ASDSO annually honors those individuals and organizations making exemplary contributions to the improvement of dam safety in the U.S. through its awards program.
2023 Dam Safety Awards Program - Nomination Window Open
ASDSO is currently accepting 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 ASDSO Board of Directors will consider nominees. The Board of Directors will make the final selection.
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 regions (represented by the ASDSO regional and state representatives) will select a recipient from each of the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and West regions. The state representative must approve the nomination, and ASDSO will forward nominations for approval.
*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 the impact dams have on society, the role they play as key components of public infrastructure, ramifications of dam safety incidents, or other noteworthy contributions to dam safety.
Representatives from the ASDSO Media Outreach Committee and appropriate ASDSO staff will review the nominations. The ASDSO Board of Directors will confirm any recipients.
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 will review the nominations. The ASDSO Board of Directors will confirm any recipients.
Young Professional of the Year
The Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) Young Professional Award recognizes members under 40 years of age working in the dam safety field that have made outstanding contributions to the association, their respective organization, or the dam safety industry in general.
Representatives of the ASDSO Young Professional Interest Group will review the nominations. The ASDSO Board of Directors will confirm any recipients.
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.
The nominations will be reviewed, and the recipient chosen by the ASDSO Advisory Committee.
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.
The nominations will be reviewed, and the recipient chosen by the ASDSO Advisory Committee.
Procedures
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Carefully review the award overview, criteria & procedures included in each nomination form.
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Nominations should be sent to [email protected]. ASDSO staff will send confirmation emails to the nominator.
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The deadline for nomination is May 11, 2023.
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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
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Award recipients will be recognized at an awards luncheon on September 18, 2023, held in conjunction with Dam Safety 2023 in Palm Springs, California.
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Award recipients will be recognized in select Dam Safety 2023 materials, on the ASDSO website, in The Journal of Dam Safety, and in ASDSO’s FY24 Annual Report.
Important Dates
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May 11, 2023 - Award Nominations Due
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July 2023 - Award Recipients Notified
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September 18, 2023 - Awards Luncheon at Dam Safety 2023
