Building Strong 1 America’s Water Resources Infrastructure: A View to the Future Presentation to National Waterways Conference Steven L. Stockton, P.E

Building Strong 1

America’s Water Resources Infrastructure: A View to the Future

Presentation toNational Waterways Conference

Steven L. Stockton, P.E.Director of Civil Works

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

March 11, 2009

Building Strong 2

“The List”“The List”zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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Building Strong 3

Our World Has ChangedOur World Has ChangedOur World Has ChangedOur World Has Changed

ClimateClimateChangeChange

PopulationPopulationMigrationMigration

DecliningDecliningDiscretionaryDiscretionary

FundingFunding

AgingAgingInfrastructureInfrastructure

Water ConflictsWater ConflictsBetween StatesBetween States

DroughtsDroughts

SedimentationSedimentation a Bigger Issue a Bigger Issue

DisappearingDisappearingWetlandsWetlands& Coasts& Coasts

Growing BacklogGrowing Backlogin Constructionin Construction& Maintenance& Maintenance

Growing StateGrowing StateWater ResourcesWater Resources

CapabilitiesCapabilities

Changes in Changes in TradeTrade

We need 21stCentury WaterManagementBest Practices

Building Strong 4

Water Resources ChallengesWater Resources Challenges

Flood plain & coastal development Threatened ecosystems Vulnerability to attack

Increased foreign tradeAging infrastructure

Energy demand - hydro

Population pressure

MultipleDemandsMultiple

Demands

Climate change

Changingallocation

needs

Building Strong 5

Future Budget ChallengesFuture Budget Challenges

Dam Safety

Levee Safety

Major Rehabilitationof Infrastructure

No $ for New Projects

Climate Change/Melting Snowpacks

Building Strong 6

A New EraA New EraA New EraA New Era

• The era of large Federal single-purpose The era of large Federal single-purpose water projects is overwater projects is over

• Water resources community Water resources community recognizes need for broader recognizes need for broader interest for water resourcesinterest for water resources planningplanning

• There is a need and more desire for There is a need and more desire for collaborative regional planningcollaborative regional planning

• It is imperative to invest for the long termIt is imperative to invest for the long term

• The era of large Federal single-purpose The era of large Federal single-purpose water projects is overwater projects is over

• Water resources community Water resources community recognizes need for broader recognizes need for broader interest for water resourcesinterest for water resources planningplanning

• There is a need and more desire for There is a need and more desire for collaborative regional planningcollaborative regional planning

• It is imperative to invest for the long termIt is imperative to invest for the long term

Building Strong 7

Back to the Future

Multiple Purpose Reservoir

Hydropower

Recreation

Wastewater Treatment

Agricultural Water Supply

NavigationRe-Regulating Reservoir

Municipal Water SupplyFlood Risk Management

Conservation

Building Strong 8

Back to the Future

"Finally, I urge the Congress to develop "Finally, I urge the Congress to develop more satisfactory procedures for more satisfactory procedures for

considering and authorizing basin-wide considering and authorizing basin-wide development programs. We area long way development programs. We area long way still, both in the Executive and legislative still, both in the Executive and legislative Branches, from the kind of comprehensive Branches, from the kind of comprehensive planning and action that is required if we planning and action that is required if we

are to conserve,develop and use our are to conserve,develop and use our natural resources so that they will be natural resources so that they will be

increasingly useful as the years go by. We increasingly useful as the years go by. We need to make sure that each legislative need to make sure that each legislative authorization and each administrative authorization and each administrative

action, takes us toward -- and not away action, takes us toward -- and not away from -- this goal.“from -- this goal.“

Harry S. Truman, 1950Harry S. Truman, 1950

Building Strong 9

Presidential Memorandum

Transparency and Open Government

President Obama issued a memorandum to the

heads of Executive Departments (Jan 21, 2009):

•Government should work together

•Government should be participatory

•Government should be collaborative

Building Strong 10

Focus the talents and energy of the Corps of Engineers on delivering enduring, comprehensive, sustainable and integrated solutions to the Nation’s water resources and related challenges through collaboration with stakeholders (regions, States, local entities, other Federal Entities, etc.), playing a leadership or support role as appropriate to meet today’s and future challenges.

