Harpeth River Watershed Study
US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BUILDING STRONG®
AUTHORIZATION: Resolution by the Senate Committee on Public Works, dated 19 September 1973.
TYPE OF PROJECT: General Investigations Flood Risk Management and Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study.
LOCATION: The Harpeth River Watershed is about 870 square miles and reaches into six counties in Middle Tennessee including most of Williamson and Cheatham, about half of Dickson, a significant portion of southwest Davidson, and portions of Rutherford and Hickman Counties.
CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST: DesJarlais (TN-04), Cooper (TN-05), Blackburn (TN-07), Alexander (TN),
Corker (TN)
NON-FEDERAL SPONSOR:
· Sponsors for the study include the City of Nashville, City of Franklin, Williamson County, and City of Brentwood.
BACKGROUND:
· As a result of record flooding in 2010, within the Harpeth River Watershed, a reconnaissance report was completed evaluating water resources issues including flood risk management and ecosystem restoration within the watershed. This is the first step in the USACE process toward reducing threats to life and property from flooding.
· The reconnaissance report (certified 23 July 2012 by LRD) found federal interest in pursuing both flood risk and ecosystem restoration issues into the feasibility-level of study. The Feasibility Cost Share Agreement (FCSA) was signed on 13 June 2013 to investigate flood risk management in the Harpeth Basin upstream of the Dickson/Davidson County line.
IMPORTANCE: On May 1-2, 2010, record-breaking rains struck the Cumberland and Tennessee Valley regions. The Harpeth River Watershed experienced local rainfall amounts of 18-20 inches during this 48 hour period, some of the heaviest in the area, causing widespread, devastating flooding. The Harpeth River reached record flood stages, far exceeding the previous record stages by as much as 43%. Two of the 26 flood-related fatalities directly attributed to this event were in the Harpeth River Watershed. Portions of Interstate 40 along the Harpeth were closed for as many as three days. Individual Applicants for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the Harpeth River Watershed numbered in the thousands.
STATUS:
· Reconnaissance report has been completed and certified by LRD.
· The FCSA was signed on 13 June 2013. A project kickoff meeting was held 20 August 2013.
· The feasibility phase of the study will further investigate both local and regional flood risk management alternatives as well as ecosystem restoration alternatives in the upper portions of the Harpeth River Watershed.
BUDGET ($): Estimated project study costs are shown below.
Total Estimated Study Cost
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$1,400,000
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Federal Cost Estimate
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700,000
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Non-Federal Cost Estimate
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*700,000
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|
|
Federal Funds Data
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|
Allocation thru FY 2014
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$800,000
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Allocation for FY 2015
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0
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Balance to Complete
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0
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President’s Budget for FY 2015
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0
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* To be divided by the 4 sponsors.
SCHEDULE:
FY2014 Completed Work: Project kicked off and initial Alternatives Milestone met.
FY2015 Scheduled Work: Alternatives to be evaluation and a Tentatively Selected Plan will be identified.
Completion: The Corps estimates the feasibility phase of study will be completed in compliance with the 3x3x3 streamlined feasibility study initiative. The feasibility study phase is scheduled to be completed 3 years after the execution of a FCSA.
For more information regarding the Harpeth River Watershed Study, contact Amanda Burt, CELRN-PM-P, phone: (615) 736-7851, email: amanda.l.burt@usace.army.mil.