"What we found in the field was very different than what we had expected, given what we had seen in the media reports," Nicholson told the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC).

"Rather than a few breaches through the floodwalls in the city caused largely by overtopping, we found literally dozens of breaches throughout the many miles of levee system," Nicholson testified. "A number of different failure mechanisms were observed, including scour erosion caused by overtopping, seepage, soil failure, and piping. We were particularly interested to find that many of the levee problems involved significant soil-related issues."

The HSGAC is conducting an oversight investigation into the levee failures in New Orleans. The bipartisan investigation is being headed by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), chair of the committee, and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), the senior Democrat on the committee.

At the hearing, ASCE and the National Science Foundation (NSF) released a preliminary report on the levee failures.

Pressed by senators from both parties to assess the reliability of the continuing repairs to the levees, Nicholson said the flood-control system may not be sufficient at present to protect people who return to the city if another storm occurs.

"Short term, without a storm, they are probably adequately safe,” said Nicholson. “Certainly with a large storm, as we are not yet out of hurricane season, and certainly for next hurricane season, there is significant risk.”

Dr. Paul Mlakar, M.ASCE, a senior employee of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center, told the committee that the Corps will complete its own assessment of the levee failures by July 1, 2006. The Defense Department has asked ASCE to conduct an outside review of that study.

Nicholson's complete statement and the preliminary assessment report are at http://www.asce.org/static/hurricane/orleans_report.cfm.

Scott Jennings, P.E. recently accepted a promotion to Senior Vice President of Parsons Construction Group - Pacific Division.  Due to the many hours of travel, he has decided to decline the nomination to preside over the Hawaii Section YMF.  Scott will continue to serve the Hawaii Section YMF as its Vice President.

Florence Ching, P.E., has accepted the nomination to the office of President of the Hawaii Section YMF.  She attended the University of Hawaii as a Regents Scholar and received her B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1997, her P.E. in 2002, and her M.B.A. in 2003.   Florence previously worked as a Project Engineer with Kiewit Pacific Co. and is currently employed as a Project Manager with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific.

Florence has been actively involved with ASCE since 1996.  As a student, she served as President of the UH ASCE Student Chapter.  She has also held the positions of 2003 and 2004 Hawaii Section YMF Field Trip Committee Chairperson and 2003 Western Regional Younger Member Council Program Committee Co-Chairperson.  Florence is currently the Hawaii Section YMF Secretary. 

Seating for this workshop is limited and registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Cost - Lunch and handouts are included. Prepaid Parking - $4 per day (in and out privileges):

• $175 (two day attendance) / $100 (single day attendance) for members of the ASCE-Hawaii Section, APWA Hawaii Chapter, ACEC-Hawaii & AIA-Honolulu.
• $200 (two day attendance) / $125 (single day attendance) for others.