Council on Watershed Management Meeting · 11/8/2018 · • Reward proactive local...

W O R K I N G T O G E T H E R F O R S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y A N D R E S I L I E N C E

Council on Watershed Management Meeting

November 8, 2018Meeting No. 5


Acadiana Planning Commission

PresentationMonique B. Boulet, CEO

L O U I S I A N A W A T E R S H E D I N I T I A T I V E 2


TAG UpdatesEngagement: Alex Carter, Resilience Planning Manager OCDData: Pat Landry, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Public Works at LA DOTD and Ehab Meselhe, Professor at the Department of River-Coastal Science and Engineering, Tulane UniversityProjects: Matt Weigel, Biologist Programs Manager at Louisiana Department of Wildlife and FisheriesPlanning: Danica Adams, Planning Analyst, Office of Community Development -Disaster Recovery UnitPolicy: Sam Martin, Executive Management Officer 1 at State of Louisiana, Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority



Statewide Listening TourWHERE WE’VE BEEN

4L O U I S I A N A W A T E R S H E D I N I T I A T I V E

Lafayette58 MonroeWest Monroe Conven t ion Cen te r

64ShreveportShrevepor t Conven t ion Cen te r

44 HoumaSouth Cen t ra l P lann ing & Deve lopment D is t r i c t

60

AlexandriaPinev i l l e Commun i t y Cen te r

46LA BEOC In fo rmat i ve Research Cen te r

Lake Charles45 IMCAL (SEED Cen te r )

317 engineers, planners, floodplain managers, public works staff, emergency responders, code enforcement staff, elected officials, and more


Statewide Listening TourWHERE WE’VE BEEN

5L O U I S I A N A W A T E R S H E D I N I T I A T I V E

W O R K I N G T O G E T H E R F O R S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y A N D R E S I L I E N C E 6L O U I S I A N A W A T E R S H E D I N I T I A T I V E

• Locals want to be involved• Need for technical assistance and

improved capacity to fully participate• Many jurisdictions could benefit from

resources already available• Local expertise varies• Need for more outreach on flood

mitigation programs • Jurisdictions support outreach and

education at the local level

Engagement and PRWHAT WE’VE HEARD SO FAR

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• Complete listening tour and synthesize results in report form and within the work of the TAGs

• Short-term early 2019 engagement needs: interstate summit, regional meetings to 'right size' capacity building program

Results emailed and available publicly at http://watershed.la.gov

Engagement and PRNext Steps

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Modeling and ProcurementWHAT WE’VE HEARD SO FAR• Strong desire for regional participation in

modeling procurement• Economy of scale, efficiency, minimum

standardization, local capacity• Lessons learned, re: stakeholder engagement

Amite Modeling effort Nov. 15th Listening Tour

NEXT STEPS: Data TAG drafts a strategy that establishes the appropriate level of state/local partnership to achieve the best possible outcomeEstimated January 2019



• Establish realistic base standards for data collection

• Data needs to feed into a “living model” with a focus on calibration, QA/QC

• Need to consider why data is needed and how it will be used when setting targets/standards

• Focus on using funds efficiently

DataWHAT WE’VE HEARD SO FAR

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Data Track Update• Dataset workshops completed:

• NHD/WBD/LIDAR – October 8• Historical Flood Data – October 16• Water Quality Data – October 17• River and Rain Gages – October 18• Biological and Ecological Responses – October 23

• White papers for each session (3 of 5 complete, 2 in progress)• Summarize what data is available, the importance of the data, data status, future plans for

the data, and “how can I contribute”, to be published for comment

• Follow up correspondence with presenters for technical details, data standards



Data Gap Analysis• Example Findings –

NHD/WBD/3DEP• Lidar data are available statewide

• not all data is up to current USGS quality standards

• Lidar datasets may have differences along their edges from different data collection efforts

• Consider more frequent recollection of elevation data for areas with significant subsidence

• NHDPlus is in progress for LA with no set complete date



Data Gap Analysis


• Example Findings – River and Rain Gages

• Preliminary evaluation indicates overall need for additional river gages:

• Statewide evaluation of USGS • Vermillion/Teche and Mermentau

basins evaluation• Rain gage data can be supplemented by

precipitation Radar data


• Example Findings – Water Quality• DEQ collects and manages a number of monitoring

stations, with much of the data available to the public:• Interactive Mapping Application• Electronic Document Management System• Water Data Portal

