CS11A - Concurrent Session 11A: Alabama’s Pilot Dam Safety Program: Inventory, Assessments, and EAPs

As most in this audience will know, Alabama is the only state in the United States without a state dam safety program. While considering this, lawmakers in the state requested a Dam Safety Survey and Evaluation Study to better understand the quantity and quality of dams in the state. The yearlong study focused on three metro-Birmingham counties, Jefferson, Shelby, and Tuscaloosa, and is anticipated to be completed in April 2024.

There has been much interest from the engineering community about this ‘Pilot Dam Safety Program’ and this presentation will clarify what was and wasn’t included as part of the study. We will provide a brief review of the methodologies and challenges encountered in completing the distinct tasks that made up the overall study:
• Updating the statewide dam inventory
• Performing visual assessment of 80 dams
• Developing a standard visual inspection form for use by dam owners in the state
• Developing 300 dam breach inundation zones using DSS-WISE Lite
• Completing 3 dam breach models in HEC-RAS 2D
• Creating an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) template for use by owners in the state
• Completing EAPs for 3 specific dams

Additionally, while this study was underway, the state’s first dam safety legislation, Senate Bill 284, was enacted. The final deliverable for the Dam Safety Survey and Evaluation Study includes the results of the above tasks as well as options for lawmakers to consider for enhancing and further developing a dam safety program framework in the state. The Statewide Dam Safety Program options presented cover a range of alternatives with varying levels of program administration and management, including staffing and expertise needs, state-provided dam safety services, dam safety compliance requirements, programmatic cost, estimated available federal funding, and dam owner responsibilities. The options are compared relative to each other and relative to the practices described in the "Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety" (FEMA P-93), the "Model State Dam Safety Program Manual" (FEMA and ASDSO), and other state dam safety programs. It should be noted that no specific option is recommended.