Lake Livingston MapLake Livingston Map

Cape RoyaleCape RoyaleNorthNorth

Strong North/Northwest Strong North/Northwest Winds ~ 40 to 60 MPH Winds ~ 40 to 60 MPH

sustained sustained

Livingston DamLivingston Dam

Inland Lake Surges Associated Inland Lake Surges Associated with Hurricanes Rita and Katrinawith Hurricanes Rita and Katrina

Dave Schwertz, CFMDave Schwertz, CFMSenior Service HydrologistSenior Service Hydrologist

Lance WoodLance WoodScience and Operations OfficerScience and Operations Officer

NWS Houston/GalvestonNWS Houston/Galveston

Large Coastal Lake Surges Large Coastal Lake Surges

The SLOSH model is run in advance for potential The SLOSH model is run in advance for potential surges on Lake Okeechobee and Lake surges on Lake Okeechobee and Lake Ponchatrain.Ponchatrain.

Catastrophic surges on these lakes have occurred Catastrophic surges on these lakes have occurred and have been well documented and modeled.and have been well documented and modeled.

In 1928, a storm surge on Lake Okeechobee In 1928, a storm surge on Lake Okeechobee overtopped the levee and killed 2,500+ people in overtopped the levee and killed 2,500+ people in Belle Glade and other small surrounding towns.Belle Glade and other small surrounding towns.

The surge associated with hurricane Katrina The surge associated with hurricane Katrina (2005) did not overtop the levee system around (2005) did not overtop the levee system around Lake Pontchartrain, but caused several levee Lake Pontchartrain, but caused several levee breaches. breaches.

Lake Okeechobee MapLake Okeechobee Map

Belle GladeBelle Glade

NorthNorth

Storm TrackStorm Track

Katrina Storm Surge Actual Model RunKatrina Storm Surge Actual Model Run

Gulfport, MSGulfport, MS

New Orleans FloodingNew Orleans Flooding

Levees were breached not overtopped by storm surgeLevees were breached not overtopped by storm surge

Much worse if the storm surge had overtopped themMuch worse if the storm surge had overtopped them

Flooding that took 2 days would have occurred in 6 hours Flooding that took 2 days would have occurred in 6 hours

Levee BreachLevee Breach

Inland Lake/Reservoir Surges from 2005Inland Lake/Reservoir Surges from 2005

Pearl River at Ross Barnett ReservoirPearl River at Ross Barnett ReservoirHurricane Katrina (August 29Hurricane Katrina (August 29thth,2005),2005)

Trinity River at Lake LivingstonTrinity River at Lake LivingstonHurricane Rita (September 24Hurricane Rita (September 24thth, 2005), 2005)

San Jacinto River at Lake ConroeSan Jacinto River at Lake ConroeHurricane Rita Hurricane Rita

Lake Livingston DamLake Livingston Dam

Lake Livingston Dam is a 2.5 mile Lake Livingston Dam is a 2.5 mile 55 foot high earthen embankment 55 foot high earthen embankment with 12 tainter gates for releasing with 12 tainter gates for releasing water.water.

The earthen embankment is The earthen embankment is protected from water erosion by protected from water erosion by rip rap, large 30 inch diameter rip rap, large 30 inch diameter stones, on the lake side of the stones, on the lake side of the dam. dam.

Built in 1966, owned and Built in 1966, owned and operated by the Trinity River operated by the Trinity River Authority of Texas (TRA), solely for Authority of Texas (TRA), solely for water supply purposes. water supply purposes.

The lake covers approximately The lake covers approximately 83,000 surface acres (130 sq. 83,000 surface acres (130 sq. miles), with a normal pool miles), with a normal pool elevation of 131 feet above mean elevation of 131 feet above mean sea level and is located 7 miles sea level and is located 7 miles southwest of Livingston. southwest of Livingston.

