Association of Western State Engineers Position Statement: Dam Safety

Full text of statement:

ASSOCIATION OF WESTERN STATE ENGINEERS
POSITION STATEMENT - DAM SAFETY

Dams contribute to the efficient management and conservation of the nation's water resources and enhance the economic well-being of our citizens. However, inadequately constructed, operated, or maintained dams can pose a serious threat to public and private property and the health and safety of our citizens.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers conducted a national dam inspection program in cooperation with the states under P.L. 92-367; furthermore, the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, issued a report reviewing state non-federal dam safety programs (1989). Both of these efforts demonstrate that dam safety is an important issue and one that needs increased attention on a national and state level.

The Association of Western State Engineers encourages the federal agencies that own dams to ensure that the dams are properly inspected and that the information from these inspections is shared with the state dam safety agency in order to provide for better coordination of dam safety activities.

The Association of Western State Engineers believes federal cost sharing for the administration of state dam safety programs, training for state dam safety inspectors, research and development of inspection techniques, and an update of the national dam inventory should be continued.

The Association of Western State Engineers also recognizes that many of the dams constructed in this country were constructed many years ago and have reached or will reach their maximum expected life in the next few years. Many of the dams continue to serve useful and important functions as a part of our nation's infrastructure, but will need rehabilitation to be maintained in a safe status. The Association of Western State Engineers supports federal programs to rehabilitate many of the over 10,000 watershed dams constructed with assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (P.L. 83-566) and similar programs.

Adopted this 10th day of September 2003.

Association of Western State Engineers
Hugh Ricci, President