ASDSO Awards


ASDSO Awards

ASDSO annually honors those individuals and organizations making exemplary contributions to the improvement of dam safety in the U.S. through its awards program.

2024 Dam Safety Awards Program - Overview

2024 Dam Safety Awards Program - Nomination Forms

View the 2023 Award Recipients

View ASDSO's Honorary Members

View the Full History of ASDSO Awards


2024 Dam Safety Awards Program - Overview

Procedures

  • Carefully review the award overview, criteria & procedures included in each nomination form.
  • Nominations should be sent to [email protected]. ASDSO staff will send confirmation emails to the nominator.
  • The deadline for nomination is May 3, 2024.
  • Nominees will only be contacted if they are selected for the award. If the nomination is selected for the award, the nominee (or primary contact) will be contacted with an award announcement and invitation to the awards luncheon. Nominators will be copied on these initial communications.

Recognition 

  • Award recipients will be recognized at an awards luncheon on September 23, 2024, held in conjunction with Dam Safety 2024 in Denver, Colorado.
  • Award recipients will be recognized in select Dam Safety 2024 materials, on the ASDSO website, in The Journal of Dam Safety, and in ASDSO’s FY25 Annual Report.

Important Dates

  • May 3, 2024 — Award Nominatiosn Due
  • July 2024 — Award Recipients Notified
  • September 23, 2024 — Awards Luncheon on Dam Safety 2024

2024 Dam Safety Awards Program - Nomination Forms

 

ASDSO accepts nominations for the following awards:

National Dam Rehabilitation Project of the Year

This award recognizes a unique remedial design, for a project of any size, that advances the state-of-the-art in the field of dam safety and exemplifies the professional engineering and construction standards that dam safety requires.

The Awards Committee and the Board of Directors consider nominees, and the Board of Directors makes the final selection. This award is given annually.

Download Nomination Form

 

Regional Dam Safety Awards*

Regional Dam Safety Awards recognize smaller projects, dam owners, and other entities that have made an impact at a local, county, state, or regional level. While efforts may not be state-of-the-art or impact the industry nationally, recipients have made exemplary community contributions. The awards recognize collaboration, community impact, innovative funding, and cost-effectiveness. They also recognize social and environmental responsibility.

ASDSO Regional Representatives select a recipient from each region. ASDSO also forwards the nomination to the appropriate State Representatives for approval. These awards are given annually.

Download Nomination Form

*NOTE: This award has replaced the Regional Awards of Merit. Closely review the criteria before submitting a nomination.

 

Media Outreach Award

The Media Outreach Award recognizes media outlets and journalists whose work on dam safety issues has enhanced the public understanding of dams' impact on society, their role as key components of public infrastructure, ramifications of dam safety incidents, or other noteworthy contributions to dam safety. 

Representatives from the Media Outreach Committee and appropriate ASDSO staff review the nominations. The ASDSO Board of Directors confirms any recipients. The award may be awarded every year at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Download Nomination Form

 

Bruce Tschantz Public Safety at Dams Award

This award recognizes and celebrates Dr. Bruce Tschantz’s lifetime achievements in dam safety, his contributions to ASDSO, and his efforts to improve public safety around dams. The award will be given to a person who takes on the role of “local champion” and works to improve public safety around dams. Often, no action would be taken without their efforts. 

Representatives of the ASDSO Public Safety at Dams Committee review the nominations. The ASDSO Board of Directors confirms any recipients. The award may be awarded every year at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Download Nomination Form

 

Young Professional of the Year

The Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) Young Professional Award recognizes members under 35 years of age working in the dam safety field who made outstanding contributions to the association, their respective organization, or the dam safety industry in general.

Representatives from the ASDSO Young Professional Interest Group review the nominations. The ASDSO Board of Directors confirms any recipients. The award may be awarded every year at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Download Nomination Form

 

Terry L. Hampton Medal

This Medal was established by the Affiliate Member Advisory Committee, now known as the ASDSO Advisory Committee (AdCom), to recognize Terry L. Hampton's lifetime achievements in the field of hydrology and hydraulics and his contributions to ASDSO and the AdCom. The Medal will be awarded for outstanding contributions to research and/or practice in hydrologic and hydraulic engineering for dams.

AdCom reviews nominations and selects the recipient. The Medal may be awarded every year at the selection committee's discretion.

Download Nomination Form

 

Danny McCook Medal

This medal was established by the Affiliate Member Advisory Committee, now known as the ASDSO Advisory Committee (AdCom), to recognize Danny McCook's lifetime achievements in geotechnical engineering and his contributions to ASDSO and the AdCom. Recipients have made outstanding contributions to research or practice in geotechnical engineering for dams. AdCom reviews nominations and selects recipients when appropriate.

AdCom reviews nominations and selects the recipient. The Medal may be awarded every year at the selection committee's discretion.

Download Nomination Form