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ANACOSTIA AND ALLISON ST LEVEE SYSTEM REHABILITATION

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD

McCormick Taylor oversaw multiple Flood Risk Management Rehabilitation projects to provide flood risk reduction from high water events along the Anacostia River for eight communities in Prince George’s County, including the Anacostia Flood Risk Management Rehabilitation and Allison Street Flood Protection System projects.

DESIGN, ENVIRONMENTAL, PLANNING & COMMUNICATIONS, CONSTRUCTION , INFRASTRUCTURE, GOVERNMENT, WATER, COMMUNITY

THE CHALLENGE

As a result of levee damage sustained by Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued certification requirements for all levee systems classified under the National Flood Insurance Program. The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) built the Anacostia Flood Risk Management System (FRMS) in the 1950s to protect against flooding and allow for the development of the surrounding communities, including four separate levee and flood control pumping stations. The Allison St. System was subsequently constructed contiguously upstream along the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia, including an additional pump station, for a similar purpose.

 

Over the decades, the system was maintained, but it still developed deficiencies. After Hurricane Katrina demonstrated the flood risks associated with older flood protection systems, there was a new focus on inspecting and upgrading the systems.

HOW WE HELPED

McCormick Taylor analyzed existing deficiencies, then managed, designed, inspected, and certified portions of the Anacostia River Flood Control and Allison Street Flood Protection Systems along the Northeast and Northwest Branch of the River to correct the deficiencies within the Anacostia Systems. Major design components included raising the levee, I-wall and T-wall heights up to three feet, extending the Allison St. levee/wall system, updating pumping station and levee operations and maintenance manuals, upgrading pumps, and evaluating major outfalls into the Anacostia River. 

 

McCormick Taylor was also responsible for:

  • Performing the environmental site assessments to establish the wetland limits for permit applications from MDE, USACE, and the Critical Area Commission
  • Preparing updated operations and maintenance manuals, including research and review of 1950’s construction plans and manuals to upgrade to numerous pumping stations
  • Preparing the construction plans required to remove sediment from five culverts
  • Obtaining the environmental permits
  • Conducting video inspection
  • Coordinating inspection with the US Army Corps of Engineers
  • Providing construction monitoring services
  • Providing Engineer-in-Charge services for MDE Dam Safety Division
  • Allison St Levee Breach Analyses
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RESULTS

This effort resulted in FEMA reaccrediting the Anacostia Flood Control System, with certification of the Allison Street System anticipated in late 2023. The social impact of the project instills confidence in the surrounding community that the system will provide protection during major storm events, improving overall public safety.

 

 

AWARDS

2014 Modal Award of Excellence – County Engineers Association of Maryland (CEAM)

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