Information for Dam Owners
Six informational documents for dam owners including: dam inspections by owners, inspection of concrete structures at dams, burrowing animal control, unwanted woody vegetation on dams, seepage through earthen dams and low level drains have been prepared to help dam owners communicate and recognize potential dam problems. A summary of each document can be found below in the "Information for Dam Owners" section.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) have web sites with extensive information, some of it specifically written for dam owners including, ASDSO's "Responsible Dam Ownership: Information guidelines and tools". The United States Department of Agriculture's Forest Service (USDA) has published a reference entitled, "Pocket Safety Guide for Dams and Impoundments" that shows the various dam components and causes, consequences, and recommended actions to common dam problems.
Links to these web sites are on the right.
More about Information for Dam Owners:
- Dam Inspections by Owners - How to perform periodic maintenance and inspections. Includes the basic components of a dam, what to look for during an inspection, and potential problem indicators.
- Inspection of Concrete Structures at Dams - A description of the problems that are typically encountered with concrete dam structures and how to assess the seriousness of a particular condition.
- Burrowing Animals: Rodent Control - Information on how to control woodchuck, muskrat and beaver activity at dams.
- Problems with Trees and Brush Near Dams - Information on the problems caused by trees and brush growing on dams and guidelines for maintenance.
- Seepage Through Earthen Dams - How to know if seepage is a concern and how to control it.
- Low Level Drains - Information on the operation, maintenance and problems of low level drains.