Hurricane Rita Radar ImagesHurricane Rita Radar Images

KHGX reflectivity @301 AM CDT KHGX reflectivity @301 AM CDT around time of landfall (95 miles around time of landfall (95 miles SE of the dam)SE of the dam)

KHGX reflectivity @550 AM CDT KHGX reflectivity @550 AM CDT Rita centered near Mauriceville, TX Rita centered near Mauriceville, TX (75 miles ESE of the dam)(75 miles ESE of the dam)

Lake Livingston

117 MPH gust at Dam (530 AM)

Civil Emergency Message issued to evacuate below Dam (147 PM)

Peak of storm surge (8 AM)

Releasing 80K CFS

Peak drop in water level at north end of lake (Riverside 1200 PM)

Hurricane Rita making landfall near Sabine Pass (3 AM)

Lake LivingstonLake Livingston

Lake Livingston MapLake Livingston Map

RiversideRiverside

NorthNorth

Strong North/Northwest Strong North/Northwest Winds ~ 40 to 60 MPH Winds ~ 40 to 60 MPH

sustained sustained

Livingston DamLivingston Dam

Emergency ReleasesEmergency Releases Emergency ReleasesEmergency Releases

Following the state-approved emergency action plan, Following the state-approved emergency action plan, the Trinity River Authority began releasing water from the Trinity River Authority began releasing water from Lake Livingston to lower the water level to 127 feet Lake Livingston to lower the water level to 127 feet above sea level to avoid any further erosion of the rip above sea level to avoid any further erosion of the rip rap or the soil on the dam from wave action during the rap or the soil on the dam from wave action during the hurricane event. hurricane event.

Damage at the Livingston DamDamage at the Livingston Dam

The high winds and significant wave action The high winds and significant wave action brought by Hurricane Rita eroded some of the brought by Hurricane Rita eroded some of the rip rap on the lake side of the dam, exposing rip rap on the lake side of the dam, exposing part of the earthen embankment. Some erosion part of the earthen embankment. Some erosion to the earthen embankment also occurredto the earthen embankment also occurred. 9.6 . 9.6 million dollars worth of repairs were necessary.million dollars worth of repairs were necessary.

Indian Hills Subdivision DamageIndian Hills Subdivision Damage

These lots faced N/NW and bore the brunt of the surgeThese lots faced N/NW and bore the brunt of the surge

Indian Hills Subdivision DamageIndian Hills Subdivision Damage

These lots faced N/NW and bore the brunt of the surgeThese lots faced N/NW and bore the brunt of the surge

Lake ConroeLake Conroe

Extending 21 miles in length Extending 21 miles in length and covering 21,000 surface and covering 21,000 surface

acres, Lake Conroe is the acres, Lake Conroe is the reserve drinking water supply reserve drinking water supply

for the city of Houstonfor the city of Houston

NorthNorth NorthNorth

Strong North/Northwest Strong North/Northwest Winds ~ 30 to 40 MPH Winds ~ 30 to 40 MPH

sustained sustained Peak Gusts ~ 50 to 60 MPHPeak Gusts ~ 50 to 60 MPH

Lake Conroe Dam DamageLake Conroe Dam Damage

Erosion of the Lake Conroe Dam (Image Erosion of the Lake Conroe Dam (Image from the Montgomery County News)from the Montgomery County News)

Wave action scoured the Wave action scoured the face of Lake Conroe's face of Lake Conroe's dam, exposing the dam's dam, exposing the dam's clay core.clay core.Although the dam was Although the dam was never in danger of never in danger of collapsing, the river collapsing, the river authority was left little authority was left little choice but to drop the choice but to drop the water level nearly 5 feet water level nearly 5 feet so workers could repair so workers could repair the damage and beef up the damage and beef up the structure.the structure.Repairs to the dam cost Repairs to the dam cost 1.7 million dollars.1.7 million dollars.

Hurricane Katrina Radar ImagesHurricane Katrina Radar Images

KDGX Composite Reflectivity

Center Southwest Of Hattiesburg, MS

1202PM

KDGX Composite Reflectivity Center Southwest of Meridian, MS

4:03 PM

Ross Barnett

Reservoir

Ross Barnett MapRoss Barnett Map

Ratliff’s FerryRoss Barnett

Reservoir Dam

15 miles NE to SW

Pearl River 5 NE Jackson

Strong Northeasterly Winds ~ 45 Gusting to

75 MPH

NorthPrimarily Recreation also used for Flood Control and Water

Supply $2 million damage to damSevere damage to causeway to

north shore

Peak Drop in Lake at Ratliff’s Ferry (Upper Ross Barnett Reservoir) between 4pm and 5pm.

Peak of Storm Surge (4pm)Katrina Landfall in

South Louisiana ~ 6AM

Reservoir officials give order to release up to 40K to take pressure off of the dam (~5pm)

Ross Barnett Pool & Ratliff’s Ferry Pool

Thank you for your attention !Thank you for your attention !

Any Questions ?Any Questions ?

Dave.Schwertz@noaa.govDave.Schwertz@noaa.gov