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SENT BY= 4-26-JZ • io--tZ • v,:1r\. I UL. JUJ UUr Juu .. 11/ 1L <br /> AMAZON CHANNEL MAINTENANCE STUDY <br /> CHANNEL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES <br /> FEMA requirements and guidelines regarding channel maintenance were investigated along with <br /> those of Corps of Engineers (COE). How do these requirements differ? Does the Amazon Channel <br /> levees' inability to provide adequate protection against the 100-year flood have any effect on either <br /> FEMA or the COE maintenance requirements? <br /> FEMA guidelines indicate that a community should periodically maintain its open drainageways in an <br /> effort.to provide the floodwater conveyances assumed in the community's flood insurance study. <br /> However, FEMA does not have any regulations regarding channel maintenance unless it relates to <br /> levees that satisfy their levee policy or any drainageway improvements that occurred after the <br /> community joined the regular flood insurance program. Since the Amazon Channel's levees do not <br /> satisfy FEMA's levee policy (i.e. 44 CFR Part 65.10), no maintenance on the channel is required by <br /> FEMA's regulation. However, maintenance will be required on the split flow channel being relocated <br /> around Spectra Physics, since these improvements will occur after the City entered the regular <br /> program in 1979. <br /> The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (COE) does have strict maintenance regulations that relate to local <br /> flood protection works designed and constructed by the COE. The management of vegetation on <br /> flood control structures is governed by the following regulations: <br /> 1. Title 33 - Navigation and Navigable Waters, Chapter II - COE, Part 208 - Flood <br /> Control Regulations <br /> 2. ER 1130-2-335 Project Operations - Levee Maintenance Standards and Procedures <br /> dated 5 December 1968. <br /> 3. ER 1130-2-339 Project Operations - Inspection of Flood Protection Projects dated 29 <br /> October 1973. <br /> 4. Levee Inspection Rating Guide in accordance with ER 500-1-1 dated 11 March 1991, <br /> Appendix I. <br /> 5. PDR 1130-2-5 Levee Encroachment Standards and Procedures dated 17 March 1980. <br /> These regulations cite current maintenance requirements and how a project sponsor (e.g. City of <br /> Eugene) should prepare for and carry out emergency flood control operations. The ultimate aim of <br /> levee vegetation management activities is to ensure the structural integrity of flood control facilities. <br /> Current COE regulations are not sensitive to concerns about the destruction of wetlands vegetation <br /> nor do they"'vTiy if the levee is not providing adequate (i.e. 100-year) flood protection. The problem <br /> with the current COE regulations is that they treat the country as a whole and they are not sensitive <br /> to local concerns or conditions. <br /> 4 <br />