Santa Ana River Flood Hazard Analysis

Santa Ana River Flood Hazard Analysis

Leveraging 2D hydraulic modeling to assess risks and develop mitigation strategies

Client

FM Global

Project Location

Orange County, CA

Timeframe 

2022 – Present

In the heart of Orange County, California, the Santa Ana River (SAR) basin has long posed a complex challenge for flood risk management. FM Global found itself in need of a sophisticated approach to understand and mitigate the flood risks affecting their clients’ properties along this primary waterway. The SAR Flood Protection Project, spearheaded by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), promised significant improvements, yet existing flood maps failed to reflect these changes or employ the latest technological advancements in flood modeling. FM Global turned to Kleinschmidt Associates, seeking a partnership that could illuminate their path forward.

Kleinschmidt met this challenge by developing a cutting-edge, twodimensional (2D) hydraulic model of the entire SAR basin downstream of Prado Dam. This model harnessed the 2D Unsteady Flow engine within the USACE’s HEC-RAS hydraulic modeling software, along with the latest high density LiDAR of Orange County, offering a meticulous evaluation of how various flow releases from Prado Dam impact FM Global insured properties throughout the SAR Basin. The analysis included modeling of existing flood exposure, along with the change in exposure based on projected incremental improvements in the SAR Flood Protection Project. Extending from Prado Dam to the Pacific Ocean, the model domain was intricately refined around FM Global’s areas of interest, ensuring a realistic representation of flood exposure to these properties while maintaining model efficiency.

Innovative Flood Mitigation Insights: Possessing Kleinschmidt’s hydraulic modeling tool now empowers FM Global with a deep understanding of current and future flood risks, laying the groundwork for effective flood mitigation strategies in the future.

Actionable Data for Informed Decision Making: The project delivered detailed flood velocity and depth maps, enabling FM Global to prioritize mitigation actions and financial planning with an accuracy previously unattainable.

Customized Focus on High-Value Assets: By concentrating on specific areas of interest within Anaheim, Kleinschmidt provided FM Global, and it’s clients, with tailored insights critical for protecting their most valuable assets.

Long-Term Planning Enabled: The projection of flood conditions up to the year 2053 equips FM Global with the foresight needed to navigate future challenges confidently.

Services Tailored to FM Global

In partnership with Kleinschmidt, FM Global has redefined its approach to managing client flood risks along the Santa Ana River. Through innovative hydraulic modeling and strategic foresight, FM Global is not just responding to changes; they’re anticipating them, ensuring the safety and security of their insured assets for years to come. This story of collaboration and advanced problem-solving highlights how, together, Kleinschmidt and FM Global are setting new standards in flood risk management.

Flood Frequency Analysis
2D Hydraulic Modeling
Flood Inundation and Velocity Mapping
Mitigation Planning
Levee Performance Evaluation
Dam and Levee Breach