Standard levee design criteria were established in FEMA 259 to provide a conservative design while eliminating several steps in the USACE design process, thereby minimizing design cost:

• Minimum settled levee height of 6 feet
• Minimum levee crest width of 5 feet
• Levee floodwater side slope of 1: 2.5
• Levee land side slope (varies)
• One foot of levee freeboard