Model State Dam Safety Program Manual

The overall purpose of the Model State Dam Safety Program (Model Program) is to enhance national dam safety. The objective is to encourage progressive safety standards in the promulgated practices and procedures state agencies use to regulate dam site investigation, design, construction, operation and maintenance, and emergency planning and preparedness. The Model Program is meant to outline the key components of an effective state dam safety program. It does not mirror any state program, nor does it supplant any state's existing criteria. It is intended to provide guidance on the development of more effective and sustainable state programs that will mitigate major risks facing dams across the nation. The Model Program is a collaborative effort between the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Dam Safety Program. The Model Program supports ASDSO’s mission to improve the condition and safety of dams through education, support state dam safety programs, and foster a unified dam safety community.

The target audience for this document includes state dam safety program managers, their management, and legislators, with dam owners, engineers, and dam safety staff as a secondary audience.

The Model State Dam Safety Program was originally developed by FEMA in 1987 and was amended in 1997, 2007, and 2022 (with the present document) to reflect the current experiences and expertise of state program officials.