United States Society on Dams
2012 Annual Meeting and Conference

Index of 2012 Conference Information

Overview

The Theme of the 2012 USSD Conference is Innovative Dam and Levee Design and Construction for Sustainable Water Management. The responsibility of the dams and water resources community to create sustainable projects that are sensitive to environmental, social, financial, geographical and political needs of the world's population is ever increasing. Issues such as climate change, sustainability and clean energy provide significant challenges in planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of successful dam and levee projects.

The Conference Theme highlights the need for innovation and collaboration, not only in the design and construction phases, but also during planning and operation. Given the recent energy and water management events on the Louisiana Gulf Coast, New Orleans is an excellent venue to convene national and international experts for presentations on the many technical and management facets of dam projects.

The Opening Plenary Session on Tuesday morning will begin with ICOLD and ASDSO updates, followed by several presentations addressing contemporary topics of interest to dam professionals.

Five Concurrent Technical Sessions on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday, and a Poster Session Tuesday evening, will feature the presentation of more than 100 technical papers.

On Thursday morning, a 90-minute briefing on New Orleans levees and flood control projects will be followed by a field tour of nearby levees and other infrastructure. Three concurrent Workshops will also follow the field tour briefing. An all-day field tour on Friday concludes the outstanding Conference program.

Lunch speakers are Janet Herrin, Tennessee Valley Authority and Brian Becker, Bureau of Reclamation. The Wednesday dinner speaker will be a representative of the Corps of Engineers.

The Wednesday Awards banquet will feature the presentation of the Outstanding Paper Awards, and awards for Excellence in the Constructed Project and Lifetime Achievement. The winners of the 2012 USSD Scholarships will also be announced.

Acknowledgments

The Conference technical program was organized jointly by several USSD Committees under the leadership of Manoshree Sundaram, MWH. Jerry Webb represented the Conference Host, the Corps of Engineers, with support from the New Orleans District.

Host

The Corps of Engineers will serve as Host of the 32nd Annual Meeting and Conference, including organization of the field tours.

Young Professionals

To encourage Young Professional participation in the Conference, a discounted registration rate is offered to those age 35 and under. A Tuesday evening dessert reception offers an opportunity for Young Professionals to network with the Board of Directors. And, an Outstanding Paper Award will go to a Young Professional author.

Exhibition and Sponsorships

An exhibition featuring water resources related goods and services will be held during the Conference. The exhibition will open with a reception on Monday evening; continental breakfasts, lunches and breaks on Tuesday and Wednesday, and a reception Tuesday evening will be held in the exhibit area to ensure maximum interaction with Conference participants. Exhibitor and Sponsor information.

Conference Exhibitors include the following organizations. Additional Exhibitors will be listed here, as they commit to participation.

Venue

The Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113, 504-561-1234. Damaged by Hurricane Katrina, the hotel recently re-opened following a five-year reconstruction. Near the Louisiana Superdome, the Hyatt Regency is just blocks from the French Quarter and the Mississippi River waterfront. The hotel features almost 1,200 guest rooms, a 24-hour fresh market, several restaurants and lounges, a spa and fitness center, and a huge outdoor leisure deck with pool.

Hotel Reservations

The USSD room block in the Hyatt Regency has been filled.

A limited number of rooms are available at the Royal St. Charles Hotel, 135 St. Charles Avenue. Make reservations by calling 800-455-3417 and request the U.S. Society on Dams Group Rate.

Rooms are also available at The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, 123 Baronne Street. For reservations call 800-925-3673 and request the USSD rate.

Continuing Education Units

Colorado State University, Division of Continuing Education, will grant CEUs after successful completion of the Conference and/or a Workshop. CEU information will be available at the Conference.

USSD Committee Meetings

Committee Meetings, to be held on Monday, are an important part of the Annual Meeting. All Conference participants are welcome to attend the committee meetings. Committee Meeting Schedule.

Annual Meeting of Members

All Conference participants are invited to attend the USSD Annual Meeting of Members on Monday afternoon. Following a brief review of current USSD activities, Members will have an opportunity to present their ideas and suggestions about USSD to the Board of Directors.

Kick-Off Reception/Exhibition Opening

Each year, USSD Conference participants and guests look forward to the annual Monday evening reception to network, make new professional contacts and socialize. A highlight of this year's reception will be the opening of the Exhibition, featuring nearly 60 organizations offering products and services to the dam profession.

Field Tours

The tour will begin at 10:00 a.m., following a 90-minute briefing of the Corps of Engineers' various flood protection and hurricane protection projects in the New Orleans area. First stop will be the Greater New Orleans Hurricane Storm Damage Risk Reduction System, designed for the 100 year level of protection.

Next, the group will travel west to the West Return Wall Floodwall to view and discuss the impressive T Walls. This will include a tour of the newly constructed Elmwood Pump Station which highlights the complexity of flood protection designs at the discharge area into Lake Pontchartrain while maintaining adequate pump operation.

