Levee systems are complex flood risk reduction structures that have many considerations with respect to alignment, integration with adjacent infrastructure, interior drainage, and the long-term operations and maintenance considerations. There are many documents serving as the current state of the industry with respect to aspects of levee construction and operation, which range from design criteria, specific infrastructure intersections with levees, and policy considerations for the levee sponsor. When thinking about operations and how design can accommodate future operations, it’s also important to understand recent USACE developments with respect to these requirements, such as those published in the December 2023 Levee Inspections and Site Visits: Standard Operating Procedures. The purpose of this table topic will be to discuss critical design considerations for a levee system with respect to the operations, maintenance, and real estate needs. General project experience will guide the overall discussion. This table will be led with the intent on getting feedback from those at the table, but this discussion will be supplemented, as necessary, with related project examples to highlight the importance of beginning with the end in mind, regardless of whether the project is a new levee or a retrofit.
