Latest Developments
November 27, 2007 Connecticut Going High Tech with Dam Safety Connecticut is the first state in the country to use DamWatch, a system invented by USEngineering Solutions Corp. in Hartford, to monitor the DEP-owned dams. The system is expected to be fully operation by early 2008. Read the full story
November 10, 2007 Minnesota Dams in Jeopardy In a state not far removed from the trauma of the Interstate 35W bridge disaster, an Associated Press review found a new concern: Minnesota’s dams. A review of state records and interviews with officials found that even when dams have serious known flaws that could cause loss of life and major property damage, it can take years to fix those problems. Read the full story
October 29, 2007 House Passes Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act By a vote of 263-102, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Dam Rehab and Repair Act (H.R. 3224). Similar legislation(S. 2238) has been introduced in the Senate. Find out how your legislator voted.
October 25, 2007 Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act introduced in the Senate. Sponsored by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) the bill has 5 co-sponsors and similar to the House version.
August 14, 2007 AZ Congressman Calls for Dam Rehab Funding: Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-AZ) stated today that he wants funding to fix the 16 unsafe dams in Arizona with a potential for imminent failure. Click here to read more
August 2, 2007 House Committee Approves Dam Funding: The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act (H.R. 3224), legislation to provide up to $200 million over five years to address deficiencies in the nation’s publicly owned non-federal dams. The bill's sponsor, Rep. John Salazar (D-CO) addressed the committee calling dams, "a vital part of our nation’s aging infrastructure [that] provide enormous benefits to the majority of Americans including drinking water, flood protection, renewable hydroelectric power, navigation, irrigation and recreation," and indicated that this measure is a good first step in addressing the critical needs of the nation's dams.
June 27, 2007 HR 1098 Attracts Bi-partisan Support. The Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act (HR 1098) has 27 co-sponsors from both parties and all regions. Co-Sponsors
May 8, 2007 House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee holds hearing on Dam Safety issues. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management heard testimony today from representatives of the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Army Corps of Engineers, among others.
Both ASCE and ASDSO strongly support HR 1098, the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2007, currently before the commitee.
Click here to read ASCE or ASDSO's written testimonies.
April 15, 2007 Rainbow Lake Dam in Pittsgrove Township, NJ Fails. After severe storms dropping in excess of 10 inches on the area weakened the structure, the Rainbow Lake Dam burst washing out a road and causing the failure of two more downstream dams. The dam was classified as High Hazard.
February 17, 2007 Dam Safety Legislation Introduced. Today Reps. John Salazar (D-CO) and Randy Kuhl (R-NY) introduced the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2007 (HR 1098) that would provide $200 million over five years for the repair, rehabilitation or removal of public dams. The Dam Safety Coalition strongly supports this measure.
9/20/2006 House Transportation & Infrastructure COmmittee approved 2 key bills promoting dam safety. On September 20, 2006 the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee approved the National Dam Safety Act (H.R. 4981) and the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act (H.R. 1105), bills strongly supported by the Dam Safety Coalition.
The National Dam Safety Act would reauthorize the National Dam Safety Program which provides assistance to state dam safety programs to aid in their operations to inspect non-federal dams. The Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act would provide assistance to states to make critical repairs to the nation’s publicly owned dams.
To view Rep. Kuhl's press release click here.
7/22/2006 House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee to hold hearing on Dam Safety issues on Wednesday, July 26
On Wednesday, July 26th at 2:00 pm ET, the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management will hold a legislative hearing on proposed amendments and reauthorization of the National Dam Safety Program (NDSP). The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee postponed the mark-up of HR 4981 this week in order to hold the hearing.
Witnesses scheduled to testify at the hearing include representatives from the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. ASDSO and ASCE will strongly support HR 1105 and HR 4981.
To view a draft copy of ASDSO's written testimony, as well as current dam safety statistics, please click here.
5/23/2006 Dam Safety Act Reported Out by Senate Committee The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously approved a bill this week that would reauthorize the National Dam Safety Program for five years. The bill, S. 2735, authorizes appropriations of $12.75 million annually ($63.75 million over five years) to improve dam safety programs. The program will include an assessment of each dam's condition based on inspections completed by either a federal agency or a state dam safety agency. Companion legislation in the House of Representatives (H.R. 4981) awaits consideration by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
5/4/2006 Dam Safety Act Introduced in Senate The Dam Safety Coalition strongly supports the bill introduced by Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-Mo.) and Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) to reauthorize the National Dam Safety Act of 2006. If enacted, this critical legislation will reauthorize the National Dam Safety Program, an important national program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that seeks to improve the safety and security of the nation’s dams. Click here for full press release
3/14/2006 Dam bursts on Kaua'i The Kaloko Reservoir dam burst this morning, releasing more than 300 million gallons of water down the North Shore of Kaua'i. The Coast Guard reported at least seven people missing and the flood reportedly washed away some farm buildings and housing. At least one man was pulled safely from the flood waters this morning.
