Unlike many other federal agencies that have budgets established for  broad program activities, most Corps civil works funds are appropriated  for specific projects. Steps for Developing Corps Projects

The Corps is responsible for planning, designing, and operating much of  the nation’s water resources infrastructure. The Corps Considers the Potential Impact of Extreme Weather in Its Planning and Operations of Water Resources Infrastructure Projects

The Corps addresses the potential impact of extreme weather events in  its planning and operations of water resources infrastructure projects in  various ways including updating and developing guidance to be used in  the planning process; using tools, such as water control manuals, in its  operation of projects; and through collaboration with key federal agencies  and stakeholders. In 2014, the Corps  issued additional guidance on how to evaluate the effects of projected  future sea level change on Corps projects and what to consider when  adapting projects to this projected change.incorporate sea level change into the planning process to improve the  resilience of projects and maximize performance over time. According to the Corps guidance, water control manuals also must  contain provisions for the Corps to temporarily deviate from operations,  when necessary, to alleviate critical situations. For example, in December 2014, the Corps approved a  deviation from operations at Prado Dam in southern California, which  allowed the Corps to temporarily retain water captured behind the dam  following a rainstorm. The Corps Has Assessed Certain Infrastructure Projects to Prepare for Extreme Weather Events

The Corps has assessed certain water resources infrastructure projects  to determine whether they are designed to withstand extreme weather  events. Specifically, the Corps has national programs in place to perform  risk assessments on dams and levees, as required by law, but, unlike  these programs, the Corps is not required to perform systematic, national  risk assessments on other types of infrastructure, such as floodwalls and  hurricane barriers and has not done so. However, Corps officials said  they have been required to assess such infrastructure after an extreme  weather event in response to statutory requirements. The Corps also operates the Levee Safety Program, which began in  2006. According to Corps officials, the agency has not performed systematic,  national risk assessments on other types of existing infrastructure given  funding limitations (see table 2). However, the Corps has received  appropriations for and has been required to assess such infrastructure  after an extreme weather event, such as in the aftermath of Hurricane  Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012. However, the Corps has not worked with  Congress to develop a more stable funding approach, as we  recommended in September 2010, which could facilitate such risk  assessments. That report found that a more stable funding approach could improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the Civil Works  program. The department partially concurred with our recommendation,  stating that it would promote efficient funding. As the frequency and  intensity of some extreme weather events are increasing, without  performing risk assessments on other types of existing infrastructure,  such as hurricane barriers and floodwalls, before an extreme weather  event (e.g., using a risk-based model), the Corps will continue to take a   For this  piecemeal approach to assessing risk on such infrastructure. reason, we continue to believe our recommendation is valid. The Corps Has Conducted Some Vulnerability Assessments of Water Infrastructure Projects to Prepare for Extreme Weather Events

The Corps has conducted two nationwide screening level assessments to  assess its vulnerability to climate change in its management and  operation of water infrastructure.
Why GAO Did This Study

The Corps plans, designs, and constructs water resources infrastructure, such as dams and levees. According to the U.S. Global Change Research Program, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are increasing. Much of the Corps' infrastructure was built over 50 years ago and may not be designed to operate within current climate patterns, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 included a provision for GAO to study the Corps' management of water resources in preparation for extreme weather. This is the first in a series of reports GAO is issuing on this topic. GAO's other reports will examine operations and dam and levee safety, which GAO plans to issue in fiscal year 2016. This report explores (1) how the Corps prepares for and responds to extreme weather events in its planning and operation of water resources projects, and (2) the extent to which the Corps has assessed whether existing water resources infrastructure is prepared for extreme weather events. GAO reviewed Corps guidance on planning, operations, and assessments, and interviewed Corps officials from headquarters and eight districts— selected, in part, on number of projects.

What GAO Found

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) considers the potential impact of extreme weather events in its planning and operations of water resources infrastructure projects by, among other things, updating and developing guidance on how to incorporate different extreme weather scenarios in its planning of projects. For example, in 2014, the Corps issued guidance on how to evaluate the effects of projected future sea level change on its projects and what to consider when adapting projects to this projected change. In addition, Corps districts prepare water control manuals, guidance outlining project operations. The Corps can approve deviations from the manuals to alleviate critical situations, such as extreme weather events. For example, in December 2014, the Corps approved a deviation from operations at a southern California dam, which allowed the Corps to retain rainwater to help respond to the state's extreme drought conditions.
The Corps has assessed certain water resources infrastructure projects to determine whether they are designed to withstand extreme weather events. Specifically, the Corps has national programs in place to perform risk assessments on dams and levees, as required by law. Unlike the requirements for dams and levees, the Corps is not required to perform systematic, national risk assessments on other types of existing infrastructure, such as hurricane barriers and floodwalls and has not done so (see table). However, the Corps has been required to assess such infrastructure after an extreme weather event in response to statutory requirements, as it did in November 2013 and in January 2015, after Hurricane Sandy. Also, the Corps has performed initial vulnerability assessments for sea level rise on its coastal projects and has begun conducting such assessments at inland watersheds.
Unlike federal agencies that have budgets established for broad program activities, most Corps civil works funds are appropriated for specific projects. However, the Corps has not worked with Congress to develop a more stable funding approach, as GAO recommended in September 2010, which could facilitate conducting risk assessments. The Corps partially concurred with this recommendation, stating that it would promote efficient funding. As the frequency and intensity of some extreme weather events are increasing, without performing systematic, national risk assessments on other types of infrastructure, such as hurricane barriers and floodwalls, the Corps will continue to take a piecemeal approach to assessing risk on such infrastructure.

What GAO Recommends

GAO previously recommended that the Corps work with Congress to develop a more stable funding approach. The Corps has not taken action, but GAO continues to believe the recommendation is valid. Agencies had no comments on a draft of this report.