Fort Bend Flood Management Association
Flood Risk Reduction Symposium
October 3rd, 2014
(Part-A)
Brazos River at San Felipe - USGS Gage
Fort Bend County Levee Inspections Using
USACE “RIP” Standards
Fort Bend County Drainage District
BRAZOS RIVER FACTS:
1,280 Miles Long
45,575 Square Mile Drainage Area
19 Reservoirs
4,000,000+ Acre-Feet of Flood Control Storage
Historical
Lower Brazos River Watershed
USGS Flood Gages:
Waco – Established 1899
Richmond – Established 1922
Hempstead – Established 1939
Highbank – Established 1966
Rosharon – Established 1967
Bryan – Established 1994
Fort Bend County Drainage District
Approximately 108 River Miles between
Hempstead & Richmond gages.
Contributing watershed increases by
approximately 800,000 acres.
FBCLID No. 20 and Pecan Grove MUD
levees are located upstream of
Richmond gage.
Significant development occurring in
northwest Fort Bend County.
Previous Brazos River Flooding in
Simonton / Valley Lodge Area
Dec. 1991 vs Oct. 1994 Peak Elevations
Hempstead:
Interstate 10:
F.M. 1093:
F.M. 1489:
Richmond:
(Dec. 91)
160.90
113.40
107.00
101.40
77.63
(Oct. 94)
159.48
115.50
107.70
102.30
77.10
USGS Brazos River at San Felipe Gage
Located on the FM 1458 bridge near
Stephen F. Austin State Park. This is
the approximate mid-point between
the Hempstead and Richmond
gages.
Installed by USGS field crews in
September 2013.
13 field measurements have been
taken to date in order to establish a
rating curve.
Peak flow to date occurred on
Nov. 4, 2013 with a measured
flowrate of 41,700 cfs.
Funded to date by FBCDD, Gulf
Coast Water Authority and USGS
matching funds.
USGS Brazos River at San Felipe Gage
The National Weather Service is
planning to establish the San Felipe
gage as a River Forecast site and
create a website.
They will provide 5-day forecasts
based on available hydrologic,
rainfall, and weather forecast data
similar to the current data provided
at other Brazos River gages.
We are currently evaluating Fort
Bend County historic data to
establish flood warning stages and
associated impacts.
We are also working with Austin and
Waller County officials to
incorporate their potential flood
impacts into the River Forecast
website.
USGS Brazos River at San Felipe Gage
USGS Link: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv?site_no=08111850
www.fortbendcountytx.gov/riverlevels
Fort Bend County Drainage District Levee Inspections
using U.S. Army Corps of Engineers “Rehabilitation &
Inspection Program” (RIP) Standards
7 Major Categories
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Initial Eligibility
General Items for all Flood Reduction Systems
Levee Embankments
Floodwalls
Interior Drainage System
Pump Stations
Flood Damage Reduction Channels
Each of these major categories is made up of specific inspection components
called “Rated Items”.
There are a total of 75 “Rated Items” evaluated during our inspections.
Grades of “Acceptable”, “Minimally Acceptable” or “Unacceptable” are assigned
to each of the 75 items.
Fort Bend County Drainage District
Initial Eligibility (12 Rated Items) &
General Items for Flood Damage Reduction Segments (3 Rated Items)
These items are evaluated before the field inspections through a meeting with the
District representatives.
(Board Members, Engineer, Operator, Attorney)
Updated contact lists, review history including dates of original construction and
significant improvements, discuss jurisdictions (MUD’s, city limits, ETJ)
Confirmation that the levee design meets current standards.
(FEMA 44 CFR 65.10, FBCDCM Sec. 7.0)
Evaluate emergency operation procedures and flood preparedness.
Fort Bend County Drainage District
Levee Embankments – (15 Rated Items)
Grass / Sod
Encroachments
Unwanted Vegetation Growth
Slope Stability
Erosion / Bank Caving
Settlement
Depressions / Rutting
Cracking
Animal Control
Toe Drainage Systems
Fort Bend County Drainage District
Floodwalls – (9 Rated Items)
Tilting
Sliding
Settlement
Foundations
Joints
Concrete Surfaces
Encroachments
Unwanted Vegetation Growth
Toe Drainage Systems
Fort Bend County Drainage District
Interior Drainage System – (15 Rated Items)
Culverts / Discharge Pipes
Sluice / Slide / Flap Gates
Concrete Surfaces
Tilting/Sliding/Settlement
or Undermining of
Outfall Structures
Joints
Interior Flood Storage Areas
Outfall Channels
Trash Racks
Fort Bend County Drainage District
Pump Stations – (21 Rated Items)
Maintenance, Training & Inspection Records
Pumps
Generators
Primary and Backup Power Sources
Fuel System
Intake and Discharge Pipes
Sluice / Slide / Flap Gates
Plant Buildings
Communication System
Trash Racks
Fort Bend County Drainage District
“Interim Policy for Determining Eligibility Status of Flood Risk
Management Projects for the Rehabilitation Program Pursuant
to Public Law (P.L.) 84-99”
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – March 21, 2014
Section 6.f.3 identifies 20 of the total 75 “Rated Items” that are specifically
focused on to determine “Eligibility” for rehabilitation assistance.
The levee system is eligible for rehabilitation assistance as long as they do not
receive an “Unacceptable” rating on any of these 20 items.
Two Separate Ratings are Issued:
1. Eligibility Rating
(Eligible or Ineligible)
2. Overall Project Rating
(Acceptable, Minimally Acceptable or Unacceptable)
Fort Bend County Drainage District
Fort Bend County Drainage District Levee Inspections
using U.S. Army Corps of Engineers “Rehabilitation &
Inspection Program (RIP) Standards
Inspections to Date:
FBCLID No. 17 (Telfair)
First Colony LID No. 2
FBCLID No. 7 (New Territory)
FBCLID No. 20
Preliminary findings are issued to
the District with final report issued 6
months later.
Attempting to cover as many LID
representatives as possible.
USACE inspects Fort Bend County
levees separately for their official
RIP assessment.