1. Flood Fighting the MR&T
Operation Watershed –
Flood Fighting the MR&T
Presentation to
Association of State
Floodplain Managers
Colonel Alvin B. Lee
Executive Director,
Civil Works
May 18, 2011
The purpose of this briefing is to generate discussion on the validity of budgeting by systems
Outline
Agenda
Update on appropriations
Forecast of future appropriations
Introduce idea of systems view of appropriations
Show systems
Explain why these 6
Show savings
Show ‘Next Steps’ = Future Year Development Plan
Show potential for future legislation
Identify importance of stakeholders to future appropriations
Discuss issues, obstacles, projects, impact on culture
Discuss
US Army Corps of Engineers
BUILDING STRONG®

2. Agenda Spring Flood Fight Operation Watershed
MR&T Project Design Flood
Birds Point – New Madrid Floodway
Old River Complex
Bonnet Carre Spillway
Morganza Spillway
Flood Risk Management – A Shared Responsibility

3. Spring Flood Fighting Northwestern Division Great Lakes and Ohio River
South
Pacific
Southwestern
Mississippi
Valley
Atlantic
Great Lakes
and Ohio River
North
Seattle
Portland
Walla-Walla
Omaha
Kansas City
Los Angeles
Albuquerque
Sacramento
Galveston
Jacksonville
Savannah
Charleston
Wilmington
Norfolk
Baltimore
Philadelphia
New York
New England
Fort Worth
Tulsa
New
Orleans
Mobile
Vicksburg
Memphis
St. Louis
Rock Island
Chicago
Detroit
Buffalo
Pittsburgh
Nashville
Huntington
Louisville
St. Paul
Little Rock
Pacific
Ocean
Division
Alaska
Honolulu

5. Mississippi & Atchafalaya STAGES – 17 May 2011 – 0600 CDT
Station
Flood Stage
Current Stage
Forecasted
Crest Stage
Date
Record Stage
Year
Cairo, IL
40.0
52.91
61.72****
2 May
59.51
1937
New Madrid, MO
34.0
42.59
48.35
6 May
47.97
Caruthersville, MO
32.0
42.61
47.61
7 May
46.00
Memphis, TN
44.19
47.87
10 May
48.70
Helena, AR
44.0
55.06
56.59
12 May
60.21
Arkansas City, AR
37.0
53.07
53.14
16 May
59.20
1927
Greenville, MS
48.0
64.18
64.3
17 May
65.4*****
Vicksburg, MS
43.0
56.98
57.5
19 May
56.20*
Natchez, MS
61.55
63.0
21 May
58.04
Red River Lndg, LA
62.83
65.5*** (64.5***)
22 May
61.61
1997
Baton Rouge, LA
35.0
44.55
47.5*** (45.0***)
47.28
New Orleans, LA
17.0**
16.94
19.5*** (17.0***)
14 May
21.27
1922
Simmesport, LA
47.0
43.64
44.5
20 May
59.13
Butte LaRose, LA
25.0
20.78
27.0
24 May
27.28
1973
Morgan City, LA
4.0
7.67
9.5*** [11.0***]
25 May
10.53
*62.2 ‘ If Levees Held New Record Stage Exceeding Current Record Stage
**Levees Protect New Orleans to 20.0’ Stage ***w/o Morganza Operation ***w/Morganza Operation
****NWS Crest of 63.0’ on 5 May w/o BPNM Operation – Actual Stage of 59.7’ on 5 May w/BPNM Operation
*****Adjusted to Current Gage Location - Prior to 1940 stages were taken at City Front or Warfield Point
Note: With Morganza Operation, Baton Rouge to N. Orleans crests will occur before upstream locations
and will remain steady during the floodway operations.

