1 An Approach to Levee Assessment and Contingency Planning Presentation to the National Waterways Conference 7 September 2006 Portland, Oregon By Rob Vining Vice President HNTB

AGENDA Status of Levees Status of Levees Perspectives from New Orleans Perspectives from New Orleans Katrina and Rita Katrina and Rita Relationship of Levees to Storm Damage Prevention Relationship of Levees to Storm Damage Prevention New Orleans Levee Assessments New Orleans Levee Assessments Vulnerable Levee Areas Vulnerable Levee Areas Relationship of Flood Protection to the Health of our Waterways Relationship of Flood Protection to the Health of our Waterways Next Steps Next Steps

3 Levee Status There are over 30,000 miles of levees in the Country There are over 30,000 miles of levees in the Country Most levees are well over 50 years in age – many over 100 years Most levees are well over 50 years in age – many over 100 years Levee “systems” in this Country were infrequently originally built as systems Levee “systems” in this Country were infrequently originally built as systems Most levees were originally built by local interests and as a result of WRDA 86, maintained by local interests Most levees were originally built by local interests and as a result of WRDA 86, maintained by local interests Design standards do not measure up to other water structures Design standards do not measure up to other water structures A significant number of communities rely on levees for flood protection A significant number of communities rely on levees for flood protection Levee Status There are over 30,000 miles of levees in the Country There are over 30,000 miles of levees in the Country Most levees are well over 50 years in age – many over 100 years Most levees are well over 50 years in age – many over 100 years Levee “systems” in this Country were infrequently originally built as systems Levee “systems” in this Country were infrequently originally built as systems Most levees were originally built by local interests and as a result of WRDA 86, maintained by local interests Most levees were originally built by local interests and as a result of WRDA 86, maintained by local interests Design standards do not measure up to other water structures Design standards do not measure up to other water structures A significant number of communities rely on levees for flood protection A significant number of communities rely on levees for flood protection

Katrina Impacts Largest Natural Disaster in the Nation’s History Largest Natural Disaster in the Nation’s History Major disruption on the Nation’s economy Major disruption on the Nation’s economy Over 90,000 square miles impacted Over 90,000 square miles impacted Nearly 10,000 bridges impacted Nearly 10,000 bridges impacted Over 12,000 miles of roadway impacted Over 12,000 miles of roadway impacted Over 1,000,000 displaced residents Over 1,000,000 displaced residents Estimated damages exceed $125B* Estimated damages exceed $125B* An additional $60B in insurance claims expected* An additional $60B in insurance claims expected* *Source: USA Today Katrina Impacts Largest Natural Disaster in the Nation’s History Largest Natural Disaster in the Nation’s History Major disruption on the Nation’s economy Major disruption on the Nation’s economy Over 90,000 square miles impacted Over 90,000 square miles impacted Nearly 10,000 bridges impacted Nearly 10,000 bridges impacted Over 12,000 miles of roadway impacted Over 12,000 miles of roadway impacted Over 1,000,000 displaced residents Over 1,000,000 displaced residents Estimated damages exceed $125B* Estimated damages exceed $125B* An additional $60B in insurance claims expected* An additional $60B in insurance claims expected* *Source: USA Today

Perspectives

12 HNTB selected for A/E IDIQ in January, 2006 HNTB selected for A/E IDIQ in January, 2006 Contract negotiated in March Contract negotiated in March Initial Work Order to inspect 32 miles of levees by May 15 Initial Work Order to inspect 32 miles of levees by May 15 Currently we have received six task orders totalling over 50 miles of levees Currently we have received six task orders totalling over 50 miles of levees Levee assessments are the basis for follow on work to repair and upgrade the levee system Levee assessments are the basis for follow on work to repair and upgrade the levee system Over 1000 miles of levees need repair or replacement Over 1000 miles of levees need repair or replacement Requirements Requirements Very rapid turn around Very rapid turn around Technically sound Technically sound Apply technology to assist in Apply technology to assist in accuracy and speed of delivery accuracy and speed of delivery New Orleans Levee Assessments

New Orleans Levee Assessment Inventory Field condition assessment Survey Data analysis Project recommendations

