A significant milestone has been achieved in developing the process to transition levees into compliance with federal standards. Please see the signed copy of the System-Wide Improvement Framework policy, dated 29 November, 2011. This policy provides committed levee sponsors a process to transition their levees, over time, to Corps standards while remaining eligible for federal rehabilitation funding under Public Law 84-99. The policy allows deficiencies, which may include vegetation, to be addressed on a “worst first” basis as part of a larger system-wide plan that optimizes overall risk reduction and environmental, endangered species, and Native American imperatives. Here is a letter signed by Ms. Darcy, ASA(CW), outlining the overall strategy to reduce flood risk as it relates to transitioning levees into compliance.