6. MR&T Project Design Flood
150
UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
100
MISSOURI RIVER
ST. LOUIS
Flows in 1,000 cfs 2
New Madrid
Floodway
CAIRO
2,250
OHIO RIVER
550
NEW MADRID
490
TENNESSEE RIVER
WHITE RIVER
ST FRANCIS
RIVER 80
220
MEMPHIS
HELENA
ARKANSAS RIVER
400
540
ARKANSAS
CITY
LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
2,890
GREENVILLE
OUACHITA RIVER
YAZOO RIVER
Overall Sequencing:
#1- Old River Complex – 30/70 flows set by the 1959 Flood Control Act. During 1973 Flood the Low Sill structure was nearly compromised which resulted in heavy damages to the structure. Consequently , even today after the repairs the Old River Complex cannot be operated above a 22’ Stage Operating head for the structures. The auxiliary structure was built in 1980s to accommodate more flows through the complex. Later in the 1990s the Sidney Murray Hydroelectric power plant was added to the Old River Complex. The overall design flows for the Old River Complex is 620,000 cfs. Old River Complex Sequencing: 1) SM Hydropower- 170K CFS max 2) Aux Struc- 150K to start (Max 350K CFS IOT back up a possible Hyrdo power plant failure) 3) Low Sill Structure - 300K to start 350K CFS Max 4) Overbank Structure - 100K CFS rated
** 22’ Stage Operating head for the structures
** Total CFS for all Structures is 970K but design flow is max of 620K CFS
** Red River Gage is the governing gage for operating Old River Complex
#2 New Madrid Floodway - A critical feature of the MR&T project, the Birds Point - New Madrid Floodway is necessary for passing, as designed, the Project Design Flood through the upper portion of the river system. The flows shown here in cubic feet per second are the peak flows for the respective river systems. The crests of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers would arrive at the confluence at different times; consequently, the peak flow below their confluence is not the sum of the peak flows of the rivers above their confluence. The flows for the Upper Mississippi and Ohio Rivers would produce a Project Design Flood peak gage reading of 62.5 at Cairo, IL.
The President of the MRC is currently authorized to operate the floodway at or above 58 feet on the Cairo, IL Gage, with a prediction in excess of 60 feet. Over the years, however, the operational plan for the floodway has evolved to address improvements and refinements to the MR&T Project and now enable the President of the MRC to postpone operation of the floodway until a stage of approximately 61 feet on the Cairo gage, unless extenuating circumstances exist. This provides a higher level of protection within the floodway, and the operational frequency has decreased from one in 17 years to one in 80 years on average.
#3 Bonnet Carre Spillway – When flows are projected to reach Project Design Flood (1,250,000 cfs) at the Carrolton Gage (New Orleans, LA) which are approx. 17’ the President of the MRC is authorized to operate the Bonnet Carre Spillway. The Bonnet Carret Spillway has a capacity of safely passing 250,000 cfs through Lake Pontchartrain . The Spillway has been operated 8 times with the most recent operations in 2008 and The actual opening is informed by engineering analysis conducted by the Chief of Engineering with H&H input to ensure proper sequencing of the needle removal across the structure.
#4 Operation of Morganza Spillway – This floodway has only been operated one time in its history during the 1973 flood after a partial failure of the wing wall and other damage to the Low Sill Structure. There was an intense effort undertaken to save the Old River Low Sill Structure and keep the Mississippi River from changing course. Flowage easements are in place to operate this structure if required. The floodway can handle 600,000 cfs.
#5 West Atchafalaya Floodway – This floodway has never been operated in the history of the MR&T project. It provides approx. 250,000 cfs of additional floodway capacity. The floodway is a fuse plug levee.
LOCAL 25
100
VICKSBURG
West
Atchafalaya
Floodway 5
100 1
150 55
LOCAL
RED RIVER
Old
River Complex
NATCHEZ
30 / 70 Split
620 3
250
Bonnet Carré
Spillway
BATON
ROUGE
600
1,500
1,500
Morganza
Floodway
Wax Lake
Outlet
250 4
NEW ORLEANS
LAKE
PONTCHARTRAIN
440
ATCHAFALAYA RIVER
1,060
1,250
Lower
Atchafalaya
Floodway
MORGAN
CITY
GULF OF MEXICO

