Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana Annual Meeting December 3, 2015 Christopher Knotts, P.E. Public Works & Water Resources • Departmental Overview – Responsibilities – Funding – Accomplishments • Public Works & Water Resources – Statewide Flood Control Program – Levee Safety Program (non-coastal districts) – Ongoing Federal Projects – Dam Safety Program 2 Safety Initiatives Improving Roadway Safety DOTD Safety Initiatives • Public Safety is DOTD’s #1 priority • Overall reduction in fatal crashes since 2007 Recent initiatives include: » Destination Zero Deaths » Cable Barriers » Roundabouts » Enhanced Mile Markers » ITS Traffic Cameras and Signs Public Works & Water Resources - Statewide Flood Control Program - Levee Safety Program (non-coastal districts) - Ongoing Federal Projects - Dam Safety Program Statewide Flood Control Program Overview • Primary goal to reduce existing flood damages by considering both structural and non-structural solutions • Funded by Transportation Trust Fund • $8.9M funding last two years ($9.9M average in prior years) • Applicants can be: » » » » Parish Governments Municipal Governments Levee Boards Drainage Districts 11 Statewide Flood Control Program Funding • 90% of the construction cost for non-federal projects • 70% of the local sponsor’s non-federal share for federal projects • Local sponsor pays for engineering, R/W, utilities, etc. Eligibility • Equitable distribution of funds statewide » (55% invested in rural areas, 45% invested in urban areas) • All levels of local government from the largest parishes and cities down to the smallest towns and villages can successfully compete. 12 Levee Safety Program Inspections • • • Assist Levee Districts with the Quarterly and Semi-Annual Inspections Provide Semi-Annual Inspection Reports Provide Recommendations/Options for Corrective Actions Inventory/Mapping • • Inventory Levee Assets Develop GIS Maps 13 Levee Safety Program Permits • Review permit applications • Provide Letters of Response to appropriate Levee District • » Non-coastal (DOTD) » Coastal (CPRA) Ensure compliance with engineering standards Engineering Support • Set-back Design • Drainage Design • Cost Estimates 14 15 Mississippi River Levee Raising Project Purpose – Flood Prevention • 200 miles of mainline Miss. River levee construction in NE LA • Raising 3 to 4 feet above project flow line Responsibilities: • Fifth Louisiana Levee District & DOTD: LERRDs (Right-of-Way) • USACE-Vicksburg District: Design and Construction Expenditures to date: • Federal: $127 million • Non-Federal Sponsor: $9.8 million Comite River Diversion Canal Purpose – Flood Prevention/Reduction • Comite River Basin • Lower Amite River Basin Federal Sponsor: USACE – New Orleans District • Design • Construction Non-Federal Sponsors: DOTD: Lands, Easements, Rights of Way, Relocations & Disposals (LERRDs) Amite River Basin Commission: Floodplain Management East Baton Rouge City-Parish DPW: Operations and Maintenance Comite River Diversion Canal Features • • • • • • 12 miles of channel 4 drop structures Diversion structure Stage control structure (Lilly Bayou) Bridges at 4 highways (U.S. 61, LA 964, LA 19, and LA 67) 2 railroad bridges (CN and KCS) Current Cost Estimate • $ 199 million Expenditures to Date • Federal: $ 74.4 million • Non-Federal: $22.1 million Dam Safety Program • Created by Act 733 of the 1981 Regular Legislative Session • Responsibilities are to: » Define & enforce Minimum Standards » Maintain the State Dam Safety Inventory » Ensure that all dams are inspected per guidelines Dam Safety Program • Applicable to all dams or impoundment structures…any artificial barrier which will impound or divert water or any liquid and is: » » 25+ ft. height Has a maximum storage of 15 acre-feet or greater » » Min. 6 ft. height Has a maximum storage of 50 acre-feet or greater OR Dam Safety Program Define and enforce minimum standards for: •Design •Construction •Modification •Operation & Maintenance Ivan Lake Dam – Bossier Parish Dam Safety Program Operation & Maintenance • Acoustic Surveys • Surface Inspections • Underwater Inspections • Operation of gates • Emergency Action Plans Grand Bayou Reservoir – Red River Parish Dam Safety Inventory 516 Regulated Dams (November, 2014) • 40 High Impact • 50 Significant Impact • 426 Low Impact Vernon Lake Dam – Vernon Parish ) Consequences Of Dam Failure • U.S. dam failures in the last 50 years » 400+ fatalities » Billions in property damage • Most of the 20 State maintained dams are old (50+ years) and a number are in critical need of repair. » Turkey Creek Dam (Franklin Parish) » Bundick Lake (Beauregard Parish) » Iatt Lake Dam (Bossier Parish) • South Carolina dam failures (October, 2015 ) » 36 Dams failures, 7 Class 1 dams and 20 Class 2 dams and an additional 167 dams were damaged. » After assessments were completed 75 emergency repair orders and 24 notices of violations were issued to non responsive owners. Questions? Christopher P. Knotts, P.E. Chief, Public Works & Water Resources P. O. Box 94245 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9245 chris.knotts@la.gov 225-379-3000