The Western Dam Engineering Technical Note – Addressing an Educational Need

The first issue of the Western Dam Engineering Technical Note (WDETN) was published in 2013 as an educational resource for civil engineers who practice primarily in rural areas of the western United States. As such, WDETN articles often focused on topics related to small to intermediate sized dams.

The WDETN was sponsored by Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico state regulatory programs which pulled National Dam Safety Program State Assistance Grant funds to support development. The programs worked with Jennifer Williams, Vice President of US West Water Business Line at AECOM, and many others at AECOM to bring each issue to life. The WDETN served as a powerful example of the impact of collaboration.

After 12 years, the publication is coming to an end with its March 2025 issue. To celebrate the successful endeavor, we have included two pertinent articles from past WDETN issues to give readers a flavor of the type of information provided: short, practical, and concise. All past issues can be found at DamSafety.org/WDETN.