Emergency workers on Kaua'i are also working to divert water from the Waita Reservoir on the Garden Island's south shore. The Waita Reservoir is the largest man-made reservoir in the state and is near the town of Koloa.
Mary Daubert, a public information officer for the county of Kaua'i, said at 9:30 a.m. that a 100-yard wide swath of water from the breached Kaloko dam was rushing across Kuhio Highway near Wailapa Road in Kilauea. The highway is impassible, Daubert said. Click here for full story in Honolulu Advertiser. CNN coverage. CNN feature on dams.
3/14/2006 NEW YORK: Gilboa Dam to get flood control A 78-year-old dam in upstate New York that provides water for New York City's 9 million residents will get flood controls as part of its 2008 reconstruction, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's (R) deputy for economic development said yesterday.
Daniel Doctoroff told local officials in Gilboa that the city would rebuild the damn with new flood controls and valves to relieve the water level of the Schoharie Reservoir, which feeds the dam. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection owns the Gilboa Dam. Doctoroff acknowledged that the city neglected both the dam and the concerns of downriver residents over the years.
"I think it's fair to say the city always hasn't been the best neighbor," Doctoroff said. "I hope that what you're detecting here is a heightened sensitivity" (Dan Higgins, Albany Times Union, March 14).
An inspection last October said the dam failed to meet safety regulations and was in danger of rupturing, which would flood out communities downstream all the way through the 2,000 square mile Hudson River watershed. Emergency repairs will complete in November, after which a five-year, $200 million rehabilitations project that will include floodgates and controls will begin sometime in 2008.
High water demand for the country's largest city requires all the city's reservoirs in upstate New York to be as full as possible all the time. However, without proper maintenance and flood control, the city puts millions of residents in the Catskills and Hudson Valley at risk for flooding.
"Thousands of people go to bed every night with their stomachs all tied up in knots," said Rep. Michael McNulty (D). "The city's commitment on flood gates for Gilboa is very important to us" (Anthony DePalma, New York Times, March 14). Rep. McNulty is a cosponsor of H.R. 1105, the Dam Repair and Rehabilitation Act.
2/23/2006 NEW HAMPSHIRE - Dam Owners Ask State Lawmakers for Financial Help New Hampshire officials in charge of more than 250 aging dams have told lawmakers they need at least one million dollars to repair them. It could take millions more to fix the hundreds of dams in private hands in the state that also need repairs. But state officials have so far had little success in getting the legislature to pony up more money. And private owners are very much on their own when their dams need repairs. Click Here to view or listen the entire story at New Hampshire Public Radio.
02/16/2006: VIRGINIA - Delegate Beverly J. Sherwood (R) - House District 29 introduced legislation in Virginia House (HB 596) that would establish a fund for "Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance." The legislation has passed the VA House and was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources.
Fauquier Times-Democrat: New bills, Caucus actions noted
02/14/2006: Missouri Governor Matt Blunt wants tighter control of thousands of dams that now escape state oversight, including those on farms and at federally regulated power plants. Governor Blunt's call for a tougher dam safety law comes two months after the Taum Sauk reservoir collapse, where a 1.3 billion-gallon water surge leveled a home and swept away a family of five, who survived. Missouri has one of the weakest dam safety laws in the country. Its law leaves more unregulated "high-hazard" dams - those that could lead to loss of life if they fail - than any other state. Funding dam safety has been a challenge for more than two decades. The Department of Natural Resources has the equivalent of four full-time employees and a $281,000 budget. The proposed revisions to Missouri's dam safety law include:
Ordering inspections of nearly all dams 25 feet or taller. Missouri currently oversees only dams that are at least 35 feet. Eliminating the exemptions for agricultural dams, those built for soil, water or wildlife conservation, and those regulated under the Federal Power Act. Based on state estimates, there are 54 agricultural dams that would otherwise be regulated, and five Power Act dams (including Taum Sauk). Requiring all "high-hazard" and "significant-hazard" dams - those that would cause serious economic or environmental damage if they failed - over 25 feet to be inspected at least every five years by a licensed professional. The report does not say who would pay for those inspections.
1/25/06: MISSOURI - Former Missouri legislator says more stringent dam safety laws needed
Park Hills Daily Journal: Bockenkamp: Reservoir breach points out need for improving dam laws
NEW YORK - NY Gov. Pataki's proposed budget includes funding for 21 new regulatory positions, including additional dam inspectors.
