CS21A - Concurrent Session 21A: Many Dams, Many Risks: The Soapbox on Dam Safety Program Engineering (DSPrE)

Engineering specialties for dam safety have traditionally been identified as technical, including geology, hydrology, hydraulics, hydrology, structural, and geotechnical engineering. Meanwhile, the engineers work in dam safety programs (owners and/or regulators) have been viewed as general civil engineers.

Dam Safety Program Engineers (DSPrEs) have the lead role for dam safety. They identify, prioritize, fund, review, and accept technical studies. With input and advice from technical specialists, they make decisions on what conditions/risks are acceptable and which require reservoir restrictions or dam repairs. They run programs including hiring/managing staff and managing finances. DSPEs must educate and influence senior executives to prioritize dam safety funding and resources when there are other non-dam safety competing needs.

There are policies, rules, regulations that define what dam safety programs are to do. But there is little in the literature about how dam safety program engineers should approach and conduct the work. What training, experience, and skills are required?

A group of current and former Dam Safety Officers formed and met several times in late 2023 to discuss the role of the DSPE, including:
• are benefits to be gained in our industry by better documenting and recognizing the scope, challenges, and practices that DSPEs use to manage the safety of large numbers of dams?
• How are the roles of DSPEs and traditional dam safety technical discipline engineers similar, different, or complimentary?
• What professional management aspects are involved with DSPE’s responsibilities to manage a fleet of dams? What knowledge and experience are needed to fulfill this role?
• What is the DSPE involvement with the selection, formulation, review, and acceptance of engineering technical products? What technical knowledge do DSPEs need to have?