7. Reservoir Travel Times to Cairo
As of 02MAY11

8. Location and Description
Cairo
Wickliffe
Charleston
Bluehole/Sanding Lands
Upper Fuse Plug
Inflow Crevasse
Sikeston
Front Line Levee
Set Back -
Mainline Levee
Inflow/Outflow
Crevasse #1
The floodway, outlined in green, is located on the west bank of the Mississippi in southeast Missouri, just below the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Its purpose is to lower flood stages upstream and adjacent to the floodway during major flood events.
The floodway is some 35 miles in length and varies from 4 to 12 miles in width. Its area comprises about 133 thousand acres or 205 square miles of land. The western levee , or the Setback Levee, follows an alignment from Birds Point, southwest to the City of New Madrid. The eastern levee , known as the Frontline Levee, generally follows the top bank of the Mississippi River.
The frontline levee has two fuse plug sections in it which are 2 feet lower than the remaining portion of the levee. Within each of these fuse plug sections is a designated artificial crevasse location. The  upper fuse plug section is 11.3 miles long. Beginning at the landside toe  and extending 1/2 mile into the floodway, for the length of the upper fuse plug, is a strip of land in which the majority of the bluehole and sanding effects would be expected to occur. This land was purchased in fee by the Corps of Engineers and turned over to the local levee board for maintenance. Within the Upper Fuse Plug section is the  inflow crevasse which is 11 thousand 99 feet (11,099) in length. The  lower fuse plug section is 4.5 miles long,  inflow/outflow crevasse number 2, located within this fuse plug section is 5,500 feet long.  Inflow/outflow crevasse number 1 is the third artificial crevasse sight and is also 55 hundred (5,500) feet in length.
Additionally,  there is an existing gap between the setback levee and the frontline levee that is approximately 15 hundred (1500) feet long. The gap has been authorized for closure since the Flood Control Act of 1954.
Lower Fuse Plug
Inflow/Outflow
Crevasse #2
Hickman
Reelfoot
Lake

9. Operational Decisions61
Floodway must be operated to carry its portion
of PDF flow 60
Inflow crevasse ready for detonation 59
Load embedded pipes
Previous request for evacuation of floodway 58
Prepare Inflow Access Wells 57
The current plan calls for the following under PDF conditions:
Just prior to 56 feet on the Cairo Gage the President of the MRC may give the order for the operation tows to depart for the floodway
At approximately 57 feet on the Cairo Gage, the President of MRC may give the orders to begin preparing the Inflow Access Wells for pumping operations, to establish the MRC Media Center and to request the County Commissioners and Sheriffs of Mississippi and New Madrid Counties to evacuate and secure the floodway.
At 59 feet, he may order that blasting agent be pumped into the embedded pipes. The Corps of Engineers will have requested the County Commissioners and Sheriffs of Mississippi and New Madrid Counties to have the floodway evacuated and secured by this stage.
At 60 feet, he may, based on hydrologic conditions of the river, order the initiation of artificial crevassing of the levee.
State and local officials will be notified of any of these actions.
These operational elements represent key decision points for the President of the MRC. 56
Move to floodway
Cairo Gage in Feet
* Conditions Approaching PDF 2

10. 64 63 62
At approx ft, the Cairo Floodwall overtops; at 63.7 ft, the Cairo to Cache River Levee overtops.
61.72 ft,
Record
stage (2011).

