1. Watershed – Level Regional Flood Risk Management Team: Collaborative Risk Reduction Bruce A. Munholand P.E., PMP

2. Regional Watershed Event:  Upper Mississippi River Watershed  Midwest Flood of June 2008  Flood of Record in Many Areas  Illinois  Iowa  Minnesota  Missouri  Wisconsin

3. Background Response & Recovery FEMA, USACE, and Others Thru Traditional Authorities In Addition Interagency Levee Task Force – PL84-99 Provides Authority – ER 500-1-1 and ER 11-1-320 Provide Policy Guidance – OMB/CEQ Memo 18 Feb 97 directed USACE lead – Short-term measures to restore & maintain protection – Address flood damage reduction on a watershed basis – Consider all relevant options for levee repair, including non-structural alternatives (NSA) – Multi-agency response to damaged floodplain management systems

4. Charter Members   USACE, Mississippi Valley Division   USACE, Northwestern Division   USACE, St. Paul, Rock Island, St. Louis, and Kansas City Districts   DHS, FEMA Region V   DHS, FEMA Region VII   US EPA, Region 7   USGS, Midwest Area   US Fish & Wildlife Service   NOAA/National Weather Service Central Region   Natural Resources Conservation Service   State of Illinois, DNR Office of Water Resources   State of Iowa, DHS Emergency Management Division   State of Minnesota, Homeland Security & Emergency Management   State of Missouri, State Emergency Management Agency   State of Wisconsin, State Emergency Management

5. FPM Lesson Learned “The Mississippi River will always have its own way; no engineering skill can persuade it to do otherwise.” Mark Twain in Eruption

6. Goals & Objectives   Regional watershed application of National Flood Risk Management Program   Agencies understand state long-term mitigation plans, and enable implementation of those plans   Align watershed flood risk activities with mitigation activities   Holistic approach to leverage all authorities to minimize risks in a reasonable and cost-effective manner   Equal consideration to structural and non-structural measures   Identify potential funding streams for flood risk management initiatives and potential comprehensive study efforts   Ensure vertical (local/state/tribal/national) and horizontal (interstate) communication and information sharing

7. RFRMT FPM Concepts Projects reduce flood damage upstream & downstream Lower long-term cost to taxpayers Improve environmental conditions Enhance landowner ability to meet obligations Compatible with local & regional floodplain mgmt plans Supportive of the health of upland areas Environmental protection, restoration, and enhancement Encourage local involvement and assumption of responsibility for future floodplain management Avoid/minimize future damage thru alternative FPM plan

8. Risk Reduction Tool Box

9. NSA Project Guidance   Principal Purpose of NSA Projects is Enhanced Floodplain Mgmt: –Floodplain Restoration –Provision or Restoration of Floodways –Reduction of Future Flood Damages and Associated Repair Costs –Habitat Restoration is Possible Beneficial Component   Example of Allowable Components (PL 84-99): –Land acquisition –Removal of structures for salvage or reuse; debris removal –Removal, protection, relocation of roads, utilities, and railroads –Construction of features for water flow into, thru, around NSA Project area –Non-structural habitat restoration –Removal or razing of existing levees, bank protection structures, and riprap –Floodproofing

10. Louisa #11 Levee District Non-Structural Alternative Project  Non-structural repair alternative requested by the non-federal project sponsor Alternatives developed in the ILWG Repair of levee breaches in up stream portion of project Restoration of flood plain connection of river to existing wetland easements in lower portion of project Collaboration with levee district, county, State, NRCS, FEMA, USACE - USACE levee repair - NRCS easements - FEMA mitigation (buy outs) - State / local easements

11. Successes   Long-term Regional Interagency Chartered Commitment to Collaboration on Flood Risk Reduction on a Watershed System Basis   Louisa Co Levee District #11, Collaborated Non- Structural Alternative Project (NSAP) with USACE levee repair, NRCS easements, FEMA mitigation (buy outs), State / local easements   Henderson D&LD, Gulfport IL NSAP with USACE levee repair, and FEMA buyouts and relocation   Illinois River Basin Leased Cabin Demolition and Elevation   Positive outlook for increased FPMS funding

12. FRM “Grist” Initiatives & Experiences from Silver Jackets Teams Review & comment of draft EO 11988 National Levee Database FEMA RiskMAP Improving Public Involvement in the Flood Risk Management Program NWS Flood Risk Modeling & Flood Forecasts Levee Safety Program & Levee Certification; NFIP USGS River Gauging Fusion Cell Integrating Flood Recovery & FPM (ASFPM) “Patchwork Quilt”

13. Current Initiatives Changes to PL84-99 and/or policy to allow more resilient structural repairs (e.g. breach control structures) Regional MOU between USACE, FEMA, and USGS for consolidated database of historic high water marks Integration of USACE and NRCS data in the national levee data base system Assess viability of consolidating FEMA PA406 and USACE PL84-99 authorities Mechanisms available for immediate “Recon” study of projects with promising NSAPs (e.g. Public Assistance to States) Regional collaboration of individual state flood risk management teams (Silver Jackets) Consistent LiDAR data standards between states Enable preparedness and response awareness and outreach

14. Contact Information Bruce Munholand E-Mail: Bruce.A.Munoland@usace.army.mil Work: 314-331-8480 Cell: 314-406-2571 RFRMT Address http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/pm/rfrmt/index1.htm