Flood Control Levees
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Levee Certification – San Bernardino County, CA
FEMA has established a Levee Coordination Committee to address levees throughout the United States with respect to the challenge of maintaining information on the location, structural integrity, and certification. This committee is examining current levee regulations and developing a long-term levee policy. As interim guidance, FEMA issued Procedure Memorandum 34 (PM 34) on August 22, 2005.

PM 34 established guidance for inventorying the levee system and establishing levee review protocol. As part of the levee review protocol, FEMA would provide an inventory of the levee systems. However, the agency requesting accreditation of the levee on the FEMA maps would be responsible for providing the levee certification and supporting analyses.

The San Bernardino program is divided into 3 phases. Phase 1 (which is currently nearing completion) includes data collection, site visits, and assessment of work needed to obtain certification. As part of this work a matrix is being developing to assist the County in prioritizing the work in order to develop a logical plan of action. Considerations in the prioritizing include availability of data as well as the number of structures affected by non-certification. Phase 2 work will include performing the analyses to support certification for all Category 1 and Category 2 levees. Tetra Tech is providing engineering services for all 21 levees constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Approval of analyses and conclusions will be obtained from the Corps and the Corps will provide final levee certification.

Phase I of the project involved the following tasks:

• Data collection – Hydrologic, hydraulics, and geotechnical information, as-built plans, operation and maintenance information.
• Site inspection of the levees.
• Preliminary assessment of the levees and identification of deficiencies.
• Categorization of the levees.
• Report preparation.

Phase II of the project involves the following tasks:

• Hydrologic and Hydraulic analyses
• Risk and Uncertainty analyses
• Geotechnical field exploration and embankment stability evaluation
• Erosion and sedimentation analyses
• Preparation of O&M Manual
• Assembly of the certification package