11. Risk Reduction Effects
As of 06May11

12. Operating the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway
Levee Protected Area
Birds Point -New Madrid Floodway
Levee Centerline
2.5 Million Acres
Protected by
Floodway
133,000 Acres
Impacted by 2
Operating the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway
Protecting a Broad Range of Land Uses
The Birds Point- New Madrid Floodway is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River in southeast Missouri, just downstream of the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Construction and operation of the floodway was authorized by the 1928 Flood Control Act and later modified by the 1965 Flood Control Act. Its purpose is to lower flood stages upstream and adjacent to the floodway during major flood events. By lowering the flood stages, the floodway 1) protects the local river communities on the mainstem Mississippi, and 2) protects an extensive area of mixed land use, to include residential, commercial, public and agricultural uses, running south along the west bank of the Mississippi.
In consultation with local stakeholders, on May 2, 2011, the Corps Mississippi Valley Division Commander, MG Walsh, made the decision to open the floodway as floodwaters reached and exceeded 61 feet of flood stage at the Cairo gaging station. He characterized the decision as allowing an area that was a designated floodway to flood, versus allowing areas that were not designated for flooding to flood. Lowering the flood stages by opening the floodway: 1) reduced pressure and stress on federal levee systems (Brookport, IL, Paducah, KY, Cairo, IL, Hickman KY to Tiptonville, TN and the Commerce to Birds Point levee) and 2) substantially reduced the flood risk of citizens, businesses, schools, churches and farms who live and work in areas they protect. On balance, 133,000 acres of designated floodway were impacted and more than 2.5 million acres were protected from flooding (see map)—about 19.5 times the area that was flooded by operating the floodway.

13. MR&T Project Design Flood
150
UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
100
MISSOURI RIVER
ST. LOUIS
Flows in 1,000 cfs 2
New Madrid
Floodway
CAIRO
2,250
OHIO RIVER
550
NEW MADRID
490
TENNESSEE RIVER
WHITE RIVER
ST FRANCIS
RIVER 80
220
MEMPHIS
HELENA
ARKANSAS RIVER
400
540
ARKANSAS
CITY
LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
2,890
GREENVILLE
OUACHITA RIVER
YAZOO RIVER
Overall Sequencing:
#1- Old River Complex – 30/70 flows set by the 1959 Flood Control Act. During 1973 Flood the Low Sill structure was nearly compromised which resulted in heavy damages to the structure. Consequently , even today after the repairs the Old River Complex cannot be operated above a 22’ Stage Operating head for the structures. The auxiliary structure was built in 1980s to accommodate more flows through the complex. Later in the 1990s the Sidney Murray Hydroelectric power plant was added to the Old River Complex. The overall design flows for the Old River Complex is 620,000 cfs. Old River Complex Sequencing: 1) SM Hydropower- 170K CFS max 2) Aux Struc- 150K to start (Max 350K CFS IOT back up a possible Hyrdo power plant failure) 3) Low Sill Structure - 300K to start 350K CFS Max 4) Overbank Structure - 100K CFS rated
** 22’ Stage Operating head for the structures
** Total CFS for all Structures is 970K but design flow is max of 620K CFS
** Red River Gage is the governing gage for operating Old River Complex
#2 New Madrid Floodway - A critical feature of the MR&T project, the Birds Point - New Madrid Floodway is necessary for passing, as designed, the Project Design Flood through the upper portion of the river system. The flows shown here in cubic feet per second are the peak flows for the respective river systems. The crests of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers would arrive at the confluence at different times; consequently, the peak flow below their confluence is not the sum of the peak flows of the rivers above their confluence. The flows for the Upper Mississippi and Ohio Rivers would produce a Project Design Flood peak gage reading of 62.5 at Cairo, IL.
The President of the MRC is currently authorized to operate the floodway at or above 58 feet on the Cairo, IL Gage, with a prediction in excess of 60 feet. Over the years, however, the operational plan for the floodway has evolved to address improvements and refinements to the MR&T Project and now enable the President of the MRC to postpone operation of the floodway until a stage of approximately 61 feet on the Cairo gage, unless extenuating circumstances exist. This provides a higher level of protection within the floodway, and the operational frequency has decreased from one in 17 years to one in 80 years on average.
#3 Bonnet Carre Spillway – When flows are projected to reach Project Design Flood (1,250,000 cfs) at the Carrolton Gage (New Orleans, LA) which are approx. 17’ the President of the MRC is authorized to operate the Bonnet Carre Spillway. The Bonnet Carret Spillway has a capacity of safely passing 250,000 cfs through Lake Pontchartrain . The Spillway has been operated 8 times with the most recent operations in 2008 and The actual opening is informed by engineering analysis conducted by the Chief of Engineering with H&H input to ensure proper sequencing of the needle removal across the structure.
#4 Operation of Morganza Spillway – This floodway has only been operated one time in its history during the 1973 flood after a partial failure of the wing wall and other damage to the Low Sill Structure. There was an intense effort undertaken to save the Old River Low Sill Structure and keep the Mississippi River from changing course. Flowage easements are in place to operate this structure if required. The floodway can handle 600,000 cfs.
#5 West Atchafalaya Floodway – This floodway has never been operated in the history of the MR&T project. It provides approx. 250,000 cfs of additional floodway capacity. The floodway is a fuse plug levee.
LOCAL 25
100
VICKSBURG
West
Atchafalaya
Floodway 5
100 1
150 55
LOCAL
RED RIVER
Old
River Complex
NATCHEZ
30 / 70 Split
620 3
250
Bonnet Carré
Spillway
BATON
ROUGE
600
1,500
1,500
Morganza
Floodway
Wax Lake
Outlet
250 4
NEW ORLEANS
LAKE
PONTCHARTRAIN
440
ATCHAFALAYA RIVER
1,060
1,250
Lower
Atchafalaya
Floodway
MORGAN
CITY
GULF OF MEXICO

