Updates to Chapter 25: Dams
Last year, the Oklahoma Dam Safety Program contracted with Applied Weather Associates, in coordination with the Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi state dam safety programs, to complete a regional Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) study.
Following the completion of the PMP study, the OWRB's dam safety program proposed amendments to Chapter 25: Dams and Reservoirs. Specifically, Chapter 25 was revised to require the updated PMP data be used for future spillway designs - instead of the precipitation values that were published by the National Weather Service in 1978.
Additionally, the Chapter 25 section on dam inspections was amended to clarify the minimum standards that are required for written dam inspection reports.
The updates to the Chapter 25 rules were approved by the Governor's Office in June, and the rules will be in effect as of September 11, 2020.
2020 Annual Inspection and EAP Review Reminders
The OWRB is charged with oversight of the maintenance and operation of certain jurisdictional dams in the state. State law requires owners of dams classified as “high hazard-potential", to have their dams inspected, and Emergency Action Plan (EAP) reviewed, annually.
The 2020 inspections and EAP reviews must be completed by December 31, 2020.
2020 Dam Inspection Reports:
Dam Inspector Requirements:
According to the Oklahoma Administrative Code 785: 25-9-1, periodic inspections shall be conducted by a Professional Engineer that is licensed in the state of Oklahoma, and has training and/or experience concerning the analysis, design, and/or construction of dams and reservoirs.
Dam Inspection Deadlines:
Also, in accordance with the Oklahoma Administrative Code 785:5-1-9(e) and 785:25-9-1, high hazard-potential dam inspections must be conducted prior to the last day of the year (December 31), and inspection reports shall be submitted to the OWRB no later than 30 days after the date of the inspection.
Please be aware that If the inspection report and fee is not submitted by the due date above or the inspection report is received more than 30 days after the date of inspection, an additional fee of $50 will be due.
Inspection Report Requirements:
All 2020 Inspection reports submitted to the OWRB must include at a minimum the following:
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Color, labeled, and dated documentary digital photographs of the dam, auxiliary spillway, principal spillway inlet structure, principal spillway outlet, and potential safety concerns.
- All of the information listed in the inspection checklist with the completed checklist attached.
- When explanation is needed to identify or describe a safety concern, notes shall be included in the written report to provide this explanation.
- A schedule of corrective actions to be taken to address dam safety deficiencies.
- A review of the Emergency Action Plan and of the operation and maintenance manual to assure they are still accurate and applicable, as well as any changes in downstream development or other conditions if applicable.
Emergency Action Plan Review:
According to the Oklahoma Administrative Code 785: 25-7-7, owners of existing or proposed dams classified as high hazard-potential, shall create and maintain an EAP that utilizes the recommendations, as determined by the Board, of the "Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety, Emergency Action Planning for Dam Owners," published July 2013 by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Along with accurate up to-date information, EAPs must also include a concurrences signature page, in order to be filed with the OWRB. These signatures help ensure that the correct law enforcement, engineering, and emergency management offices have received copies of the document, and will be properly prepared in the event of dam failure.
All EAP documents are required to be annually reviewed to ensure that the current data, contact information, and signatures are accurate.
All high hazard-potential dam inspections and EAP reviews, must be completed by December 31, 2020. Inspection reports must be submitted to the OWRB within 30 days of inspection.
Upcoming Free Low Hazard Inspections
The Oklahoma Dam Safety Program will be conducting more free low hazard inspections in the upcoming quarter. Due to the OWRBs policy regarding COVID-19, the process for upcoming inspection will be slightly different than previous years.
We will be accepting all incoming registrations for low hazard-potential dam inspections, but for the time being the dam safety program will only be performing inspections on dams located in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan area. If you would like more information about our free low hazard inspections or would like to register for an inspection, please contact the OWRB Dam Safety Program.
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"Contact the OWRB" Web Form
We have redesigned our "Contact Us" form to be more dynamic and efficient for the public (image is clickable).
After providing your contact information, the form allows you to choose "Dam Safety" from several topics and services. Your request will be automatically routed to the OWRB Dam Safety staff.
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Past issues of the OWRB's Dam Safety Quarterly newsletter may be found by visiting the OWRB's Newsletter Page.
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