Sediment Impacts to Flood Control and Water Supply
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Sediment Impacts to Flood Control and Water Supply Southern California Chaparral Symposium June 9, 2015 Presentation By: Keith Lilley, P.E. Flood Control District • Formed in 1915 with Dual Mission • Reduce Flood Risk by Providing Flood Control Protection • Conserve Water for local supply Video Los Angeles River, 1914 Flood Control District Owns and operates complex flood protection and water conservation systems that includes: • 14 major dams • 162 debris basins • 500 miles of open channels • 27 Spreading Ground Facilities Stormwater Capture – Santa Anita Dam Valve Release – San Gabriel Dam Valve Release – San Gabriel Dam Spillway Flow - Big Tujunga Dam Water Conservation Process Cogswell Dam San Gabriel Dam Morris Dam San Gabriel Canyon Spreading Grounds Hansen Spreading Grounds Water Conservation • Stormwater capture recharges aquifers that provide 1/3 of our water supply • 2010-11 storm season : 600,000 ac-ft captured • 100% of stormwater at dams recharged What is an Acre-Foot of Water? .One Acre-Foot of Water is Sufficient to Serve Two Families of Four for an Entire Year. .There Are 325,852 Gallons in One Acre-Foot of Water. One Acre-Foot of Water Would Cover an Entire Football Field Approximately One- Foot Deep. Fire – Flood Sequence Major Debris Potential Burned Watershed Hydrophobic Soils Hydrophobic layer ½ to 3 inches beneath surface. DESIGN DEBRIS EVENT: Expected amount of sediment produced as a result of a 50 year design storm falling on a burned watershed after 4 years of watershed recovery. DESIGN DEBRIS EVENT (DDE) EXAMPLES: Devil’s Gate Reservoir: Watershed: 39 square miles 50 year stormflow: 20,000 cfs DDE: 2.0 Million Cubic Yards On fresh burn, a DDE can occur with only a 5 to 10 year storm event For small, freshly burned watersheds, up to 375 Cubic Yards per Acre Debris Basin Mullally Debris Basin Mullally Debris Basin Mullally Debris Basin Before 2009 Fire After February 2010 Storm The February 2010 Storm Mullally DB Before 2009 Fire Mullally DB After Feb 2010 Storm Overflow resulted in significant damage to the downstream neighborhood The effects continued down Ocean View Blvd Over 1.1 MCY of Debris Deposited in Debris Basins during 2009-10 Storm Season Dunsmuir DB Before 2009 Station Fire Dunsmuir DB After Feb 2010 Storm Dunsmuir SPS (May 2010) BIG TUJUNGA DAM BEFORE STATION FIRE BIG TUJUNGA DAM AFTER STATION FIRE Devil’s Gate at Spillway Source: Arroyo Seco Foundation Debris Inflow Burned Watershed 2010 Aerial View Green Waste Organic sludge and Dead Vegetation Pacoima Dam 2005 Source: Arroyo Seco Foundation Pacoima Reservoir Source: Arroyo Seco Foundation Dam Operations A minimum pool in the reservoir is always maintained. Outlet flows can be controlled by the dam. Dam Operations Sediment and debris is left behind once reservoir is drained to minimum pool. Sediment continues to build with each storm Dam Operations SPILLWAY REDUCED CAPACITY Sediment Concerns • Reduced flood control and water conservation capacity in the Reservoir. • Threatens reliability of operations and safety of the Dam. • Cannot make emergency release/dewatering • Seismic loading on dam Cogswell Reservoir Trucking from Cogswell Reservoir to Sediment Placement Site Cogswell Reservoir and Sediment Placement Site Maple Canyon Sediment Placement Site • First utilized for sediment placement in 1981 • Sediment will be placed on 29 acres of SPS • Maple Canyon SPS will be revegetated after project completion to improve aesthetics, reduce dust, and enhance habitat Sediment Management Strategic Plan 20 year outlook on sediment quantities at Flood Control District Facilities Looks and challenges of Sediment Management Discusses Alternatives for sediment removal methods and placement More info at www.LAsedimentmanagment.com Santa Anita dam and Reservoir Sediment Removal activities at Santa Anita Reservoir Oak Woodland Revegetation Project Actual conditions May 2015 Actual conditions May 2015 Actual conditions May 2015 Actual conditions May 2015 .