• Municipal Dam Grant Application Period Is Now Closed
• Stage Set for Significant Spring Flood Season
• Prepare Your Dam For Spring Runoff and Flooding
• Dam Inspections – Tips for Owners, Tips for Consultants
• Meet Our DNR Dam Safety Staff

Municipal Dam Grant Application Period Is Now Closed

The Municipal Dam Grant Application period is now closed, as the deadline to submit completed grant applications was February 28, 2020.

Following the application closure date, the department will review each application received for completeness.  Within 15 days of the application deadline, the department shall advise the applicant in writing of any deficiencies, omissions or errors in the application.  Further review, scoring and ranking will occur through May according to the prescribed timeline in s. NR 335.06, Wis. Admin. Code.  The priority funding list will be distributed on or before June 1, 2020.

The 2019-2021 State Budget authorizes grant funding in the amount of $3,500,000 for municipal dam repair, modification or abandonment and removal (NR 335, Wis. Admin. Code).  For more information about the grant program, please visit:  https://dnr.wi.gov/Aid/DamMunicipal.html.

Contacts:

Tanya Lourigan, State Dam Safety Engineer, (608) 444-2089

Wendy Peich, Grant Manager, (608) 264-9207

Stage Set for Significant Spring Flood Season

Flood Risk -- National Weather Service (NWS) data indicates that Wisconsin headed into the winter with wetter than normal soils and higher than normal river and reservoir levels, which puts Wisconsin at risk for a significant 2020 spring flood season.

The 2019 NWS Winter Outlook prediction indicates a normal to wetter than normal December through February across much of the Upper Missouri River basin as well, with higher chances of precipitation farther north.

While wintertime precipitation makes up a relatively small amount of the overall yearly precipitation for many locations, the amount of snow that falls over the span of a winter has a significant impact on spring flood potential. This is because snow tends to release melt water over a short period of time during the spring thaw.

Potential Impacts This Winter and Spring -- Unusually high streamflow, water levels, and abnormally wet soil may have the following impacts during the upcoming winter and spring seasons:

• Increased stresses and pressures on dams, which could lead to failure or other safety incidents
• Rivers freezing above flood stage
• Freezing of overland flooding
• Extensive stream bank and soil erosion
• Widespread ice jams, including on some rivers that are not usually affected by ice jams
• Widespread record flooding again next spring
• Delay or prevention of crop planting
• High groundwater elevations that may contribute to basement flooding and unstable excavations
• Landslides on steep slopes
• Record Great Lakes water elevations
• Risks of high winds generating storm surge waves and erosion
• Culvert washouts – do not drive through water

As winter progresses into spring, citizens are cautioned to be mindful of the impending threat of high water and flooding.  Tools are available to provide seasonal flood information to ensure your safety.

Tools and Resources -- In the event of widespread flooding, you may want to bookmark these important topic webpages to help you through the season. 

Dam Emergency Response:  https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Dams/emergencyInformation.html

Groundwater Levels:  https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/WaterUse/gwLevels.html

Lake Levels:  https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Waterways/water_levels_crossings/lake_levels.html

National Weather Service-Northcentral Region Spring Outlook: https://www.weather.gov/ncrfc/LMI_ROF_NFP_SpringHydroOutlook

• Scheduled updates to this page are listed in the link.

National Weather Service predicted liquid precipitation: https://www.weather.gov/crh/pqpf?sid=mkx

• Select the “Event 1 State Graphics” tab for a map of the whole state
• This map is updated twice daily around 3:30 am and 3:30 pm

Coping with Flooding:  https://dnr.wi.gov/emergency/floodcoping.html

Wells:  https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Wells/flood.html

Flood Insurance:  https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/FloodPlains/insurance.html and Floodsmart.gov

Prepare Your Dam For Spring Runoff and Flooding

With saturated soils and a predicted wet spring, dam owners can start now to have their dams as ready as possible for spring runoff and flooding.  Dam owners can prepare by doing the following:

