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Educate Yourself - Find Workshops, Resources, and Guidance on Technical Issues
Being a Responsible Dam Owner
As a dam owner, you are legally responsible to maintain your dam in a safe manner, and you could be found liable should your structure fail and cause loss of life or damage to property of others. One of the most important components of dam safety is owner education.
- Owners must be aware of:
- State and/or federal dam laws and regulations;
- Proper operation and maintenance practices;
- Rehabilitation needs;
- Emergency action planning, and;
- How to hire qualified dam engineers.
Through education, owners can take steps to:
- Reduce likelihood of incidents and failures;
- Reduce their own liability;
- Improve the safety of dams;
- Help to reduce the risk to communities
This site serves as a tool to make it easy to access guidance information and understand what each step entails.
First Steps for Dam Owners
Go through these steps to take a quick tour of the tools available on this website and better understand your responsibilities and liabilities as a dam owner:
1. Watch the ASDSO Video to Familiarize Yourself with the Tools on This Website
2. Your state dam safety program will be aware of the specific requirements and regulations for your dam, and can put you in contact with qualified personnel to help you manage the needs of your dam. Locate Your State Dam Safety Program Office (Click on the Map and then Click on Your State)
3. Consider joining the Association of State Dam Safety Officials to take full advantage of trainings, resources, a collaborative community and industry access for managing your dam (Visit our Member Center for more information).
Educate Yourself - Find Workshops, Resources, and Guidance on Technical Issues
Attend a Dam Owner Educational Workshop
From time-to-time, ASDSO partners with State Dam Safety Programs to conduct one-day workshops for dam owners. Click here to learn more.
Watch ASDSO's Educational Webinars
Go to LearningCenter.DamSafety.Org and use the keyword: Owner to see a curated listing of recorded webinars geared toward owners' needs.
View Common Issues Facing Dam Owners
Click on these educational pages to get guidance and resources on specific issues you may face as a dam owner. Each of these pages can be saved as a printable PDF fact sheet by clicking the link or image at the bottom of that page.
Common Problems for Small Dams with Concrete Channel Spillways
Design and Maintenance of Trashracks
Funding for Dam Rehabilitation
How to Procure the Services of an Engineer
Inspection of Concrete Structures
Internal Erosion of Earth Dams
Outlet Erosion Control Structures (Stilling Basins)
Ownership Responsibility and Liability
Problems with Concrete Materials
Problems with Plastic (Polymer) Materials
Spillway Conduit System Problems
External Resources
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides some resources for dam owners and professionals.
These resources are accessible at the FEMA website by clicking here or navigating to their dam safety web portal at https://www.fema.gov/dam-safety.
The FEMA website provides extensive information on dam ownership in the United States, federal guidelines for dam safety, and many other resources.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) considers dams to be one of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors that form the core of the DHS security mission.
Dam security resources can be accessed on the DHS website by clicking here or navigating to their dams sector portal at https://www.dhs.gov/cisa/dams-sector.
The DHS website provides resources regarding maintaining site security at dams and offers many online training courses for dam owners and professionals.
In support of conservation efforts across the nation, the NRCS works with land owners in the disciplines of hydrology and hydraulics. Tools and models here, as well as significant technical information can be accessed at the NRCS website. Training material is also available. In each of the 50 states NRCS has a hydraulic engineering contact person.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has an extensive dam portfolio it maintains across the nation. The USACE website has a large archive of engineering-focused publications and technical manuals, among many other resources.
The USACE dam safety program website is accessible by clicking here or navigating to their dam safety portal at https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Dam-Safety-Program/.
... and many more ...
There are a multitude of other available dam-specific or dam-related resources and institutions available not listed here, including the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Institute for Water Resources, the U.S. Society on Dams, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Association of Engineering Geologists (among others) that can also provide assistance or guidance.
