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Regional Flood Plain Management Council
April 15, 2015
H-GAC
Purpose
To investigate the feasibility of reducing the
vulnerability of the upper Texas coast to hurricane
surge and flood damages through the study of an
integrated flood protection system that relies on
natural or nature-based features, non-structural
and structural interventions.
Study Area
Methodology
To define flood risk management and surge suppression
requirements within the region through a technical
analysis of potential alternatives.
What is the threat?
What needs to be protected?
How will we protect?
How do we finance the final project?
What’s the threat?
Defined the threat by modeling the physics and hydraulic
loads of potential storms.
• Models: ADCIRC, SLOSH, HEC-RAS
What needs to be protected?
Define the level of safety for people, the economy and the environment
through extensive modeling of storms, economic data, and assessment of
environmental impacts.
Study area facts:
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Population of over 5 million people and growing
America’s largest concentration of energy, petrochemical and refining industries
A commercial Navigation System of channels and ports linked to the world economy
Home to NASA
Booming fisheries and tourism industry
A coastal estuary system of national significance
A regional economy linked to all of Texas, the national economy and to national
security
How will we protect?
Develop an integrated storm surge and flood defense system
through the evaluation of technical structural and non-structural
alternatives
– Compare cost of technical solutions to economic losses prevented to
determine the Benefit-to-Cost Ratio (BCR) for the alternatives
Financing
Federal Funds:
– Traditional path to project authorization and
appropriation (costs share 65-35)
– Seek special legislation…….New Orleans
State Funds:
- General revenue
- Special taxing districts
- Revenue bonds
- Private investment
- Public-Private Partnership
Three Phases
• Phase 1: Data Collection – Complete
• Phase 2: Mitigation Technical Study- February 2016
• Phase 3: Final Report and Recommendation- June 2016
Phase 1
Critical Activities Completed
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Defined the Threat and the Need for the surge protection
Reviewed of existing data and technical alternatives
Assembled the Data library……ready to pass to GLO
Executed round 1 of public scoping meetings
Reviewed similar International projects and structures
Developed alternative screening criteria
– Alternatives must reduce risk and impacts associate with surge and coastal
flooding to:
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People
Infrastructure
Environment
Regional or National Economy
– Alternatives must be in compliance with local, state and federal
regulations
Phase 1
Critical Activities Completed
• Developed alternative evaluation criteria
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Technically feasibility
Economically feasibility
Environmentally feasibility
Social Feasible
• Developed decision criteria
– Public acceptance
– Flexibility, adaptability, and resilience
– Extended Economic benefits
• GIS Portal
• Develop a list of potential alternatives by study region
• Phase 1 Report is available at http://www.gccprd.com
Phase 2
Critical Tasks Underway
• AD-CIRC modeling
– Establish baseline surge elevations for the region
• HEC-FDA Economic model
– Establish baseline regional economic conditions
• Refine HEC-RAS drainage models
• Alternatives development
• Stakeholder engagement
Potential Alternatives
End State
A defined suite of alternatives based on
sound technical and economic analysis
that creates an integrated protection
system that reduces risk to the public, the
economy and the environment within the
six county study region.
Questions?