14. Flood Risk Reduction Lower Mississippi River & Tributaries Project1
Old River
961 Miles
of MR&T Levees in New Orleans
District +
3 Major Flood Risk Reduction Structures
Morganza 4
BATON
ROUGE 3
Bonnet Carré
NEW
ORLEANS
MORGAN
CITY

15. Old River Flood Risk Reduction Complex - 30/70 Spilt1
Old River
Auxiliary Structure
Old River
Low Sill Structure
Old River
Overbank Structure
Sidney Murray Hydroelectric Plant

16. Bonnet Carre Spillway 3

17. Lake Pontchartrain
Bonnet Carre Spillway
New Orleans
Mississippi River

18. Mississippi River
Bonnet Carre Spillway

19. Morganza Spillway 4
Potato Ridge

20. Morganza Spillway/LA Highway 1
Morganza Forebay
Potato Ridge
Morganza Spillway/LA Highway 1

21. Morganza Spillway/LA Highway 1
Morganza Flood Risk Reduction Spillway
Morganza Spillway/LA Highway 1

22. Morganza Spillway 16 May 11

23. Morganza Floodway

24. Morganza Floodway

25. Shared Responsibility for Flood Risk Management
“Driving Down the Risk with an Informed and Engaged Public”
Initial Risk
Risk
Outreach
Natural Storage
Structural
Non – Structural
Contingency Plans
Building Codes
Zoning
Insurance
Federal / State / Local
Federal / State / Local
Federal / State / Local
Federal / State / Local
Federal / State / Local / Individual
State / Local
This graph illustrates the definition of flood risk management, and carries our message that some risk will remain no matter what measures are in place.
We have transitioned from flood control to flood damage reduction and now to flood risk management
The graph shows just a few of the tools that can be used to buy down or manage risk
Note that the tools are shared as is the responsibility for flood risk management, some of the tools lie within the responsibility of the nonfederal entities
Also note that there will always be a residual risk and the goal is to collaboratively reduce the residual risk to acceptable levels.
Local
Individual / NFIP
Residual Risk
All Stakeholders contribute to reducing risk !