An Updated Methodology for Performing Screening Level Risk Evaluations for Large Portfolios: Part 1 – Tool Development and System Response Probability Estimation

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) regulates 219 dams classified as having high or significant hazard potential and need to prioritize their portfolio for risk management purposes. Prioritizing repair/mitigation of the dams is a challenge because the existing tools and guidance from federal agencies did not capture EGLE’s specific goals. EGLE procured support from GEI Consultants, Inc. (GEI) to develop a statewide risk prioritization tool to consistently and efficiently evaluate their dam portfolio. EGLE’s main objectives of this tool were to streamline the risk prioritization process to simplify securing federal funding through sources like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Rehabilitation High Hazard Potential Dam (HHPD) Grant Program, and to support programmatic decisions such as dam safety compliance, enforcement, and state grant funding. Such an extensive portfolio of dams required the development of a new tool which could consistently and efficiently perform screening level risk evaluations.