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An update from the National Committee on Levee Safety

An update from the National Committee on Levee Safety. Presented to the TWCA by Karin M. Jacoby, PE, Esq. June 17, 2011. An Involved Public and Reliable Levee Systems. Presentation Overview. Levees in the U.S. Creation of the National Committee on Levee Safety

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An update from the National Committee on Levee Safety

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  1. An update from the National Committee on Levee Safety Presented to the TWCA byKarin M. Jacoby, PE, Esq. June 17, 2011 An Involved Public and Reliable Levee Systems

  2. Presentation Overview • Levees in the U.S. • Creation of the National Committee on Levee Safety • Overview of Recommendations for a National Levee Safety Program An Involved Public and Reliable Levee Systems 2 of 14

  3. 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 • 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 An Involved Public and Reliable Levee Systems 3 of 14

  4. Levees Today: Lacking Standards and Leadership • 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 An Involved Public and Reliable Levee Systems 4 of 14

  5. Recognizing the Risk 1993: Midwest Floods 1997: CA’s Central Valley 2005: Gulf Coast Flooding “The Great Flood” of 1993 (PBS & USACE) An Involved Public and Reliable Levee Systems 5 of 14

  6. 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 An Involved Public and Reliable Levee Systems 6 of 14

  7. 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 An Involved Public and Reliable Levee Systems 7 of 14

  8. 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 property from floods. An Involved Public and Reliable Levee Systems 8 of 14

  9. National Levee Safety Program Strong Levee Safety Programs in all States Comprehensive and Consistent Leadership Aligned Federal Programs 20 Recommendations in 3 Main Categories An Involved Public and Reliable Levee Systems 9 of 14

  10. An Involved Public and Reliable Levee Systems 10 of 14

  11. Six Key Activities of National Levee Safety Program One-time comprehensive inventory and inspection of levees and maintain a comprehensive National Levee Database Develop model state levee safety program and incentives to adopt it Establish Levee Rehabilitation, Improvement, & Flood Mitigation Fund so qualified states and communities can reduce significant flood risk and improve public safety An Involved Public and Reliable Levee Systems

  12. Six Key Activities of National Levee Safety Program Develop model national levee safety standardsand encourage federal agencies, states, and communities to adopt standards appropriate to their region and needs Align federal programsfor incentivizing state programs and appropriate investments in levees and leveed areas Understand and address liability concerns An Involved Public and Reliable Levee Systems

  13. National Levee Safety Commission (or Advisory Board) Federal Interagency Committee on Levee Safety Program Administrator and support staff State Programs Public Involvement & Education Safety & the Environment Technical Matters Program Governance & Structure Standing Committees An Involved Public and Reliable Levee Systems

  14. Thank you www.leveesafety.org Questions An Involved Public and Reliable Levee Systems

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