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Guidance and Policy

 

 

 

This web page provides access to existing and newly released policy and guidance relating to levee certification, inspections and other flood risk management related matters, including:

USACE Information, Regulations and Guidance Pertaining to Levee Certification

  • September 12, 2007, FAQs for Draft Engineer Technical Letter (ETL) 1110-2-570, Certification of Levee Systems for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
    09/12/2007
    This documents contains Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to the USACE ETL for Levee Certification.
  • September 12, 2007, Draft Engineer Technical Letter (ETL) 1110-2-570, Certification of Levee Systems for the National Flood Insurance Program
    09/12/2007
    This document describes USACE procedures for performing a levee system certification determination for NFIP proposes.
  • USACE Levee Certification
    10/01/2006
    A fact sheet describing levee certification under the National Flood Insurance Program
  • Risk Analysis and Levee Certification
    01/01/2006
    A presentation by USACE's Hydrologic Engineering Center on Risk Analysis and Levee Certification

 

USACE Levee Inspection, Inventory and Assessment Activities

Levee Safety Program

  • Levee Safety Program Implementation
    11/16/2007
    The purpose of this memorandum is to provide initial guidance for establishing the USACE Levee Safety Program.

USACE Levee Inspection

  • California's Central Valley Flood System Improvement Framework
    02/27/2009
    This is a news release summarizing the California Round Table, the collaborative partnership of Federal, State, and Local officials. The partnership has developed a framework for improving the levee system in the Central Valley, a responsibility of both Federal and State agencies.
  • California Levees Roundtable - Improvement Framework
    02/27/2009
    This document has been collaboratively developed by the California Levees Roundtable, a partnership of federal, State, and local agencies that was formed in August 2007 to address vegetation issues affecting the State-federal levee system in the Central Valley. The Roundtable recognized that vegetation management is only one of many issues that threaten levees and broadened its scope to address many threats to levee integrity. The flood system improvement process requires a comprehensive approach to improve public safety that focuses first on the most critical areas affecting public safety.
  • Temporary Extension of P.L. 84-99 Rehabilitation Eligibility for Non-Federal Sponsors Implementing System-Wide Improvements
    01/09/2009
    The purpose of this memo is to provide guidance for requesting a temporary extension of eligibility to allow flood damage reduction systems with an unacceptable inspection rating to remain eligible for rehabilitation assistance while non-Federal sponsors undertake system-wide corrections of deficiencies and/or implement system-wide improvements. The intent is to optimize flood risk reduction between operations and maintenance work and system-wide improvements, for the benefit of the public exposed to flood risks.
  • Revised Final Independent Peer Review Report for USACE Vegetation Policy for Local Flood Damage Reduction Systems
    12/09/2008
    9 Dec 2008. Independent External Peer Review (IEPR) of USACE's policy for landscaping and vegetative maintenance of Federal Flood Protection Projects. This IEPR is in accordance with EC 1105-2-410, Review of Decision Documents, published 22 Aug 2008 and set to expire 30 Sep 2010. The results of this report are 10 final comments by the IEPR panel that will be taken into consideration in preparation of the final USACE Vegetation Policy.
  • Supplemental Policy Guidance for the USACE 26 September 2006 Policy Guidance for Prioritization of FY 07 Inspection of Completed Works (ICW) Operations & Maintenance, General (O&M Gen), Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) and Flood Control & Coastal Emergencies Inspection Accounts
    06/28/2007
    On September 26, 2006, USACE issued policy guidance for inspection of levee systems in USACE programs. On January 18, 2007, USACE issued supplemental guidance for the inspection of levee systems. The purpose of this guidance is to provide a one-time only "maintenance deficiency correction period" of 1 year, to allow public sponsors of levee projects time to correct maintenance deficiencies before a project is placed in an "inactive" status in the USACE Rehabilitation and Inspection Program and becomes ineligible for Public Law 84-99 rehabilitation assistance.
  • Policy Guidance for Prioritization of FY 07 Inspection of Completed Works (ICW) Operations & Maintenance, General (O&M Gen), Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) and Flood Control & Coastal Emergencies Inspection Accounts
    06/28/2007
    On September 26, 2006, USACE issued policy guidance for inspection of levee systems in USACE programs. The guidance helps clarify USACE and FEMA responsibilities for notifying levee owners of levee conditions. FEMA and USACE collaboratively developed this guidance and FEMA PM No. 43, which are intended to be companion documents for situations where levees in USACE programs are being evaluated for accreditation on NFIP maps.
  • Jan 1, 2000 Guidelines for Landscape Planting and Vegetation Management at Floodwalls, Levees, and Embankment Dams
    05/10/2007
    Jan 1, 2000 Guidelines for Landscape Planting and Vegetation Management at Floodwalls, Levees, and Embankment Dams
  • Memo Sharing flood risk information
    04/05/2007
    A USACE memo encouraging the sharing of levee inspection reports and other flood risk information with the public and private sector
  • NonFed Levee Owner's Manual
    03/01/2006
    the Levee Owner's Manual for Non-Federal Flood Control Works under the USACE Rehabilitation and Inspection Program

