Photo By Jeremy Todd | Civil Engineer Alex Baldowski, points out the levee barrier system to Colonel Frank...... read more read more
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Most of downtown Washington, D.C., faces flood risk, with about 40 city blocks including the Federal Triangle area and parts of the National Mall requiring protection. A levee system, designed to withstand a 100-year flood event, helps safeguard the area.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed the levee around the National Mall in 1939, leaving a single gap at 17th Street for transportation. While this flood protection system has served for decades, officials continue to maintain and test it regularly.
On Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, Corps Civil Works staff and the command team observed the annual installation of the 17th Street Levee system. Department of Energy staff also attended. National Park Service employees installed the panels in less than two hours, drawing applause from onlookers when they placed the final panel.
The current system represents significant progress from its origins. From 1939 to 2014, workers filled the gap with sandbags. Following major flooding in 2006, officials modernized the system. In 2014, the Corps, National Park Service and D.C. government installed a post-and-panel levee closure that the Park Service tests annually.
Though never tested by actual flooding, the system faces growing challenges as climate change raises sea levels, increasing flood probability each year. The levee serves as part of a broader flood risk management system protecting portions of Southwest D.C.
The partnership between the Park Service and the Corps benefits the National Mall significantly. The Corps provides engineering expertise for flood risk management structures, while the Park Service handles daily operations. During emergencies, the Corps can mobilize resources as the Park Service manages on-site operations.
This collaboration extends beyond flood prevention, incorporating preservation and management of the historic area. The partnership leverages each agency's strengths to protect the National Mall for future generations while maintaining its functionality and historic character.
| Date Taken: | 09.26.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 10.01.2024 07:53 |
| Story ID: | 481894 |
| Location: | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 40 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, USACE and NPS: A Powerful Partnership Preserving DC's National Mall, by Jeremy Todd, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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