Overtopping Breach Mitigation

Overview

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) seeks to identify and investigate emerging solutions that can help reduce flood-induced overtopping of earthen levee embankments. There is a pressing need to proactively prevent or to mitigate erosion during embankment overtopping.

Project Manager

Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL), U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)

Project Objective

The objective of this project is to assist ERDC and its civil works customers, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in the identification of potential innovative solutions (e.g., novel soil treatments, barriers, etc.) that can be assessed for use in the field. Comprehensive information is required to evaluate emerging solutions that prevent overtopping erosion and breach of earthen levee embankments.

Background and Operational Scenarios

Potential technologies and methodologies that may be implemented to mitigate damage and reduce losses due to flooding may include, but are not limited to,
novel soil treatments, barriers, or geosynthetic solutions. Studies are needed to evaluate the full spectrum of available solutions and the associated knowledge gaps which would prevent implementation into practice.

Research is needed to fill knowledge gaps and to demonstrate the usage of solutions at operational projects. These investigations will include addressing and understanding potential mitigation strategies for different flood risk management projects. Furthermore, where novel strategies are identified, further research will be performed to validate and streamline these strategies into practice. Physical modeling will be performed to determine performance and provide validation data for existing prediction methods.

Requirements

Emerging technologies that are either currently operational in existing installations or prepared for deployment are of particular interest. Solutions at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6 or higher may be considered for rigorous testing in a flume or at full-scale demonstration sites.

The following criteria are requested to be addressed in the RFI responses:

• Type of mitigation technology/solution
• Vendor or developer name, contact information, and relevant experience
• Engineering specifications
• Implementation examples (if available)
• Installation methods (labor, special tools, etc.)
• Typical cost of materials and installation

Preferred solutions are economically feasible, robust, and timely to install. Mitigation length could be on the order of hundreds of feet to multiple miles. These criteria will allow full assessment of the potential for implementation into flood risk management projects.

Estimated Government Funding Profile

Funding is not currently available for this project. ERDC considers this to be a Request for Information (RFI) only and any response is not an offer. This project does not commit the Government or ERDCWERX to pay any costs incurred in preparation of a response or guarantee a contract.

Resources may be allocated in FY26 to assess proposed technologies at a demonstration site or in the laboratory.

Estimated Period of Performance

The period of performance will be for the summer of FY25 ending in FY26 with a potential follow-on investigation.

Expected Result

ERDC gains an understanding of the current solutions available to armor embankments against overtopping breach. Technologies that are at a TRL of 6 or higher are preferred and will be considered for assessment.

Submissions may be shared as appropriate with other ERDC stakeholders. The government has the authority to decline all submitted proposals.

Notional Project Schedule

Proposed project milestones include:

June 30, 2025	Project Announced, Submissions Open
July 24, 2025	Question Period Ends, FAQ Document Finalized
July 31, 2025	Submissions Close
August 2025	Review Period, Virtual Pitch Hosted (if needed)
FY 2026	Potential Field Tests/Demonstrations Pending Funds Availability

*Dates may vary to accommodate the project team and participant availability. The government may accelerate the pre-proposal review/feedback timeline, and therefore also require earlier delivery of full proposals.