View Important Policies and System Requirements for this course
INSTRUCTOR:
F. Douglas Shields, Jr, Ph.D., P.E., BC.WRE, F.EWRI, F.ASCE
Purpose and Background
Earthen levees are key components of flood management infrastructure. The National Levee Database contains records for 6,857 levee systems comprising 24,518 miles of levees. National and international guidance and policy prohibit most woody vegetation on and adjacent to levees. However, compliance with this policy is far from uniform with many levee projects supporting both planted and volunteer of various sizes. Objections to levees involve slope instability due to added weight, cavities formed by overturned trees, piping erosion along roots, local scour adjacent to tree trunks, and interference with inspection and flood fighting. Beneficial effects of woody vegetation on and adjacent to levees include erosion control, provision of habitat for burrowing mammal predators, and ecological services. Recently completed research has provided a valuable base of information to engineers charged with planning, designing and maintaining levee projects. Research results will be reviewed.
Benefits and Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Identify major issues surrounding trees and shrubs on and adjacent to levees.
- Locate key resources providing results of engineering studies and scientific research on each issue.
- Explain the beneficial effects of woody vegetation on and adjacent to levees
Assessment of Learning Outcomes
Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).
Who Should Attend?
- Water Resource Engineers
- Hydraulic Engineers
- Hydrology Engineers
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Designers
- Project Managers
- Government Services
- Flood Management
Outline
- Introduction
- Levee project characteristics--USA and other countries
- Historical engineering practice regarding woody vegetation on levees
- Differences between earthen dam embankments and levees
- Issues surrounding woody vegetation on levees
- Structural integrity (erosion, piping, slope stability, burrows)
- Inspection and flood fighting
- Environmental resources
- Vegetation and structural performance
- Structural integrity (erosion, piping, slope stability, burrows)
- Inspection and flood fighting
- Environmental resources
- Levee designs and maintenance practices that incorporate vegetation
- Summary
How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs
This online course is worth 0.2 CEUs /2 PDH. To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short post-test online and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 365 days of purchase.
How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?
1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]