ASFPM BOARD RETREAT Feb 21, Larry Larson P. E., CFM Executive Director, ASFPM

National Flood Policy-Levees National Levee Infrastructure and Floodplain and Flood Risk Management –History of programs 2

National Flood Policy-Levees —Swamp Acts—transferred swamp land to states if sold to build levees 1874—Mississippi Flooding –Congress funded Corps Study that found Flood control efforts uncoordinated 1879—Miss River Commission—charge: navigation –Establish FC system that would be most effective for navigation 3

Levee Policy/Programs--USACE 1917 Flood Control Act—First FCA –Est. Fed interest in Miss and Sacramento –Cost share of 2:1 Fed/non-fed 1927 Rivers and Harbors Act Corps to survey nations navigable streams— 308 reports--which became planning docs 4

Levee Policy/Programs--USACE 1928 FCA –Expanded Miss authority to include floodways, spillways and channel improvements (this lead to the Miss. River and Tributaries [MR&T] Project you see today –Removed cooperation requirements from some residents in lower Miss 5

Levee Policy/Programs--USACE 1936 FCA –FC proper activity of feds—in coop with state and local gov’t –No fed participation if benefits did not exceed costs –Authorized $320 Million for 200 FC projects 1941 FCA –Provided first authority for USACE to conduct rescue and repair for FC works threatened or damaged by floods 6

Levee Policy/Programs--USACE Emergency FCA of This is PL 84-99, which provides that federal taxpayers pay for damages to non-fed levees post disaster—and allows emergency action pre-D that allows levees to be built without review or analysis of impacts -expanded to all natural hazards in 1990 WRDA 1986 –Established cost sharing by non-feds –(65/35) for levees, 50/50 beaches, etc 7

Levee Policy/Programs--USACE Inspection of Completed Works (ICW) and Rehab and Inspection Program (RIP) RIP allows levee into PL if pass, and periodic inspections continue (5 Yrs) –Results of inspections provided to sponsor with instructions of actions needed to ensure continued participation in RIP—seldom kicked anyone out of RIP 8

Levee Policy/Programs--USACE Continuing Authorities Programs (CAP) –Sect 205; small projects $7 M cap –Emerg stream bank-erosion: $1.5 M cap –Sect 206; Aquatic ecosystem restoration-$5M –Sect 1135; Modifications of existing project to improve environment--$5 M cap 9

Levee Policy/Programs--USACE Floodplain Mgt services-FPMS (1960) s206 –First Non-structural in Corps—White—Goddard –Adjust human occupancy of floodplains –Wise use of lands in FP –Broad range of technical assistance (Eng./Plg) Planning Assistance to States (PAS) 1974 –Assist non-feds with water planning (s 22) –$2 M/state w/ 50/50 cost share— –Funds USACE staff to do the work 10

Levee Policy/Programs--USACE National Levee Database ($30M in 2005) –2,000 miles of Corps levees –12,000 miles of non-fed in RIP –Guess is 100,000 miles of levees unknown National Levee Safety Act (2007) NCLS report to Congress –No action to date—lots of discussion—there is draft legislation—ASFPM weighed in 11

National Levee Policy/Programs Added Federal Programs for Levees –FEMA—Mapping/Regs/Insurance NFIP—if levee accredited for 100 year protection, not mapped as SFHA-is a shaded x zone (now) no flood insurance or regulation required in residual risk area behind levee FEMA Disaster Relief program –Pays for damages when levee fails/overtops To property/infra in Residual Risk (RR) area For emergency measures during flood To repair levee after flood 12

National Levee Policy/Programs FEMA Disaster program –HMGP—Post-D mitigation funding for building damaged when levee fails/overtops HUD –CDBG often used to rebuild levees or dams after failure or damage in flood event SBA, DOT, NRCS, DOI, all bring money and assistance when levee fails 13

Cycle of Increasing Risks Structure to Control Floods Development at Risk Structure Rendered Inadequate Changes in the Watershed More Development Placed at Risk Loss of natural functions & services Increased runoff Changing climate Cycle of Increasing Risk Deterioration Maintenance Issues 14

$6 billion annually Four-fold increase from early 1900s Per capita damages increased by more than a factor of 2.5 in the previous century in real dollar terms And then there was Katrina, Rita, Wilma Average Annual Flood Damages 15

National Flood Policy 1939—Gilbert F. White National flood policy is essentially one of: –Protecting the occupants of the floodplain against the flood –Aiding them when they suffer flood losses, –Encourage more intensive use of floodplains HAVE WE PROGRESSED BY 2012? 16

Flood Risk Management Structural Approaches (e.g. levees) –Probability: reduced or stays the same? –Consequences: dramatically increase typically 17

Flood Risk Management Risk= (P)probability x (C)consequences Structural measures reduce P, but do nothing to reduce C Federal money is used for levees and dams (build, rebuild, pay damages), all without conditions that locals will limit the consequences so risk does not increase Who can reduce risk? 18

Risk Reduction Tools (Cumulative) INITIAL RISK Insurance Building Codes Zoning Levee Evacuation Plan Outreach RESIDUAL RISK Risk Risk= probability x consequences BUYING DOWN FLOOD RISK : All Stakeholders contribute to reducing risk When Levee Fails INCREASED RISK Recovery Costs Property Damage Loss of Life Liability

Shared Flood Risk Management: Buying Down Risk Zoning Initial Risk Risk Reduction Tools (Cumulative) All stakeholders contribute to reducing risk!

Levee Nexus Conundrum Flood mapping-certification-insurance- regulations Political and procedural options: Brainstorm threats brainstorm opportunities 21

Questions?? ASFPM Board Larry Larson 22