An Achievable Vision - Applied Models Damaged Levee Condition Assessment Establish protocols for reasonable and consistent measures Assessment elements include: Erosion/settlement Cracking/spalling Metal deterioration Undermining/scouring Debris/sediment Others

An Achievable Vision - Applied

An Achievable Vision - Applied Models Planning and Evaluation Prioritization Prioritization Using engine of decision making model Using engine of decision making model Web-based scenario builder Web-based scenario builder Budgeting Budgeting Scheduling Scheduling Multi-dimensional decision making Cost of repair Cost of repair Benefit resulting from repair Benefit resulting from repair Risk to population Risk to population Risk to environment Risk to environment Risk to critical infrastructure Risk to critical infrastructure Establish a relative ranking within each category. Establish weighted factors for each category to run through the scenario builder.

18 A National Problem A National Problem Levee Condition uncertainty exists to one level or another throughout the Country Levee Condition uncertainty exists to one level or another throughout the Country Critical levee situations Critical levee situations New Orleans New Orleans Sacramento Sacramento Lake Okechobee Lake Okechobee Red River of the North Red River of the North Albany, NY Albany, NY St. Louis area St. Louis area Trinity River, TX Trinity River, TX And Others And Others A National Problem A National Problem Levee Condition uncertainty exists to one level or another throughout the Country Levee Condition uncertainty exists to one level or another throughout the Country Critical levee situations Critical levee situations New Orleans New Orleans Sacramento Sacramento Lake Okechobee Lake Okechobee Red River of the North Red River of the North Albany, NY Albany, NY St. Louis area St. Louis area Trinity River, TX Trinity River, TX And Others And Others Vulnerable Levee Areas

19 Our waterways operate and need to be looked upon as a system Our waterways operate and need to be looked upon as a system Key population and economic centers including ports rely on levee systems for protection Key population and economic centers including ports rely on levee systems for protection Port of Portland Port of Portland Waterways are maintained by levee systems Waterways are maintained by levee systems Mississippi River Navigation Mississippi River Navigation With the current level of investments in our waterways, there is competition for scarce Federal dollars to support a healthy waterway system With the current level of investments in our waterways, there is competition for scarce Federal dollars to support a healthy waterway system Relationship to our Waterways

20 Next Steps The Corps of Engineers has received funding to perform a National Levee Assessment The Corps of Engineers has received funding to perform a National Levee Assessment Additional support for this effort is needed to complete the effort and be able to develop a plan on addressing our nations vulnerability in this area Additional support for this effort is needed to complete the effort and be able to develop a plan on addressing our nations vulnerability in this area Levee assessments and related flood protection needs to be looked upon as integral to the health of our waterways Levee assessments and related flood protection needs to be looked upon as integral to the health of our waterways Waterway and flood protection advocates can benefit from coordinated communication and discussion Waterway and flood protection advocates can benefit from coordinated communication and discussion Public/Private Partnerships will be required to address this only recently recognized problem Public/Private Partnerships will be required to address this only recently recognized problem Heightened National attention and discussion of our Water Policy and long-term Dependency on our waterways is necessary Heightened National attention and discussion of our Water Policy and long-term Dependency on our waterways is necessary Next Steps The Corps of Engineers has received funding to perform a National Levee Assessment The Corps of Engineers has received funding to perform a National Levee Assessment Additional support for this effort is needed to complete the effort and be able to develop a plan on addressing our nations vulnerability in this area Additional support for this effort is needed to complete the effort and be able to develop a plan on addressing our nations vulnerability in this area Levee assessments and related flood protection needs to be looked upon as integral to the health of our waterways Levee assessments and related flood protection needs to be looked upon as integral to the health of our waterways Waterway and flood protection advocates can benefit from coordinated communication and discussion Waterway and flood protection advocates can benefit from coordinated communication and discussion Public/Private Partnerships will be required to address this only recently recognized problem Public/Private Partnerships will be required to address this only recently recognized problem Heightened National attention and discussion of our Water Policy and long-term Dependency on our waterways is necessary Heightened National attention and discussion of our Water Policy and long-term Dependency on our waterways is necessary