USACE Levee Inventory and Assessment

  • USACE Levee Assessments
    11/15/2006
      A USACE presentation describing a risk-informed methodology for levee assessment.
    • USACE Levee Assessments (pdf, 205 KB)
  • USACE Levee Database
    11/15/2006
      A USACE presentation providing an overview of the National Levee Database
    • USACE Levee Database (pdf, 2.16 MB)
  • May 1, 2006 USACE Levee Inventory Memo
    05/01/2006

 

FEMA Information, Regulations and Guidance Pertaining to Levees and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Headquarters and Regional Office staff have developed, and will continue to develop, informational and guidance materials pertaining to levees and to the flood risks posed to people and property in the areas behind levees.  FEMA has developed, and will continue to develop, levee-related materials for various NFIP stakeholder groups.  Please select one of the links below to see materials that are accessible through the FEMA Website:

Some of the documents that may be found on the FEMA Website are listed below:

  • The National Levee Challenge: Levees and the FEMA Flood Map Modernization Initiative
    08/01/2007
    This report, prepared by the Interagency Levee Policy Review Committee, contains a series of recommended actions for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Mitigation Directorate to consider as a means of addressing the challenge of assessing the flood protection capabilities of levees and levee systems and accurately assessing the flood risk posed to citizens and property located behind those levees and levee systems.
  • Living Behind Levees
    04/05/2007
    A FEMA fact sheet providing flood risk information for property owners living behind levees.

Levee Accreditation

  • The National Flood Insurance Program and Levees FAQ
    05/10/2007
    A fact sheet providing information about the levees, the risks associated with levees and levee certification and accreditation issues under the National Flood Insurance Program.
  • Mapping Areas Protected by Levees
    10/01/2004
    Regulatory language found in the Code of Federal Regulations describing FEMA's regulatory requirements for mapping of areas protected by levee systems, including levee certification requirements

Provisionally Accredited Levees (PAL)

  • Provisionally Accredited Levees Answers to Questions about Revised Procedure Memorandum 43
    05/10/2007
    A brochure with answers to questions about FEMA levee evaluation and mapping practices with a focus on Procedure Memorandum No. 43 and Provisionally Accredited Levees.
  • Provisionally Accredited Levees Brochure
    05/10/2007
    A brochure providing detailed information on Provisionally Accredited Levees and the guidance provided in Procedure Memorandum 43.
  • Provisionally Accredited Levees - Mapping Scenarios for Procedure Memorandum No. 43
    05/10/2007
    A brochure that presents information on the various mapping scenarios for Provisionally Accredited Levees as described in Procedure Memorandum 43.
  • March 16, 2007 Revised Procedure Memorandum 43 and Attachments
    05/10/2007
    A Procedure Memorandum providing guidance for identifying Provisionally Accredited Levees and mapping levee-affected areas.

Floodplain Mapping and the MapMod Program

  • Mapping Information Platform
    05/10/2007
    A FEMA web site that enables the management, extraction, sharing, and production of flood hazard data and maps.
  • MapMod Overview
    05/10/2007
    An overview of FEMA's Map Modernization Program
  • Aug 22, 2005 Procedural Memorandum 34
    05/10/2007
    A copy of FEMA's Procedural Memorandum 34 which clarifies the levee owner's responsibility to provide documentation regarding levee design, structural integrity, and other requirements for crediting a levee with providing a 1-percent-annual-chance flood protection.

Tools

  • DFIRMs Tools
    05/10/2007
    A website containing GIS tools available to produce Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs).

Terminology

 

 

Reviewed 11 Feb 2009

 
   
National Flood Risk Management Program