Following the tour of the Elmwood Pump Station, the group will view the floodgates gates and levees fronting Lake Pontchartrain. After taking in these world-class flood protection structures, the group will continue eastward along Lake Pontchartrain to the 17th Street Canal, for a tour of the Interim Control Structures Pumping Station and unique operator safe houses. The group will stop at a local seafood specialty restaurant to savor some local delicacies.

Following lunch, the group will view the Seabrook Floodgate, followed by a tour of the record-setting Western Closure Complex which will include the 225-foot sector gate, the largest in the nation, and the impressive 19,140 cfs pumping station, the world's largest.

Seabrook Floodgate Left: West Closure Complex Pump Station (Photos courtesy Corps of Engineers)

The Friday field tour will begin at 8:00 a.m. with a visit to the Bonnet Carre Spillway at the Mississippi River, followed by a tour of floodway operations.

Next, the group will travel east for to tour the newly constructed Elmwood Pump Station flood protection project which is part of the HSDRRS 100-yr level of protection at the discharge into Lake Pontchartrain.

The tour will continue along the Lake Front to view the floodgates and levees fronting Lake Pontchartrain. The group will continue eastward along the Lake to the 17th Street Canal to tour the Interim Control Structure Pumping Station and safe house followed by a lunch stop at a local New Orleans specialty restaurant.

Following lunch, the group will continue to the Seabrook Floodgate followed by a visit to the Caernarvon Freshwater Diversion Structure at the Mississippi River.

The final stop of the field trip will be a tour of the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Lock. The tour will return to the hotel at 5:00 p.m.

Elmwood Pump Station

Bonnet Carre Spillway

Conference and Workshop Registration

The Conference Registration Fee for the Annual Meeting and Conference includes:

• Conference Proceedings
• Technical sessions
• Monday evening kick-off reception
• Continental breakfasts Tuesday and Wednesday
• Lunches Tuesday and Wednesday
• Tuesday evening reception
• Wednesday reception and dinner
• Field Tour or a Workshop on Thursday, with lunch
• Friday Field Tour, with lunch

The fee is $925 for USSD Members and $1,025 for non-members, with a $100 discount for early registration. A Young Professional Fee of $450 is available to participants age 35 and younger. To receive the Early Registration Rate, you must register by April 13. The Late Registration Fee applies to registrations received after April 13 and on-site registrations. The Registration Fee can be paid by check; VISA, MasterCard or Discover; or purchase order.

Cancellation Policy: To receive a refund, USSD must receive notice of cancellation by the end of business on April 16. All refunds are subject to a $25 processing fee. After April 16, the registration fee is not refundable, but substitutions are acceptable.

Online Registration Form.

Workshops

Three concurrent Workshops will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 26. Attendance at any Workshop is included in the Conference Registration Fee. For those not attending the Conference, the Workshop fee is $250.

Approaches to Meet Spillway Design Flood Requirements

Moderator — Steven L. Barfuss, Utah State University

This Workshop will provide a summary of typical spillway capacity requirements and an overview of various approaches for upgrading dams that do not meet current requirements, including labyrinth and other "3D" weirs, gated spillways, dam raising, and embankment armoring. The workshop will focus on the hydraulic aspects of each of these measures and include a discussion of how various project constraints may impact the selection of an upgrading scheme. Interactive example problems will be included. This workshop is geared toward entry to mid-level engineers seeking better understanding of this subject. It may also be beneficial for engineers in the dam engineering community that do not commonly perform hydrologic and hydraulic analyses to gain a better understanding of the process in selection of a spillway capacity upgrading alternative.

Introduction/Overview

• Spillway Hydraulics Overview
• Spillway Capacity Requirements
• Common Approaches to Meet Design Flood Requirements

"3D" Spillways

• Drop Inlet Spillways (rectangular, semicircular)
• Labyrinth Spillways
• Piano Key Weirs

Gated Spillways

• Underflow vs Overflow Gates
• Fusegates

Embankment Armoring

• RCC vs ACB
• Crest Control and Design
• Slope Design
• Stilling Basins and Terminal Structures

Considerations in Selecting and Designing Upgrades

• Flooding Impacts of Spillway Upgrades
• Design Considerations for Spillways/Upgrades
• Example Problems

Design and Construction of Remedial Seepage Measures for Embankment Dams

Moderator — Craig W. Harris, MWH

The USSD Committee on Materials for Embankment Dams will present this Workshop, building on the similar workshops presented by USSD in 2005 (Durango, Colorado) and 2006 (San Antonio). The Workshop will start with an overview of seepage failure modes, followed by a presentation on how to identify seepage problems. Next there will be three presentations on remedial measures for seepage (cutoff walls, filters and drains, and seepage along conduits) using case histories. The Workshop will wrap up with a presentation on monitoring and instrumentation for seepage remedial measures and a question and answer period.

