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National Dam Safety Program Research Workshops

Dam Safety Research Needs
Report from a workshop held April 11, 1999 in Washington, D.C. to assess and prioritize needs of the States with respect to research and development, and to develop an agenda to address the needs.

Dam Spillways (FEMA 536)
State-of-practice techniques for modification, inspection, monitoring, maintenance

Embankment Dam Failure Analysis (FEMA 541)

Final Report on Coordination and Cooperation with the European Union on Embankment Failure Analysis [FEMA 602CD]
There has been an emphasis in the European Union (EU) community on the investigation of extreme flood processes and the uncertainties related to these processes. Over a 3-year period, the EU and the U.S. dam safety community (1) coordinated their efforts and collected information needed to integrate data and knowledge with U.S. activities and interests related to embankment overtopping and failure analysis; (2) used the data to improve embankment failure analysis methods; and (3) disseminated the results to the U.S. dam safety community. This final report integrates EU and U.S. research findings and results related to earthen embankment overtopping failure over the 3-year period.

Hydrologic Issues for Dams (FEMA 538)

Impacts of Plants & Animals on Earthen Dams (FEMA 540)

Outlet Works

Risk Assessment for Dams

Seepage through Embankment Dams (FEMA 535)

Spillway Gates (FEMA 537)

Materials For Dam Owners

Dam Owner's Guide to Animal Impacts on Earthen Dams (FEMA L-264)

Dam Owner's Guide to Plant Impact on Earthen Dams (FEMA L-263)

Dam Ownership: Responsibility & Liability

Dam Safety, An Owners Guidance Manual

Dam Seepage Monitoring System (version 2.0)
A tool for managing & interpreting instrumentation data associated with long-term performance monitoring of small to medium-sized dams. Uses: --Assess appropriate instrumentation for reservoirs & dams;
--Track reservoir surface elevations, historic highs and historic lows;
--Define piezometer configuration, including ground surface elevation, top of casing, gravel pack/screen elevations and high & low alert levels;
--Configure seepage devices, such as weirs, Parshall flume, & direct seepage measurement devices and record readings in GPM or CFS;
--Track rainfall data and set a high alert level.
Version 2.0 is an upgrade of version 1.0 released in 2000. The new version has improved data entry, plotting, reporting and installation.

Dam Seepage Monitoring System Instructions

Emergency Action Planning for Dam Owners (FEMA 64)

Emergency Action Planning Video

Internal Erosion of Earth Dams

Procuring the Services of a Professional Engineer

Technical Manual for Dam Owners: Impacts of Animals on Earthen Dams (FEMA 473)

Technical Manual for Dam Owners: Impacts of Plants on Earthen Dams (FEMA 534)

Technical Manuals & Guidelines

Conduits through Embankment Dams: Best Practices (FEMA L-266)

Dams Sector Crisis Management Handbook

Developing Emergency Action Plans Using the NRCS Sample EAP “Fillable Form” Template (2004)
USDA NRCS/ASDSO Sample EAP documents for earthen high hazard dams

Earthquake Analyses & Dam Design (FEMA 65)

Emergency action planning for state-regulated high-hazard potential dams: findings, recommendations, and strategies (FEMA 608, 8/07)
NDSRB Task Group on Emergency Action Planning and Response report

Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety (FEMA 93)

FEMA's Risk MAP Strategy - Integrating Mapping, Risk Assessment, and Mitigation Planning; Draft Strategy (2008)

Glossary of Terms (FEMA 148)

Hazard Potential Classification System for Dams (FEMA 333)

National Engineering Manual (USDA NRCS)

Plastic Pipe Used in Embankment Dams

Risk Prioritization Tool for Dams

Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams (FEMA 94)

Technical Manual: Conduits through Embankment Dams (FEMA 484)

State and National Dam Safety Programs Information

Availability of Dam Insurance: A Report to Congress

Catalog of FEMA Dam Safety Resources

Dam Safety and Security in the United States: A Progress Report on the National Dam Safety Program Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005

Model State Dam Safety Program (FEMA 316, July 2007)

National Dam Safety Program Biennial Report for Fiscal Years 2004-2005 (FEMA 576)

Suggested References for State Dam Safety Programs

The National Levee Challenge: Levees and the FEMA Flood Map Modernization Initiative
Interagency Levee Policy Review Committee report recommends changes to current FEMA levee policies, as stated in the National Flood Insurance Program regulations and FEMA guidance documents; identifies outreach and public awareness challenges related to remapping levee-affected areas; and proposes cooperative development by FEMA and the USACE of a GIS-based levee inventory.

Security

Dams Sector Personnel Screening Guide for Owners and Operators

Dams Sector Security Awareness Guide (DHS Infrastructure Protection Directorate)
DHS Infrastructure Protection Directorate guidance for dam owners

Dams Sector Waterside Barriers Guide
Guide provides sector stakeholders with information pertaining to waterside barriers and their use, maintenance, and effectiveness.

National Infrastructure Protection Plan
DHS Infrastructure Protection Directorate

Physical Security Measures for Levees

Security Awareness for Levee Owners

The National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP)
(DHS Infrastructure Protection Directorate) The National Infrastructure Protection Plan provides the unifying structure for the integration of a wide range of efforts for the enhanced protection and resiliency of the nation's critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR) into a single national program.