Inundation Studies and Downstream Hazard Determination Guidance for Ohio Dams

Dam safety engineering represents a niche skill set in the broader civil engineering toolbox, and downstream hazard determination is critical for effective risk-based dam design and regulation. Each dam, its watershed and appurtenances, and the receiving waters are unique. Methodologies for determining downstream hazard or risk can vary from state to state, and the computational software used to support these methodologies is becoming increasingly more sophisticated. The Dam Safety Section of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Water Resources recognized the need for a guidance document to ensure a more consistent application of Ohio's dam safety rules and regulations. This paper will discuss the need for established guidance for state regulators, the arduous process of putting pen to paper, a summary of the current version of Ohio’s living guidance document, and lessons to be learned on the journey to publish.