Enhanced flood response/emergency preparedness feasibility study

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=185 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="David Ford Consulting Engineers"><U><B><IMG SRC="0d058960.png" border=0 width="88" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" > </FONT></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="4" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="156" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FFFFFF" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FFFFFF" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 27 WIDTH="146"><div> David Ford Consulting Engineers, Inc.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 27 ><NOBR><div> 2015 J Street, Suite 200</div> <div> Sacramento, CA 95811</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 27 WIDTH="146"><div> tel: 916.447.8779</div> <div> fax: 916.447.8780</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 27 WIDTH="146"><div> <A HREF="mailto:support@ford-consulting.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:support@ford-consulting.com"><U>support@ford-consulting.com</U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div>    </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="David Ford Consulting Engineers"><U>Home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id461.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About us"><U>About us</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="news.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News"><U>News</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="hydrologic_engineering.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hydrologic engineering"><U>Hydrologic engineering</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="water_resource_planning.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Water resource planning"><U>Water resource planning</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="flood_economic_and_risk_analyses.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Flood economic and risk analyses"><U>Flood economic/risk analyses</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="flood_warning.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Flood warning"><U>Flood warning</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="decision_support_system_development.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Decision support system development"><U>Decision support systems</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=40 BGCOLOR="#3366CC" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="14400980ezthpx.png"> <div> <B>Enhanced flood response/emergency preparedness feasibility study </B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=440 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="06c00962egerdp.png"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="547" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=3 BGCOLOR=#CC0000 HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="537"><div> <B>Situation</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=3 HEIGHT= 214 WIDTH="537"><div> In response to large-scale damaging floods in California's Central Valley in 1997, the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), in cooperation with the Reclamation Board of California (Reclamation Board), initiated in 1998 the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Basins Comprehensive Study (the Comp Study). The study had two broad objectives: (1) to reduce flood damages; and (2) to integrate environmental restoration/protection into flood-damage reduction. The Corps and the Reclamation Board recognized that implementation of large-scale, system-wide solutions would take time, especially if the projects selected required significant construction. In an effort to implement projects sooner, the Comp Study identified initial projects (IPs). IPs would constitute fully-compatible elements of the final recommended master plan, but represent site-specific solutions that are relatively small in scope. Enhanced flood response and emergency preparedness in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River basins was one such IP.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=3 BGCOLOR=#339933 HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="537"><div> <B>Action</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=3 HEIGHT= 1455 WIDTH="537"><div> David Ford Consulting Engineers Inc. was tasked to identify problems and opportunities, inventory and forecast conditions, formulate alternative plans, evaluate effect of alternative plans, compare alternative plans; and select a recommended plan. We worked cooperatively with the Corps and key stakeholders to accomplish this. The work consisted of four phases, as described below.</div> <div> <B>Phase 1</B>: </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c811111100.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Stakeholder consensus building. Our initial action was to coordinate with and involve stakeholders in reaching a consensus regarding the objective of the study. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c811111100.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Baseline condition investigations. We conducted a series of intensive baseline investigations to identify the state of the flood response and preparedness systems. Investigations for the basins included:  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c811111100.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Data collection for the Sacramento River basin and for the San Joaquin River basin.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c811111100.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Data systems and control for the Sacramento River basin and  for the San Joaquin River basin.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c811111100.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Integrated evaluation system for the Sacramento River basin and the San Joaquin River basin. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c811111100.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Public products and dissemination.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c811111100.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">System-wide preparedness. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c811111100.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Identification of opportunities for enhancement. We identified problems, constraints, and opportunities for enhancement of the flood warning and response system in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River basins. We developed and submitted 10 reports on opportunities to enhance the Sacramento and the San Joaquin River basin flood response and emergency preparedness system. </div> <div> <B>Phase 2</B>: </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Formulation and screening of measures. After baseline investigations were complete and initial opportunities for enhancement were identified, we formulated and screened measures for enhancing the Sacramento and San Joaquin flood response and emergency preparedness system.   </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Formulation of alternative plans.  Based on the measures retained, we formulated three alternatives, consistent with planning constraints and criteria, to address the planning objectives. We prepared an opinion of probable cost for each plan.</div> <div> <B>Phase 3</B>: </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Developed a method for computation of inundation-reduction benefit. Researchers have proposed a relationship between increased mitigation time and damage reduced, based upon analysis of historical data or upon hypothetical studies. The Corps asked that we develop a more rigorous analysis. Our strategy to quantify the benefit of increased mitigation time due to flood warning system enhancements was to develop modified depth-damage functions for residential contents, appropriate for specific durations of mitigation time. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Identified without-project mitigation time. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Identified with-project mitigation time. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Computed benefits. Using depth-% damage reduction relationship and efficiency factors, we computed the expected inundation-reduction benefit for each of the 110 economic impact areas for without and with-project alternatives. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Conducted benefit-cost analysis. We conducted a benefit-cost analysis for each of the three alternatives and identified the national economic development (NED) plan.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Compared alternative plans. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Identified a tentatively recommended plan. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Formulated a draft report. We prepared a draft planning report for the Corps in Corps format: "Initial Project Central Valley River Basins Enhanced Flood Response and Emergency Preparedness Preliminary Draft Feasibility Report Preliminary Draft Environmental Assessment/Initial Study." </div> <div> <B>Phase 4</B>: </div> <div> During this phase we assisted the Sacramento District with moving the preliminary draft feasibility report to a draft feasibility (F5) report. </div> <bR> <div> A subsequent letter from a Water Resource Planning Specialists at the Corps demonstrates the Corps' satisfaction with our work: </div> <div> <I>Due to the multiple agency nature of the existing system, Ford solicited input form a large stakeholder group…During this process, we received very favorable comments from the stakeholders regarding Ford's activities and assessments. …Based on this project and subsequent transactions with David Ford Consulting Engineers, I feel confident recommending them for other flood warning, flood management, and planning related projects…They have specialized experience and knowledge in this field, which was crucial for the success of this project. Finally, they consistently provided us with high quality services that met our needs and that were delivered on time and within budget...</I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" > </FONT></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>