Committees and Interest Groups


Committees and Interest Groups

ASDSO has a number of committees, interest groups, task forces and work groups that meet throughout the year and work towards building a stronger dam and levee safety community.

ASDSO is frequently looking for volunteers at all levels, from assisting with small tasks and virtual participation to committee and leadership positions. To see current opportuities, visit the 'Volunteer Opportunities' page on Collaborate.


Committees 

Advisory Committee (AdCom)

The AdCom is a technical advisory committee made up of private sector members. Members are chosen by the ASDSO Board of Directors.

Annual Awards Committee

Chooses the National Rehabilitation Project of the Year and coordinates additional ASDSO awards.

Annual Conference Program Committee

Develops program and activities for ASDSO's Annual Conference.

Committee on Education Outreach (Student Outreach)

The CEO works to: (1) stimulate interest among pre-college and higher education students in career opportunities in dam engineering and (2) increase the number of professionals who specialize in dam engineering and dam safety.

  • Subcommittee - Undergraduate Student Scholarship
  • Subcommittee - Model Dam Competition
  • Subcommittee - Student Paper Competition
Dam Design and Construction Committee

The mission of the committee is to identify and disseminate information on commonly accepted current engineering methods for use by designers, regulators, and decision-makers involved in the design and construction of small dams.

  • Subcommittee - Dam Safety Toolbox Website
Dam Failure & Incidents Committee

The mission of the committee is to assist the states (in partnership with other stakeholders) to improve the current practice of investigating/learning from dam failures and incidents. 

  • Subcommittee - DamFailures.Org
  • Subcommittee - Decade Dam Failures
  • Subcommittee - Dam Failure Book Project
  • Subcommittee - Dam Failure Investigation Guideline Update
Dam Owner Outreach Committee

Oversees all outreach to dam owners, including the development of workshops, tools, and guidelines.

Finance Committee

The mission of this committee is to oversee the financial management and fundraising programs of ASDSO.

Media Outreach Committee

The mission of the committee is to improve ASDSO's communications and promote consistent and effective messaging with our stakeholders.

Peer Review Committee

The mission of the committee is to oversee, evaluate, and improve the Peer Review Program. The objective of an ASDSO Peer Review is to provide professional guidance to improve the performance and management of dam safety programs.

Public Safety At Dams Committee

The mission of the committee is to promote public safety at and around dams.

Tailings Dam Regulatory Committee

The mission of the Tailings Dam Regulatory Committee is to lead implementation of tailings dam related aspects of the ASDSO Strategic Plan, including the development of guidance for state programs on the unique aspects of tailings dam regulation, technical aspects of tailings dam design, operation and closure that affect safety, support state programs that regulate tailings dams, and other related work.

Technical Journal Editorial Committee

Committee members select and review papers for ASDSO's quarterly Journal of Dam Safety.

Technical Training Committee

The mission of the committee is to support ASDSO's strategic goals of improving state dam safety programs and increasing the technical expertise of dam safety professionals and owners/operators, by developing and delivering high quality and accessible training opportunities.


Interest Groups

Book Club Interest Group

The mission of the Book Club Interest Group is to encourage lifelong learning in the dam safety community and connect ASDSO members with a common interest in reading. 

Legislative Activities Interest Group

Interest group members act as key contacts to educate federal and state officials about legislative reforms needed to promote and improve dam safety in the U.S.

Speakers Bureau

The ASDSO Speakers Bureau is made up of volunteers with experience and expertise in dam engineering, best practices, dam safety, and public education. Volunteers make presentations before student and community groups to raise awareness of careers in dam engineering and of dam safety issues, including safety of dams and safety around dams, and to provide general education on the role of dams in society.

Young Professionals Interest Group

The Young Professionals (YP) Interest Group works to engage professionals under the age of 35 in the dam safety community through ASDSO participation and service.