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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I C. PROTECTION PROVIDED BY LEVEE 1. Hi story At the request of the local governments, the Albuquerque District, Corps of Engi neers became i nvol ved wi th the community of San Lui s during January of 1979. During the winter of 1978-79, abnormal snowpacks were building in the mountains above San Luis and the potential for spring flooding was evident. The Corps of Engineers, under emergency measures, constructed a levee along the east edge of town to divert possible floodwater coming from the East Drainage of the Rito Seco. The 1979 levee construction divided the East Drainage and North Drainage and has provided flood protection to the town. The levee is an engineered structure and was constructed under Corps of Engineers standard of excellence. The as-built plans and. specifications for the levee project are available at the Corps of Engineers Office in Albuquerque, New Mexico. ,----=- In its present condition the levee will not meet Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) levee certification requirements for flood control protection. A part of this study was to determine what measures would be required to bring the levee up the the FEMA standards and provide 100 year flood protection for the community. 2. Investigation WRC obtained the FEMA Regulations for levees. The requirements for protection from the 100 year flood are that: o The levee provide 3.0 feet of freeboard above the 100 year water surface elevation. o All openings must be provided with closure devices. o Levee embankments must be protected from erosion. o Levee embankments stability must be evaluated. o The interior drainage system must be evaluated. o An operation and maintenance plan must be implemented for the levee system. -19-