christopher knotts, p.e. public works & water resources association of levee boards of louisiana...

Christopher Knotts, P.E.Public Works & Water Resources

Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana

Annual Meeting

December 3, 2015

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• 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

Improving Roadway Safety Safety Initiatives

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

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

Statewide Flood Control Program

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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.

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Statewide Flood Control 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

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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

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Levee Safety Program

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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

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 ManagementEast 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

Comite River Diversion Canal

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

OR» Min. 6 ft. height» Has a maximum storage of 50 acre-feet or greater

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

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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.

Christopher P. Knotts, P.E.Chief, Public Works & Water Resources

P. O. Box 94245Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9245

chris.knotts@la.gov225-379-3000

Questions?