to 4 feet above project flow line Responsibilities: • Fifth Louisiana Levee District & DOTD: LERRDs (Right-of-Way) • USACE-Vicksburg District: Design and Construction Expenditures to date: • Federal: $127 million • Non-Federal Sponsor: $9.8 million

  11. Comite River Diversion Canal Purpose – Flood Prevention/Reduction • Comite River Basin • Lower Amite River Basin Federal Sponsor: USACE – New Orleans District • Design • Construction Non-Federal Sponsors: DOTD: Lands, Easements, Rights of Way, Relocations & Disposals (LERRDs) Amite River Basin Commission: Floodplain Management East Baton Rouge City-Parish DPW: Operations and Maintenance

  12. Comite River Diversion Canal Features • 12 miles of channel • 4 drop structures • Diversion structure • Stage control structure (Lilly Bayou) • Bridges at 4 highways (U.S. 61, LA 964, LA 19, and LA 67) • 2 railroad bridges (CN and KCS) Current Cost Estimate • $ 199 million Expenditures to Date • Federal: $ 74.4 million • Non-Federal: $22.1 million

  13. Dam Safety Program • Created by Act 733 of the 1981 Regular Legislative Session • Responsibilities are to: » Define & enforce Minimum Standards » Maintain the State Dam Safety Inventory » Ensure that all dams are inspected per guidelines

  14. Dam Safety Program • Applicable to all dams or impoundment structures…any artificial barrier which will impound or divert water or any liquid and is: » 25+ ft. height » Has a maximum storage of 15 acre-feet or greater OR » Min. 6 ft. height » Has a maximum storage of 50 acre-feet or greater

  15. Dam Safety Program Define and enforce minimum standards for: •Design •Construction •Modification •Operation & Maintenance Ivan Lake Dam – Bossier Parish

  16. Dam Safety Program Operation & Maintenance • Acoustic Surveys • Surface Inspections • Underwater Inspections • Operation of gates • Emergency Action Plans Grand Bayou Reservoir – Red River Parish

  17. Dam Safety Inventory 516 Regulated Dams (November, 2014) • 40 High Impact • 50 Significant Impact • 426 Low Impact ) Vernon Lake Dam – Vernon Parish

  18. Consequences Of Dam Failure • U.S. dam failures in the last 50 years » 400+ fatalities » Billions in property damage • Most of the 20 State maintained dams are old (50+ years) and a number are in critical need of repair. » Turkey Creek Dam (Franklin Parish) » Bundick Lake (Beauregard Parish) » Iatt Lake Dam (Bossier Parish) • South Carolina dam failures (October, 2015 ) » 36 Dams failures, 7 Class 1 dams and 20 Class 2 dams and an additional 167 dams were damaged. » After assessments were completed 75 emergency repair orders and 24 notices of violations were issued to non responsive owners.

  19. Questions? Christopher P. Knotts, P.E.Chief, Public Works & Water ResourcesP. O. Box 94245Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9245chris.knotts@la.gov225-379-3000

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