Deliver Enduring and Essential Water Resources Solutions

Deliver Enduring and Essential Water Resources Solutions

Our GoalOur Goal

Building Strong 11

Roles the Corps Can PlayRoles the Corps Can Play

TraditionalTraditional

New orNew orRenewedRenewed

CollaborativeCollaborativeProblemProblemSolverSolver

RegulatorRegulator

FacilitatorFacilitator& Convener& Convener

ProviderProviderOf Data &Of Data &

InformationInformation

CrisisCrisisManagerManager

Provider ofProvider ofTechnicalTechnical

AssistanceAssistance

Designer/Designer/BuilderBuilder

Operator/Operator/ManagerManager

ResourceResourceProviderProvider

RegulatorRegulator

PolicyPolicyMakerMaker

Building Strong 12

New ThinkingNew Thinking

FocusFocus FromFrom ToTo

• SUCCESS =SUCCESS =• CRITERIACRITERIA

• SCOPESCOPE

•WORKWORK

•KNOWLEDGEKNOWLEDGE

•STYLESTYLE

•MONEYMONEY

•LIFE CYCLELIFE CYCLE

• ProjectsProjects• NED benefits 1stNED benefits 1st

• Single Single purpose/needpurpose/need

• Stay in your Stay in your functional lanefunctional lane

• Knowledge is Knowledge is powerpower

• Follow SOPs as Follow SOPs as recipesrecipes

• Save Federal $Save Federal $• Plan and buildPlan and build

• Comprehensive PlansComprehensive Plans• More balanced NED, RED, More balanced NED, RED,

EQ, OSE benefitsEQ, OSE benefits• Sustainable systems & Sustainable systems &

healthy environmenthealthy environment• Seek horizontal & Seek horizontal &

verticalintegrationverticalintegration

• Share knowledge & Share knowledge & informationinformation

• Think creatively, consider Think creatively, consider risks, think systemsrisks, think systems

• Leverage resourcesLeverage resources

• Plan, fund, monitor for full Plan, fund, monitor for full project life cycleproject life cycle

Building Strong 1313

• Integrated approach and greatercollaboration, partnerships among State, local and Federal agencies

• Collective determination of needs and challenges and effective complementary solutions

• Anticipation and prioritization of future water resources infrastructure needs

• Federal agencies’ use of State water plans to align Federal agency support to States

• Federal financial and technical assistance to support the States

• Federal leadership in collaborative Watershed - System planning

• Unified aims and actions to recommend to Congress: “Integrated Water Resources Planning and Assistance” as a priority Federal mission

Partnering with the States:They Favor …

Partnering with the States:They Favor …

Building Strong 1414

The States Do NOT Favor…

The States Do NOT Favor…

• Proposed cost B/C ratio criteria for primary purpose projects

• Principles & Guidelines that do not meet acceptable thresholds for public safety

• Further lengthening of formulation of projects

• A plan formulation approach that does not embrace state, local needs and concerns

• Federal interference with the States’ leadership role in planning

• Criticism of the way they are implementing their water plans

• Development of a national water plan as a compilation of single projects

• Non-collaborative multi-agency efforts that only meet the needs of the Corps, not the other Federal agencies

“We’refrom D.C. &

we’re here tohelp you”

Building Strong 15

Project Geographical Regions Project Geographical Regions

Western Central

Eastern

Alaska

Washington

Oregon

California

Hawaii

S. DakotaWyoming

Montana

Idaho

Colorado

New MexicoArizona

Utah

Nevada Iowa

Wisconsin

Minnesota

Texas

Oklahoma

Kansas

Nebraska

N. Dakota

Georgia

Florida

Alabama

Miss

issip

pi

Tennessee

Kentucky

OhioIndiana

Michigan

Louisiana

Arkansas

Missouri

Illinois

R.I.Ct.Mass.

N.H.Vt.

Maine

NewYork

Pennsylvania

W.V

a.

Virginia

N. Carolina

S.Carolina

New JerseyDelawareMaryland

Building Strong 16

• Display complex information to a wide range of users

• Account for different types or levels of decisions

• Leverage existing data sets, models and tools

• Accommodate numerous decision criteria

• Support tradeoff analysis across competing investments

Easily accessible framework for comparison and analysis of information relevant to watershed-scale investment decisions

Watershed Investment DecisionTool - in a Nutshell

Watershed Investment DecisionTool - in a Nutshell

• Visualize impacts of budget authorization and appropriation decisions

• Promote public/private sector integration and synchronization

Building Strong 17

An Example of One Tool An Example of One Tool

Watershed Investment Management Decision Tool Concept:• Make use of existing information • Allow systems view across a portfolio of activities• Red, Amber, Green designations to screen by watershed for:

• Flood risk• Earthquake or fire hazard• Population centers• Critical habitat• Water supply zones• Air and water quality• Navigation• Hydropower• Congressional Districts

