Dam Owner Responsibilities
What the Indiana Dam Safety Program Does
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Division of Water Dams and Levees Branch
Dam inspections are typically referred to as safety inspections since they are intended to help protect the safety of people and property downstream by providing a means of evaluating and maintaining the dam's integrity. The Indiana Dam Safety Inspection Manual specifies that a dam safety inspection program should include four types of inspections:
Contact the Dam Safety Program- formal technical inspections,
- maintenance inspections
- informal inspections
- special inspections
Special inspections may be required when there are situations such as extreme weather, seismic events, or citizen complaints. Dam owners may request a special inspection. Inspections also are made in follow-up to problems that have been identified at a dam, and during and after construction, repair, modification, or breaching. If there is a problem with a dam and the owner does not remediate it, the Dam Safety Program enforcement options include administrative orders, judicial injunctions, and civil penalties.
If a dam appears to be failing, Dam Safety Program engineers advise local Emergency Management Directors of the degree of danger. The dam owner will be advised of actions that may be taken to prevent failure or lessen the impact of failure, and will determine when failure is starting, as well as when the danger has passed.
A formal technical inspection is the most comprehensive form of inspection and usually includes a review and analysis of available data and plans, a field examination at the dam site, and preparation of a report. A key component of a formal technical inspection is the compilation or review of all available information for the dam and the surrounding area. Formal technical inspections should be performed by a team of one or more professional engineers, geologists, or qualified technicians, accompanied by the dam owner or his representative. Composition of the group is determined by the type of dam and its appurtenant works, the condition of the dam, and any statutory requirement.
A maintenance inspection is a preventive measure designed to identify problems and to develop solutions to prevent further degradation. Maintenance inspections generally involve reviewing previous inspection reports, performing a field examination at the dam site, and completing a report form or inspection brief. Maintenance inspections are usually performed by the dam tender, maintenance staff, or the dam owner.
In the case of an informal inspection, the evaluation process typically consists of a field examination and completion of a report form or inspection brief. An informal inspection can be conducted at any time, and may include only portions of the dam or its appurtenant structures. Informal inspections are usually conducted by project personnel or dam owners as they operate the dam to monitor known problem areas, or to provide an update on site conditions between maintenance and technical inspections.
A special inspection may need to be performed to resolve specific concerns or
conditions at the site on an unscheduled basis. Special inspections may be conducted following severe storm events, earthquakes, or other incidents which could affect the integrity of the dam. These inspections may also be part of a response to an emergency situation, such as rising reservoir levels during a storm, or excessive seepage resulting in piping (internal erosion of the core of the dam). These inspections are usually performed by the dam owners, maintenance personnel, or qualified dam safety professionals.
Engineers with the Dams and Levees branch periodically inspect all dams on the state's inventory as long as they continue to operate. Each inspection starts with a complete file review in the office to note any identified deficiencies and to become familiar with hydrologic evaluations. The inspector then performs the field evaluation.
In the field, the inspector conducts a complete visual inspection. Surveys are completed for dams with missing measurements. Photographs help provide a permanent record of observations. Following the inspection, a letter and report are provided to the owner listing the observations and, if needed, deficiencies and remedial measures required. Enforcement action is sometimes required to ensure proper dam maintenance or modification.
The DNR takes emergency action if a structure is in danger of failing and poses a threat to life or may cause serious property damage.
Dam Construction
Engineers in the Dams and Levees branch have provided General Guidelines for New Dams & Improvements to Existing Dams in Indiana online. These guidelines are directed to project engineers, technical professionals and owners involved in the design and construction of a proposed dam or the modification of an existing dam that is under the jurisdiction of the Indiana DNR. The intent is to provide direction to experienced dam design professionals so that the final product, the dam, is safe and the owner's investment in professional engineering is maximized.
The majority of information given in this document is general and provides many of the dam safety technical principles used throughout the country. The Project Engineer in charge of the design of a dam must be a registered professional engineer and have the training and experience to properly apply these guidelines to the specifics of the site and the needs of the owner. If the owner's Project Engineer follows these guidelines and an appropriate engineering design package is submitted to DNR's Division of Water, the time to obtain approval on the proposed work will be significantly reduced.
Note: Modifications were made to Indiana's dam statute (IC 14-27-7.5) in 2002. Look for future changes to polices and procedures regarding inspection, enforcement, and permitting of dams in Indiana.