Western Dam Engineering Technical Note


Western Dam Engineering Technical Note

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note Back Issues

This newsletter is meant as an educational resource tool for civil engineers who practice primarily in rural areas of western United States. This publication will present technical articles specific to the design, inspection, safety, and construction of small dams. This publication provides general information. The reader is encouraged to use the references cited and engage other technical experts as appropriate.

The Western Dam Engineering Technical Note is sponsored by the following agencies:

  • Colorado Division of Water Resources
  • Montana Department of Natural Resources
  • New Mexico Office of the State Engineer
  • Wyoming State Engineer's Office

Funding for the Western Dam Engineering Technical Note is provided by the FEMA National Dam Safety Act Assistance to States grant program.


Latest Issue!

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 10.1, October 2023

  • Foundation Preparation and Treatment
  • Rain on Snow Modeling

Archived Issues

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 9.2, December 2021

  • What the Flow!! Analyzing Seepage in Embankment Dams
  • CFD 101 - CFD as a Design Tool: What does CFD Bring to a Dam and Spillway Project?

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 9.1, July 2021

  • Dam Decommissioning - Considerations and Keys to Success
  • Complex Decisions Don't Require Complex Tools - Alternatives Analysis Using a Multi Criteria Decision Tool

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 8.1, July 2020

  • Assessment and Rehabilitation Following an Internal Erosion Incident
  • How Dewatering Can Derail Construction Projects

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 7.1, October 2019

  • Wise Up: DSS-WISETM LITE as an Alternative Method for Breach Analysis and Consequence Estimation
  • A Tool for Every Job: Statewide Probable Maximum and Extreme Precipitation Estimation

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 6.2, August 2018

  • What the HEC? - Selecting the Best HEC model for the Job
  • Factoring for Human Factors in Dam Safety Incidents and Failures
  • Abandonment of Low-Level Outlet Conduits, Think it Through Before You Grout it Through

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 6.1, April 2018

  • Risky Business - Introduction to Dam Safety Risk Assessment
  • When Spills Go Their Own Way - Evaluations of Concrete-Lined Spillways
  • Retrofitting Dams for Small Hydro

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 5.2, August 2017

  • Employing Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Dam Inspection
  • Overtopping Protection of Embankment Dams
  • Cellular Grout Use in Conduit Sliplining
  • Mechanical Seals for Conduit Repair

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 5.1, May 2017

  • Thinking Fast - Emergency Response to Seepage and Internal Erosion
  • Calibration, Validation, and Verification: Bringing More Certainty to the Uncertainty of Hydrologic Modeling Results
  • Inspecting Corrugated Metal Pipes in Embankment Dams

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 4.2, August 2016

  • Dam, You're Getting Old! - Understanding and Managing the Risks of Aging Dams
  • Retrofitting Old Dams to Address New Hydrologic Inadequacies
  • Internal Erosion: Issues Just Below the Surface

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 4.1, May 2016

  • Dam Engineering in the Palm of Your Hand - Mobile Apps for the Modern Day Engineer
  • You Down with CIPP? - Yeah! You Know Me!
  • Is Your Embankment Dam under Pressure - Underseepage Impacts

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 3.3, July 2015

  • Spillways: Spilling the Right Way
  • Water on Tap: Design Considerations for Outlet Control
  • Does Your Dam Measure Up? Instrumentation for Small Earth Dams

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 3.2, May 2015

  • Dam Safety Inspections...A Closer Look
  • Spillways on Small Dams
  • Geology 101 - Dam Good Foundations

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 3.1, February 2015

  • Sinkholes: The Hole Story - Issues are Deeper than You Think
  • Letting it All Out: Hydraulic Design of Outlet Works
  • Soil Characterization (Part 3) - Shear Strength Characterization for Slope Stability Analyses

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 2.3, October 2014

  • Soil Characterization (Part 2) - Laboratory and Field Shear Strength Testing
  • How Low Can You Go? The Needs and Considerations for Outlets
  • Dam Overtopping Failures - Lessons Learned from the September 2013 Colorado Flood Event

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 2.2, July 2014

  • Soil Characterization - Here's the Dirt (Part 1)
  • What the Heck Should Be in My Spec? Part 3: The Devil is in the Details -
  • Specification Tips to Help Your Job Run Smoothly
  • You Con-du-it; How to Fix a Leaky Pipe

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 2.1, April 2014

  • Poking the Bear: Drilling and Sampling for Embankment Dams
  • Turning Rainfall to Runoff: Estimating Flood Inflows
  • What the Heck Should Be in My Spec? Part 2: Writing and Utilizing "Team-Effort" Specifications

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 1.3, November 2013

  • Embankment Dam Slope Stability 101
  • When it Rains Does it Pour? Design Precipitation Depths for Dam Safety
  • What the Heck Should Be in My Spec? Part 1: Earthwork Considerations

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 1.2, July 2013 (corrected)

  • Wave Runup on Dam Slopes
  • Riprap Protection against Wave Action
  • Outlet Works Air Vent Design

Western Dam Engineering Technical Note, 1.1, March 2013 (corrected)

  • Simple Siphoning
  • Low-Level Conduits, Rehab or Replace
  • Filter Design & Construction