Dam safety |
Above: Team members discuss potential failure modes during a periodic assessment of the Branched Oak Dam inside the US Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District headquarters (US Army Corps of Engineers photo by Delanie Stafford)
Above right: Members of the dam inspection team inspect the abutment of the spillway for the Branched Oak Dam (US Army Corps of Engineers photo by Delanie Stafford)
sounding board, appreciating their assessments of issues and working to ensure a path forward to any necessary repairs will be effective.” With 17 flood risk management dams across
Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, the Louisville District Dam Safety team conducts rigorous inspections, maintenance and rehabilitation to prevent potential failures and reduce flood risks. In fact, since their construction, these 17 lake projects have helped prevent more than US$3.9 billion in flood damages. This spring, many members of the Dam Safety team mobilised to support operations staff at the projects to ensure continued operations through record-high pools and unprecedented rainfall events. “The flood risk management projects performed great through the ongoing event, and that is in no small part due to the people that were out there during the flood event, and the great staff we have working on the projects every day,” Brandner added. The Louisville District also implements the dam safety mission over a total of nine navigation locks and dams on the Ohio River and the Green River. USACE maintains the National Inventory of Dams which documents all known dams in the US that meets certain criteria. This database provides the public with the ability to search for specific data about dams and
serves as a resource to support awareness of dams and actions to prepare for a dam related emergency. “Being part of a team that shares a passion for public safety is exactly what I was looking for in my career,” says Megan Jones, Louisville District geotechnical engineer and Greater Miami River Basin coordinator. “As a Certified Floodplain Manager, and as someone who grew up around lakes and rivers, flood mitigation has always been a special interest of mine. That’s why I strongly believe in the importance of inspecting, assessing and understanding the risks associated with each of our Flood Risk Management projects. We not only use this knowledge to inform ourselves as dam tenders, but also share it with local communities – empowering them to make informed decisions about their own safety. We work hard to ensure that everyone receives the most accurate and up-to-date information. I couldn’t be prouder to be part of the Louisville District’s Dam Safety Team,” she added.
Rehearsing responses Two joint exercises simulating potentially catastrophic
flood events affecting the Denver metropolitan area were held during February at the Mile High Flood District headquarters in Denver, Colorado. The exercises, planned and hosted by the US
Assessing dam safety advancements
A recent study by Michael Reed from New York City College of Technology’s Department of Civil Engineering takes a closer look at advancements in dam design and safety. Even though dam engineering in the US has transitioned from traditional construction techniques to incorporating modern materials, real-time monitoring technologies, and eco-friendly designs, Reed claims many dams still rely on outdated engineering frameworks, making them susceptible to structural failures and environmental degradation. So by focusing on innovative technologies, predictive maintenance, eco-friendly designs, and material innovations, his aim was to address challenges posed by ageing infrastructure, climate change, and increasing demand for renewable energy. Using a mixture of methods, Reed combined computational modelling, machine learning algorithms, and systematic reviews of historical dam performance data from the National Inventory of Dams, federal agency reports, and data from smart sensor equipped dams. The results revealed that over 62% of dams in the US exhibit structural vulnerabilities, with ageing dams experiencing significantly higher sedimentation rates and failure probabilities.
It was found that predictive maintenance using smart sensors
reduced maintenance costs by 30% and achieved a 92% accuracy in failure prediction, underscoring their efficacy in enhancing dam safety. Eco-friendly designs, such as fish ladders and sediment bypass systems, significantly improved biodiversity indices. Furthermore, advanced materials like geotextiles reduced micro-cracking and seepage by 40%, extending the operational life of dams. Reed concluded that integrating advanced technologies and
eco-friendly practices can revolutionise dam safety and operational efficiency while addressing environmental concerns. Practical recommendations include: Retrofitting ageing dams with smart sensors and advanced materials. Incentivising eco-friendly designs. Fostering stakeholder engagement to support sustainable dam
operations. Reed says these findings highlight the potential for transformative changes in dam engineering to ensure sustainable water resource management and ecological harmony in the US.
40 | September 2025 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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