LA Coastal Protection and Restoration Reports to Congress What is “Category 5” Protection? Rebuilding the New Orleans Region Forum September 2006

Overview of Presentation The New Orleans setting and coastal challengesThe New Orleans setting and coastal challenges Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina Congressional Direction to the Corps of EngineersCongressional Direction to the Corps of Engineers Defining a “Category 5” stormDefining a “Category 5” storm Engineering challengesEngineering challenges Need for engineering innovationsNeed for engineering innovations Coastal lines of defense strategyCoastal lines of defense strategy Options for Protecting New OrleansOptions for Protecting New Orleans QuestionsQuestions

The Setting of New Orleans and Coastal Challenges

New Orleans Lake Pontchartrain LakeBorgne Breton and Chandeleur Sounds Gulf of Mexico Mississippi River BaratariaBay

Existing New Orleans Area Hurricane Protection Existing New Orleans Area Hurricane Protection Federal Federal Non-COE Non-Federal Federal Federal Non-COE Non-Federal

Hurricane Katrina

230 miles – extent of tropical force winds 90 miles – extent of hurricane force winds 15 mph forward speed inches central pressure 127 mph wind Category 3 Katrina at LA Landfall

Mississippi River Gulf Outlet Orleans Parish, LA

Transportation Infrastructure

I-10 “twin spans” Orleans Parish, LA

Highway39 Plaquemines Parish, LA

Rail Road in marsh Orleans Parish, LA

Flood Protection Systems

17 th Street Canal Orleans Parish, LA

Bayou Bienvenue Floodgate St. Bernard Parish, LA

Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Orleans Parish, LA

Communities

Chalmette St. Bernard Parish, LA

Chalmette

Coastal Wetlands Losses

Wetlands on the East Orleans Land Bridge Pre-Katrina

Wetlands on the East Orleans Land Bridge Post-Katrina

Fort Pike at The Rigolets Orleans Parish, LA

Congressional Direction

SEC Public Law 109–103 amended as follows… …Chief of Engineers, is directed to conduct a comprehensive hurricane protection analysis and design at full federal expense to develop and present a full range of flood control, coastal restoration, and hurricane protection measures exclusive of normal policy considerations……Chief of Engineers, is directed to conduct a comprehensive hurricane protection analysis and design at full federal expense to develop and present a full range of flood control, coastal restoration, and hurricane protection measures exclusive of normal policy considerations… …submit a preliminary technical report for comprehensive Category 5 protection within 6 months……submit a preliminary technical report for comprehensive Category 5 protection within 6 months… …submit a final technical report for Category 5 protection within 24 months…submit a final technical report for Category 5 protection within 24 months …consider providing protection for a storm surge equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane within the project area and may submit reports on component areas of the larger protection program for authorization as soon as practicable……consider providing protection for a storm surge equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane within the project area and may submit reports on component areas of the larger protection program for authorization as soon as practicable… …analysis shall be conducted in close coordination with the State of Louisiana and its appropriate agencies.…analysis shall be conducted in close coordination with the State of Louisiana and its appropriate agencies. Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006 (P.L ) Proctor Point St. Bernard Parish, LA

Key Project Directives Fully coordinate with the State of LouisianaFully coordinate with the State of Louisiana Reports to Congress and state Master Plan should be complimentaryReports to Congress and state Master Plan should be complimentary Use the best and brightest talents from within the USACE and from external entitiesUse the best and brightest talents from within the USACE and from external entities Use innovative designs and technologiesUse innovative designs and technologies Involve and educate the publicInvolve and educate the public Stone Island Breton Sound, LA

Team Composition USACE-MVN, USACE-MVD, USACE-ERDCUSACE-MVN, USACE-MVD, USACE-ERDC USACE Planning Centers of ExpertiseUSACE Planning Centers of Expertise State of Louisiana, Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority, LDNR, LDOTD, LDWF, LDEQState of Louisiana, Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority, LDNR, LDOTD, LDWF, LDEQ LSU, UNO, Tulane, Notre Dame, Univ North Carolina, Univ Maryland, Univ Delaware, MITLSU, UNO, Tulane, Notre Dame, Univ North Carolina, Univ Maryland, Univ Delaware, MIT NOAA Hurricane Center, NMFS, EPA, USFWS, USGS, NRCSNOAA Hurricane Center, NMFS, EPA, USFWS, USGS, NRCS Dutch ReijkwaterstatDutch Reijkwaterstat Oceanweather, HDR, Group Solutions, othersOceanweather, HDR, Group Solutions, others

Independent Review Teams Technical Review Occurs within USACE outside of MVN Employs USACE Centers of Expertise Embedded technical managers and reviewers on PDT for continuous input Peer Review Conducted outside of USACE Review team member identities not known for preliminary effort Exploring options for bringing onboard National Academy for final review