• Support risk assessment • Collaborate with partners and stakeholders on format and criteria

for more universal use

Building Strong 18

Partnerships – Key to SuccessPartnerships – Key to Success

We will:• Work with local or regional watershed

councils to develop watershed management plans

• Facilitate discussion among stakeholders with complementary or competing water needs

• Partner with other Federal agencies to address regional water issues

• Provide technical assistance to States and local communities

• Share data and information• Improve watershed models in

cooperation with others

Building Strong 19

A Report to Congress from the National Committee on Levee Safety

Recommendations for a National Levee Safety Program

Recommendations for a National Levee Safety Program

Building Strong 20

Corps Navigation Mission Corps Navigation Mission

Provide safe, reliable, efficient, effective and environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation systems for movement of commerce, national security needs, and

recreation.

Building Strong 21

• Vital role in U.S. economyVital role in U.S. economy

• Aging infrastructure in need of modernizationAging infrastructure in need of modernization

• Growing competition for funds within Corps Growing competition for funds within Corps program and within discretionary portion of Federal program and within discretionary portion of Federal BudgetBudget

• Challenge to balance with expanding missions, like Challenge to balance with expanding missions, like environmental restorationenvironmental restoration

• War on terror and growing deficit add to budget War on terror and growing deficit add to budget challengechallenge

• We can’t do business as usual – resources not there We can’t do business as usual – resources not there and difficult choices have to be madeand difficult choices have to be made

• We have strong case for investing in navigation, but We have strong case for investing in navigation, but need to do better job of showing whyneed to do better job of showing why

The Funding Challenge:The Funding Challenge:Making the Case for NavigationMaking the Case for Navigation

Building Strong 22

Goal: Improve system reliability

Objectives:• Operate the series of locks as a system

• Standardize lock and dam operations

• Standardize lock and dam maintenance

• Optimize channel conditions to support system reliability

• Operate within the USACE “Environmental Operating Principles”

• Enhance career progression and establish a capable workforce through human resources improvements.

Inland Marine Transportation System (IMTS) Inland Marine Transportation System (IMTS) Improvement ReportImprovement Report

Building Strong 23

• Identified 25 major business processes, over 100 specific areas for improvements

• IMTS Board of Directors (Navigation Division Commanders)– System-wide management, policies, and prioritization

• Draft findings: – Improved system reliability

– No change to existing chain-of-command or organizational structure of Divisions and Districts

– No personnel reductions or re-alignments

– Performance aligned with OMB Government Performance Results Act and Asset Management requirements

– No impact on local employee bargaining unit agreements

HighlightsHighlights

Building Strong 24

• Take a Systems Approach: Integrated water management through a watershed approach and integrated life-cycle infrastructure management

• Build and Sustain Partnerships: Improve intergovernmental, inter-organizational cooperation

• Use Risk-Informed Decision Making and Communication: Ensure public safety through risk assessment and vigilance of our water infrastructure

• Pursue Innovative Financing • Practice Adaptive Management • Use State-of-the-Art Technology: Invest in science, technology,

and information management• Plan for hiring, training and retaining to maintain a

competitive edge

So, How Do We Invest in the Future?So, How Do We Invest in the Future?

Building Strong 25

Building Strong 26

SummarySummary

• The waterway transportation system is a vital part of our Nation’s Infrastructure/critical to America’s continued growth and prosperity

• The Corps is a partner in ensuring waterway transportation infrastructure is remains viable for the Nation

• Demands for waterway transportation are increasing requiring improved and reliable infrastructure

• Current aging infrastructure challenges are impacting extent of growth of marine and inland waterway traffic

• We continue to seek opportunities to improve infrastructure as appropriated funds areavailable

• We need to continue to educate the public on the importance of waterway infrastructure and its present condition

Building Strong 27

Navigation ChallengesNavigation Challenges

• Aging Infrastructure/System Reliability– 50% locks > 50 years old– increasing down time or delays– increasing emergency repairs

• Funding to support Navigation– O&M flat-lined in constant dollars– Limited construction funds for improvements– Inland Navigation Trust Fund going broke

• Increased demands for water transport– Need for increased lock sizes

• Competing interests for water – Water supply concerns– Ecosystem restoration– Hydropower– Flood Risk Management

Building Strong 28

Key EmphasisKey Emphasis

• Reliability & efficiency• Long Term Capital Investment

perspective• Investments for the system,

not projects• Rigorous valuation & risk

assessment programs• Equating the optimum needs

with achieving acceptable levels of risk

Documents

Building Strong 1 America’s Water Resources Infrastructure: A View to the Future Presentation to National Waterways Conference Steven L. Stockton, P.E