• DEQ open to hosting data collected through LWI initiatives and assisting in data collection

• Flow data is critical to DEQ’s program

Data Gap Analysis



Data Gap Analysis


• Example Possible Next Steps• Engage with USGS, NRCS, and DOTD regarding ongoing Lidar updates (3DEP)• Discuss handling of non-Lidar elevation data (e.g. local project survey data)• Promote local participation in NHD development and improvement• Comprehensive evaluation of gage locations to identify appropriate locations for

additional stream gages. • Coordinate with DEQ to determine a protocol to provide them with meaningful flow

data

• Additional Datasets: hydraulic structures, impervious surface, property and assessor data, aerial imagery


Data Standards

• Compiling Available Data Standards

• FEMA requirements• State guidelines• Federal guidelines



Data TAG



• Prioritize continuous, historical impact areas

• Reward proactive local jurisdictions/regions already investing in flood risk-reduction

• Focus on projects that meet multiple community needs

• Funding for staff and gage projects

ProjectsWHAT WE’VE HEARD SO FAR

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Projects - ProgressEVALUATION CRITERIA• Recommended criteria weighting• Refined individual criteria

(coordinate with Policy & Data TAGs)

APPLICATION PROCESS• Rounds of funding

1. Prior to models2. Vetted with watershed models

• Phased Application1. Pre-application screening2. Application technical evaluation3. Verification of stated benefits through

design and modeling


Criteria Weight

Effectiveness (flood risk reduction) 35%

Feasibility 20%

Natural Functions 15%

Affordability / Schedule 10%

Social Considerations 10%

Higher Standards 10%


Projects – Next Steps: Program Alignment


Inventory Existing Programs

Educate staff

Develop assessment protocol

Implement opportunities

Track and share progress

Formalize for future

Late 2018 / Early 2019

Throughout 2019

Mid to Late 2019

State and Federal FY 2020

Late 2019 / Early 2020

Mid to Late 2020


• Provide a minimum framework for watersheds to follow

• Funding decisions, project authorization, and other decisions should be driven by floodplain management expertise not politics

• Integrate local plans with regional/state plans, CRS model

• Watershed specific pre-disaster planning

PlanningWHAT WE’VE HEARD SO FAR

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W O R K I N G T O G E T H E R F O R S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y A N D R E S I L I E N C E L O U I S I A N A W A T E R S H E D I N I T I A T I V E

Plan Approval Current Plan

Next Update

Time Horizon Scale Flooding Addressed

FEMA / GOHSEP

2014 2019 50 Years - 2068 Statewide Riverine, Flash, Ponding, Backwater, Urban, Coastal

US FWS / LDWF

2015 2025 35 Years - 2050 Statewide Irregularly flooded marshes, snags in floodplains, Miss River floodplain, Inopportune water releases upstream of beaches

LIIEP Commission

2015 2020? 30 Years - 2044 Statewide Roadway flooding

LA Legislature 2017 2023 50 Years - 2067 Coastal Storm Surge

OCD 2018 50 Years - 2067 6 Coastal Parishes

Storm Surge & 100-Year on FIRM

Planning – Plans Compared


Planning – Review Workplan

Orders of Business• Considerations/recommendations to develop, implement, and enforce statewide plan• Recommend content and nature of a statewide floodplain management plan• Make recommendations for alignment of existing plans


Upcoming Milestone

March 2019 Kickoff Statewide planning process


• Statewide standards or guidance tied to funding will help ensure consistency across watersheds

• Best practices and model ordinances are helpful

• Account for enforcement needs for new policy

• State needs to reinforce efforts of local jurisdictions

PolicyWHAT WE’VE HEARD SO FAR

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Policy TAG - Next Steps

• Identify gaps in State facility floodplain management and flood risk management, make recommendations to resolve

• White papers and research for specific local and statewide policy to be published on a rolling basis

• Increasing coordination across state agencies



Old Business, New Business



New Business

• Draft Website and Data Portal Plan (see handout)• Watershed Administration RFP• Regional Capacity Building Grant Program• Proposed Next Meeting Date (mid-January)



Closing Remarks



THANK [email protected]

L O U I S I A N A W A T E R S H E D I N I T I A T I V E

Council on Watershed Management Meeting · 11/8/2018 · • Reward proactive local...

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