Oneonta Daily Star: State plan would hire more dam inspectors
Times Herald-Record: NYC dams get rare spotlight
Proposed weakening of Virginia's dam regulations up for public comment. Dam owners have been notified, but downstream residents may not be aware of opportunity.
Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star: Dam owners urged to review state rules
How to comment on dam safety regulations
01/19/2006: The enormous US dam problem no one is talking about, an opinion piece that appeared in the January 3rd issue of the Christian Science Monitor. The writer, Gaylord Shaw, won a Pulitzer Prize for a series investigating the state of the nation's dams for the Los Angeles Times in 1978.
03/03/05: ASDSO and other Dam Safety Groups Support Introduction of Dam Repair and Rehabilitation Act - The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO), members of the Dam Safety Coalition, today backed the introduction of the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2005 (HR 1105), a bill that will create a federal funding program to repair the nation's unsafe public dams. Congresswoman Sue Kelly (19th District - NY) introduced this important legislation to address the critical issue of deteriorating dam structures that pose a severe threat to many communities throughout the country. Read ASCE/ASDSO Press Release
11/23/04: Pennsylvania Works to Establish Funding for Dam Repairs - A dam repair funding bill (HB3006) was introduced in the Pennsylvania House on November 18 by Representative Kelly Lewis. The Bill was referred to Environmental Resources and Energy and will undergo committee review for re-introduction in January 2005. Bill text: http://www2.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2003/0/HB3006P4765.pdf
10/9/04: ASDSO and Other Dam Safety Groups Support Introduction of Dam Repair and Rehabilitation Act – The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO), members of the Dam Safety Coalition, today backed the introduction of the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2004 (HR 5190), a bill that will create a federal funding program to repair the nation's unsafe public dams. Congresswoman Sue Kelly (19th District – NY) introduced this important legislation to address the critical issue of deteriorating dam structures that pose a severe threat to many communities throughout the country. Read ASCE/ASDSO Press Release
9/3/04: Michigan Governor Calls for Increased Support for Dam Safety
-- We salute yet another governor: Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm recently joined Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell in an effort to increase legislative awareness of the need to strengthen state dam safety programs and policies. On August 20, Governor Granholm called on President Bush to increase federal efforts to address the growing dam infrastructure problem, stating, "The nation's dams have been overlooked at significant cost to property owners, public safety, and the environment. The rapid deterioration of these dams demands our attention and our national investment, just as our highways, water supply and wastewater disposal systems, airports, and other important infrastructure..."
Read Governor Granholm's letter to President Bush.
7/30/04: Mississippi to require more frequent inspections of HH & SH dams
-- Prior to the Big Bay Lake dam failure, state officials were considering more stringent dam safety policies.
Recent dam safety changes include:
--Additional private inspection of high- and significant-hazard-potential dams to be carried out by March 2006; future intervals to be set by the DEQ. (DEQ inspects dams every 1, 3, or 5 years.)
--Creation of a new position for Director of the Surface Water, Licensing and Dam Safety Division.
--Required EAPs for all high- and significant-hazard-potential dams (only 29 EAPs currently in place for 283 high-risk dams) State Press Release: MDEQ Adopts Land and Water Regulation Revisions; Revisions Include New Dam Safety Regulations
7/19/04: Delaware Governor Signs Bill Establishing State Dam Safety Program
-- On July 19, Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner signed House Bill 514 , which establishes a dam safety program in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. The legislation, introduced in the House by Rep. Vincent A. Lofink (R) and unanimously passed by the Senate on June 30, authorizes the Department to adopt standards for maintenance and operation of publicly owned dams and to conduct dam inspections. This legislation exempts low hazard dams from requirements of the bill. It will become effective upon availability of funding. Delaware was one of only two states that did not have dam safety regulatory legislation on the books. The other state is Alabama, which is working on getting legislation passed in the coming year. For details: Alabama Dam Security and Safety Initiative
7/19/04: Pennsylvania Governor Calls on President, Congress and Governors to Support Dam Safety
-- Governor Edward Rendell, who recently called for the Bush Administration, Congress and the National Governors Association to focus resources on dam safety including the implementation of a National Dam Rehabilitation Financing Program: Gov. Rendell Calls on Nation's Governors to Support National Dam Safety Initiative
7/13/04: New Jersey Dam Safety Faces Unprecedented Dam Failure Event
-- On July 12-13, parts of south-central New Jersey received over 13 inches of rain in 12 hours. As a result, 18 dams failed, forcing some 750 people from their homes. More than 25 additional dams were severely weakened. Property damages also include numerous roads and bridges, and over 350 homes. Preliminary estimates from the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management put damage totals at $50 million. President Bush has approved federal disaster aid; grants of $20 million are available for temporary housing, home repairs and low-cost loans to cover losses on uninsured property. For NJ DEP press releases on this event: NJDEP Press Office.
