Levee Deficiency Response Strategy - Prince George's County, Maryland

This project focuses on response strategies to deficiencies reported as a consequence of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2006 Annual Flood Control Inspections completed on September 26, 2006. The three major levee project areas are in Bladensburg (Anacostia River), Upper Marlboro(Collington Branch of Patuxent River, confluence of Collington and Western Branch, and Western Branch of Patuxent River), and Forest Heights Oxon Run (North of Station 21+00).

The inspection focused on the general condition and maintenance of the projects as related to their anticipated ability to meet the design intent. The inspection entailed visual observations of project elements by a team comprised of representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District, Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation, and Greenhorne and O’Mara employees. The agencies involved include Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District, and Maryland Department of Environmental Resources.

The Response Plan identifies deficiencies to be corrected using federal and state guidelines, maintenance recommendations, and requirements. The Response Plan includes corrective actions to eliminate the identified deficiencies. A schedule for deficiency corrections is incorporated, along with the identification of environmental considerations within each levee area. The Response Plan Appendix includes mapping and pictures of identified deficiencies at each of the three levee locations.

Meetings

 * 2007-03-20 - Purpose: USACE 2006 Annual flood control project inspection findings

Project Tasks
On March 14 and 15, 2007, Global Position System (GPS) points were taken at every U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identified deficiency location. Tree removal and erosion areas were recorded as GPS points with a Handheld Trimble Geo GPS unit. The deficiency points were then projected using ESRI ArcGIS software in Maryland Stateplane Feet.

Along with the Response Plan and Response Plan Appendixes, a Tree Removal and Levee Remediation Specifications document was produced. Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation as part of their levee maintenance operation require the removal of trees that a have drip line within fifteen feet (15’) landward or streamside of a levee. It is also required to backfill areas with engineered fill due to the removal of trees, replace existing rip-rap, and complete other ancillary tasks associated with this project. The Tree Removal and Levee Remediation Specifications cover a complete project at each work area and outline detailed corrective actions to be taken by a hired Contractor. The Bid document was prepared in conjunction with the Specifications document.

Policy Compliance
The federal standards met include Department of the Army U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Project Operations - Flood Control Operations and Maintenance Policies (ER 1130-2-530); Levee Owner’s Manual for Non-Federal Flood Control Works; The Rehabilitation and Inspection Program, Public Law 84-99; Code of Federal Regulations Part 208 (§ 208.10); Emergency Employment of Army and Other Resources (ER 500-1-1); and Engineering and Design - Guidelines for Landscape Planting and Vegetation Management at Floodwalls, Levees, and Embankment Dams (EM 1110-2-301). The state standards met include Section 101 of the Maryland State Highway Administration Standard Specifications for Construction and Materials.

The project was initiated by Prince George’s County in March of 2007 and a final product was submitted to the County by Greenhorne and O’Mara in April of 2007. A deficiency correction timeline was produced to resolve identified deficiencies by November 2007.

Response Plan Report
Five copies of the Response Plan, five sets of booklets containing Response Plan Appendix A, B, C, and D, one set of the Tree Removal and Levee Remediation Specifications, and one Bid document were delivered to the Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation Office.