Workshop Summary

Evaluation of Seepage Through Dams
(What are the failure modes and how to evaluate them? -- risk analysis/best practices)

How Do I Know if I have a Seepage Problem?
(What to look for in aging dams)

Cutoff Walls for Remedial Seepage Control
(Design and construction using case histories)

Seepage Collection and Filters for Remedial Seepage Control
(Design and construction using case histories)

Control of Seepage Along Conduits
(Design and construction using case histories)

Monitoring and Instrumentation Following Seepage Remedial Measures
(How do I know it worked?)

Panel Discussion and Q & A

Lessons Learned in Sustainable Levee Infrastructure

Moderators — Dean B. Durkee, Gannett Fleming, Inc.; and John S. Wolhope, Freese and Nichols, Inc.

The Workshop will focus on lessons learned in sustainable dam and levee infrastructure and will include a Keynote Address that includes an overview of the efforts to rebuild the levee system since Katrina. The technical program will comprise three sessions, on robustness, resiliency, and redundancy, and their application toward risk reduction and tolerable risks approaches. The robustness session will include discussion of approaches that consider uncertainty and risk in establishing acceptable levels of conservatism. The resiliency session will explore how new infrastructure is being constructed to allow the system design to be exceeded without brittle failure. The redundancy session will present examples of multiple lines of defense and the impact this has on overall risk reduction.

Introduction and Overview

Robustness

• Performance of Levees during Japanese Tsunami
• Varying Factors of Safety According to Uncertainty for New Orleans
• Western Closure Example

• Including Resiliency in Design of Levee Systems
• Application of Erosional Equivalency Method to Hypothetical Levee System
• Armoring for Sustainable Levees
• More Resilient Levee Design

Redundancy

• Dutch Poldering
• Human Intervention
• Tolerable Risk
• Four Methods of Estimating Risk

Guest Program

Guests will have an opportunity to Meet and Mingle during a coffee reception on Tuesday morning. A representative from the New Orleans Visitors and Convention Bureau will introduce guests to the city and its many attractions. This event will be an opportunity for guests to join others in activities or tour to be arranged on your own.

There are many companies that provide tours of New Orleans attractions. Information on some of these tours will be available at the Meet and Mingle event.

Guests will also enjoy the following Conference activities:

• Monday evening Kick-Off Reception
• Continental breakfasts on Tuesday and Wednesday
• Tuesday morning Meet and Mingle reception
• Reception on Tuesday evening
• Reception and awards banquet on Wednesday
• Field Tours and lunches on Thursday and Friday

The Guest Registration Fee is $325.

Conference Planning Committee

• Manoshree Sundaram, MWH, Chair
• John A. Bischoff, URS Corporation
• Paul E. Booth, ARCADIS
• Robert Cannon, Schnabel Engineering
• Dan D. Curtis, HATCH
• Walter L. Davis, Seattle City Light
• Dean B. Durkee, Gannett Fleming, Inc.
• Blaine Dwyer, AECOM
• Keith A. Ferguson, HDR
• S. Michael Feroz, Michael Feroz Consulting
• Christopher Goodell, WEST Consultants, Inc.
• B. Alex Grenoble, HDR Engineering, Inc.
• Kevin C. Griebenow, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Eric C. Halpin, Corps of Engineers
• Tor Hansen, Barr Engineering Company
• Prapa Haran, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Tahereh Heidari, Clemson University
• Janet C. Herrin, Tennessee Valley Authority
• Dennis J. Hogan, Black & Veatch Corporation
• Daniel L. Johnson, Tetra Tech, Inc.
• Karen A. Knight, Bureau of Reclamation
• Ronnie M. Lemons, Freese and Nichols, Inc.
• Haibo Liang, Gannett Fleming, Inc.
• David W. Lord, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Guy S. Lund, URS Corporation
• Patrick Mangan, Bureau of Reclamation
• Kevin J. Marshall, Grant County Public Utility District
• Enrique E. Matheu, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Arturo L. Ressi-Di-Cervia, Kiewit Construction Company
• William A. Rettberg, GEI Consultants, Inc.
• Michael F. Rogers, MWH
• Paul B. Rollins, Willowstick Technologies, LLC
• James H. Rutherford, HATCH Renewable Power
• Emily Schwartz, Freese and Nichols, Inc.
• Paul F. Shiers, PB Power
• Mike Shiflett, Freese and Nichols, Inc.
• Jeffrey A. Shoaf, San Diego County Water Authority
• Jay N. Stateler, Bureau of Reclamation
• Kenneth A. Steele, Consultant
• William R. Swanson, MWH
• Amanda Sutter, Corps of Engineers
• Martin J. Teal, WEST Consultants, Inc.
• Jason Thom, DOWL HKM Engineering
• Sheila Tripp, Kleinfelder, Inc.
• Travis C. Tutka, Corps of Engineers
• Jerry W. Webb, Corps of Engineers
• James H. Weldon, Jim Weldon and Associates, LLC
• Stephen Whiteside, CDM
• John S. Wolfhope, Freese and Nichols, Inc.