Defining a “Category 5” Storm

Standard Project Hurricane p Derived by the National Weather Service in 1957 p Central Pressure: 27.5 inches of Mercury p Wind Speed: 110 mph p Radius of Maximum Winds: 30 miles p Forward Speed: 5 – 11 knots p Derived by the National Weather Service in 1957 p Central Pressure: 27.5 inches of Mercury p Wind Speed: 110 mph p Radius of Maximum Winds: 30 miles p Forward Speed: 5 – 11 knots Scale Number Scale Number Camille Camille – – 27.9* < – – 27.9* < Central Press (in) 74 – – 110* – 155 > – – 110* – 155 > Winds (mph) Winds (mph) * > * > Surge (feet) Surge (feet) * SPH Design Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity HPP Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity HPP West Bank and Vicinity, N.O. HPP West Bank and Vicinity, N.O. HPP SPH PROJECTS

230 miles – extent of tropical force winds 90 miles – extent of hurricane force winds 15 mph forward speed inches central pressure 127 mph wind Category 3 At Radius of Speed 12.6 mph34.5 miles115 mph27.4 inches 1986West Bank & Vicinity 11 mph34.5 miles90 mph28.1 inches October 1962 New Orleans to Venice 13 mph35 miles87 mph28.15 inches 1965 – 1976Grand Isle & Vicinity 5.75 – mph 34.5 miles100 mph27.6 inches October 1965 Lake Pontchartrain & Vicinity Forward Speed WindCentral Pressure Index Date Authorized Project Location Authorized Protection Levels Design Hurricanes – – – 951 Winds (mph) Scale Number Saffir-Simpson Scale (1970) Katrina at LA Landfall Congress currently authorizes protection from flood waters resulting from winds of MPH.

Developing a Design Storm Saffir-Simpson is a wind damage scaleSaffir-Simpson is a wind damage scale Storm surge is not well calibrated in scaleStorm surge is not well calibrated in scale Storm characteristics and strike probabilities are key to defining protection strategy and design levelsStorm characteristics and strike probabilities are key to defining protection strategy and design levels Computer simulations to aid designComputer simulations to aid design Future trends in climate and sea levelsFuture trends in climate and sea levels Developing long-term risk reduction strategyDeveloping long-term risk reduction strategy

Probable Maximum HurricaneProbable Maximum Hurricane Maximum Possible HurricaneMaximum Possible Hurricane Minimal “Category 5“ eventMinimal “Category 5“ event Hurricane Katina type stormHurricane Katina type storm 100 year storm100 year storm Screening Storms

Storm Tracks Evaluated Probable Maximum Hurricane (PMH) *represents work completed to date by LACPR team Storm comparisons Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Camille Probable Max Hurricane Central pressure 920 mb 908 mb 890 mb Max sustained winds landfall 127 mph 160 mph 166 mph Radius to max winds 30 NM 10 NM 11 NM Forward speed 14 knots 14 knots 10 knots

Engineering and Design Challenges

Coast in collapse Community recovery timelines Community recovery timelines Battling nature’s most powerful storms Battling nature’s most powerful storms Extreme engineering conditions Extreme engineering conditions Innovative technologies & interconnected systems Innovative technologies & interconnected systems Design Challenges

Protection Strategies

Category 5 Protection Strategies Coastal lines of defense Coastal lines of defense Structural barriers Structural barriers Evacuation plans Evacuation plans Local building codes Local building codes

Options for New Orleans Open tidal channels and higher leveesOpen tidal channels and higher levees Barriers at Pontchartrain tidal channelsBarriers at Pontchartrain tidal channels Low barriers ar tidal channels that allow overtopping during peak storm conditionsLow barriers ar tidal channels that allow overtopping during peak storm conditions South shore levees with no overtoppingSouth shore levees with no overtopping Restore coastal featuresRestore coastal features

LACPR primary alignment alternative MRGO/GIWW navigable closure potential alignment Required levee lifts LACPR additional alignment alternative *NOTE – additional LACPR alignments in development BARRIER PLANS

Block surges No overtopping Restore Wetlands Buffers Surge transfer

Invite continuous involvement of the engineering community Invite continuous involvement of the engineering community Recovery and survival of New Orleans depends upon hurricane protection works Recovery and survival of New Orleans depends upon hurricane protection works Wind thresholds Wind thresholds Reduce system complexity Reduce system complexity Strong Houses Resist Storms Varying levels of protection Comprehensive approach Concluding Comments

QUESTIONS? Gregory Miller Project Manager (504) SW Pass Light MS River delta

Planning and Design Workshops Wind, Waves and Water (Dec 2005 Vicksburg, MS)Wind, Waves and Water (Dec 2005 Vicksburg, MS) –Held to develop state of the science for estimating maximum hurricane for design comparison and analysis –Included National Hurricane Center, LSU and Dutch Initial Plan Formulation (Feb 2006 Lafayette, LA)Initial Plan Formulation (Feb 2006 Lafayette, LA) –Assembly of coastal professionals to develop initial alternative alignments for model runs & public presentation at scoping meetings Engineering Technical Approaches and Innovations (Mar 2006 Vicksburg, MS)Engineering Technical Approaches and Innovations (Mar 2006 Vicksburg, MS) –Experts in various design fields to assess alternatives and apply both standard and innovative approaches to assist the team in preparation of information gathering plans and tools for analysis Stone Island Breton Sound, LA

Preliminary Technical Report Report completed in July 2006 Outlines strategic approach Identifies key components Highlights remaining work needed to develop full plan