Phase 1 Dam Inspection Program 15 Years After

An ASDSO progress report; Preliminary results of survey - 41 states reporting. Results indicate:
*About 9,000 dams were targeted in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Phase 1 Inspection Program; roughly 1/3 were determined to be deficient.
*15 years later, 42 states (including one state that had not reported at the time the preliminary survey was prepared) reported that 42% of those dams inspected by the Corps during the Phase 1 Program had been rehabilitated; smaller percentages of dams had been removed or found to be in satisfactory condition; 2% had failed; about 33% (1007 dams) had unresolved deficiencies.

Survey questions:

PART A. NUMBER OF DAMS WITH DEFICIENCIFS IDENTIFIED IN PHASE 1 INSPECTION PROGRAM FROM 1977-1981
1. How many dams were inspected in your state as part of the Phase 1 Inspection Program?
2. How many of the dams that were inspected (question #1) were not subject to regulation by the State or any Federal agency?
3. How many of the dams that were inspected (question #1) were subject to state jurisdiction?
4. How many of the dams under state jurisdiction (question #3) had safety deficiencies as identified by Phase 1 Inspection reports. This would include dams not meeting US Army Corp of Engineers inspection criteria and dams needing further engineering analyses to resolve uncertainties regarding project safety.

PART B. NUMBER OF DAMS UNDER STATE JURISDICTION WHERE DEFICIENCIES HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED
5. How many dams identified in question #4 have been removed or decommissioned so they no longer pose a hazard? Include dams where owners have chosen to buy out downstream property to remove property and lives at risk.
6. How many of the dams identified in question #4 were determined to be in satisfactory condition (using State criteria) based on more detailed follow-up engineering analyses?
7. How many of the dams identified in question #4 have been repaired or rehabilitated (in accordance with State criteria) to correct safety deficiencies?
8. How many of the dams identified in question #4 have not been repaired/rehabilitated or have uncertainties that have not been resolved?

PART C. NUMBER OF DAMS THAT HAVE FAILED BEFORE DEFICIENCIES WERE CORRECTED
9. How many dams identified in question #4 have failed - a partial or complete uncontrolled release of the reservoir - before repairs could be made to correct deficiencies?
10. How many of the failed dams identified in question #9 have been rebuilt?

PART D. COMMENTARY OR CLARIFICATION OF ANSWERS

The ASDSO surveys archive is available to members through the members only section of DamSafety.org.