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US Army Corps of Engineers

BUILDING STRONG®

America’s Water Resources:A View to the Future

Presentation to

National Waterways Conference

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

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

24 September 2010

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National Water Resource Challenges

EnergyEnergy

Persistent Conflict

Persistent Conflict

AgingInfrastructure

AgingInfrastructure

GlobalizationGlobalization

IncreasingDemand

for Water

IncreasingDemand

for Water

Governance

Federal Budget

Legislative Changes

Governance

Federal Budget

Legislative Changes

ClimateChangeClimateChange

Environmental ValuesEnvironmental Values

Declining BiodiversityDeclining Biodiversity

Disaster Preparednessand Response

Disaster Preparednessand Response

DemographicShifts

DemographicShifts

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• Asian Carp (Great Lakes/Mississippi River)

• Vegetation on Levees (WA, CA, TX)• ACT/ACF Basins (GA, AL, FL)• Everglades Restoration• Great Lakes - Lake Levels • Chesapeake Bay• Bay Delta, CA• Columbia Fish Program (OR, WA, ID)• Columbia River Treaty• Missouri River

Regional Water Resources Challenges

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Asset Management & Infrastructure Recapitalization • Deliver reliable

infrastructure through use of risk-based assessments

• Risk-informed strategy applied to budget process

• Optimize use of limited resources across multiple business lines

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1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020$0

$50,000,000,000

$100,000,000,000

$150,000,000,000

$200,000,000,000

$250,000,000,000

$300,000,000,000

Net Capital Stock Estimates of Corps Civil Works Projects 1928-2009

(in 2009 dollars)

Flood Navigation

Multipurpose MRT

Total

Net

Cap

ital

Sto

ck

The value of the Corps CW’s capital stock portfolio has declined from a peak value of ~ $250 billion in 1983, to ~ $165 billion today, as

new investment & maintenance have not kept pace with depreciation. 5

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-6,000

-4,000

-2,000

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Mill

ions

Gain or Loss in Net Capital Stock

Navigation

Flood

Multipurpose

MRT

Total

This graph shows the annual difference between depreciation & expenditures. For the years where a line is above 0 axis the CW’s net capital stock is

growing, while for the years where the line is below zero the value of the stock is declining.

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A Risk Management Approachto Asset Management

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Time

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Addressing user needs: Nonstationarity & Hydrologic workshop: 13-15 Jan 2010

The risk associated with extreme events has been based on relatively short-term hydrologic

records – in some cases potentially affecting the reliability of critical infrastructure during floods

and droughts. Planning and operations need to be re-assessed

& verified given nonstationary conditions. Best Practices - analytical techniques integrating

climate change into statistical evaluation of designs & operations are needed as basis for consistent policies on assurance of reliability.

Products thus far: • Proceedings (summer 2010)

• Special issue JAWRA (16 papers)

The Future Will Not Look Like the Past

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Corps Water Resources Priorities – FY10• Transforming the Corps Civil Works Program

to meet 21st Century needs• Flood Risk Management• Contingency Planning & Disaster Response• Integrated Water Resources Management -

Watersheds & Systems• Knowledge Management• Asset Management & Infrastructure

Recapitalization• Regulatory Program

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1) Integrated Water Resources Management - Focus on Sustainable Solutions Using Watershed Perspective/Approach

2) Governance & Management - Federal Interagency Partnerships

3) Continue Dialogue - Increase awareness & national

emphasis in support of State water priorities

4) Collaboration - Management of water as a collaborative endeavor focused on shared

responsibilities

5) Water Resources Investment Strategies - Innovative Financing

6) Managing Extreme Events - Adaptation to Climate Change

7) Knowledge & Technology Transfer - Integrated Water Information & Services

8) State Water Resources Leadership - Recognize Primacy of State Role

9) Communications and Education - Active & Continuous

Engagement w/Public

Responding to Water Resource Challenges

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The USACE Planning Process• A structured, rational approach to

problem solving• A specialized discipline that

requires experience, analysis, inspiration & intuition

• A way to identify water resources problems and opportunities, formulate and evaluate alternative solutions and identify tradeoffs.

• A disciplined process to assist decision makers in recommending appropriate investments.

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• Continue to Move Civil Works direction toward Integrated Water Resources management (IWRM)

• Shape Principles and Guidelines revisions ►Support interagency team developing procedures and

methodologies►Ensure recommendations are implementable

• Shape National water resources direction ►Build the public will to support water resources /infrastructure ►Raise awareness within the Administration and Congress of

water resources challenges and opportunities►Provide data and information nation-wide to assist in planning

and management our water resources---A Federal Support Toolbox

Transforming the CW Program to Meet 21st Century Needs

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Modernizing the Process

• Updating key guidance• Improving independent external peer

review (IEPR) procedures• Improving current pre-authorization

process• Legislative recommendations for

alternative feasibility process that can be achieved in 18 months

• Simplifying cost-sharing requirements

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• Stronger partnerships for collaborative problem solving

• A comprehensive strategy to inform and educate

• Smarter regional planning• Advocacy for critical national

water needs • Joint efforts/resources to achieve

common goals• Life-cycle approach from holistic

assessment through O&M• Risk-based management• Resilient water infrastructure

A Picture of the Future ….

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US Army Corps of Engineers

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