• Locating and reviewing the Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for the dam;
• Creating an EAP if a formal one is not currently in place;
• Having emergency contact phone numbers readily available (law enforcement, local emergency government, Wisconsin Emergency Hotline (800-943-0001, Press “1” for Department Duty Officer), dam operators and their backups, owner’s dam safety consultant, and Department Water Management Engineer (WME) for the county in which the dam is located);
• Coordinating dam operation with upstream and downstream dam owners;
• Identifying local resources like contractors and utilities;
• Beginning to monitor ice flows and water levels early;
• Beginning operation of the dam in a timely manner to reduce the risk of gate failure and/or damage;
• Referring to dam safety and floodplain zoning maps for an estimate of flood prone properties upstream and downstream of the dam;
• Creating storage in the impoundment if it can be done safely and within limitations of the “Operating Order” which establishes water levels for the dam; There are several safety and environmental factors to consider before adjusting water levels.  For example, will lowering the lake level shift ice or cause safety issues for people using the ice for recreation?  Are water levels being lowered slowly enough to minimize structural issues?  Will lowering the water levels too much cause issues to overwintering herptiles such as frogs, snakes, and turtles?  If you have questions about these and other potential issues, please contact your Regional WME;
• Establish backup personnel to monitor and operate the dam if needed.

Dam owners can also prepare by completing spring maintenance and safety tips:

• Debris clean up – Clean any accumulated debris such as branches and weeds from gates, spillways, and outlet structures. Debris in spillways and gates severely reduces capacity of the dam and often leads to overtopping during high flows;
• Gate operation – Check gate operators. If there are chains to lift gates, ensure they are in good condition and will not fail if gates need to be opened or logs need to be pulled.  Lubricate motors and gate stems.  Find gate wheels, keys to fences, pike poles, and gaff hooks and place them in an easily accessible location;
• Structural inspection – Walk the dam and note problems that have developed over the winter. Take pictures and document ice and freeze/thaw damage, scour, erosion, seepage or piping, and other changes that could affect dam operation during normal and flooding conditions.  If serious problems are observed, notify a consultant engineer and the Department Water Management Engineer right away;
• Review EAP and Inspection, Operation and Maintenance Plan (IOM) – Review the EAP and IOM to ensure the plans are still current, particularly contact information and list of suppliers for emergency resources. Provide updated copies to all “holders” of the EAP and IOM.

If flooding does occur, Department Water Management Engineers and the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) will coordinate efforts to evaluate dams and provide technical assistance to owners of dams impacted by the high water and debris.  Remember, personnel safety should always be a priority!

Dam Inspections – Tips for Owners, Tips for Consultants

Inspections are a fundamental component of safe dams, and dam owners have a responsibility to perform regular and frequent inspections.  Chapter 31, Wis. Stats. requires owners of large dams to hire professional engineers with experience in dams to inspect their dams once every two to ten years depending upon the hazard rating.  High hazard dams are to be inspected every two years, significant hazard dams every three to four years, and low hazard dams every 10 years. 

Now that we’re well into the New Year, 2019 inspections and follow-up reports should be wrapping up and owners should be gearing up for their 2020 inspections.  Listed below are some tips for both owners and consultants to make sure your owner responsible inspections are staying on track.

Tips for Owners

• If your dam was scheduled for a 2019 inspection, you would have received letters from the Department Dam Safety Program throughout the year, reminding you of the requirement. By now, you should have hired a consultant.  In turn, your consulting engineer should have completed their inspection and provided their final follow-up report to the Department within 90 days following the inspection.  After the Department has reviewed the inspection report, Department staff will provide you with a concurrence letter.
• If your 2019 inspection report has not been submitted yet, you are encouraged to contact your consultant and arrange to have it completed as soon as possible. If the required inspection is not completed, the Department may initiate the enforcement process.
• If your dam is scheduled for a 2020 inspection, Department staff will be sending you a reminder letter. The following website has resources on contacting, interviewing and hiring a consulting engineer, including reviewing references and experience, to perform your dam safety inspection:  https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Dams/consultant.html.

Tips for Consultants

• All 2019 inspections should have been completed no later than December 31, and final inspection reports submitted within 90 days of completing the inspection.
• If you will be conducting dam inspections in 2020, please ensure the following information is completed as part of the inspection report. This will expedite the Department’s review and subsequent concurrence letter:
  • Conduct file research prior to inspection;
  • Provide sufficient detail on the Dam Inspection Checklist while conducting the inspection;
  • Provide a written report with sufficient detail summarizing the inspection findings. Include identified defects, recommended repairs, and specific dates/deadlines for completing the work;
  • Provide hard and electronic copies of the materials, including .jpg files for the photographs. Photographs less than 2 MB in size are recommended;
  • Inspection report shall be submitted within 90 days of completing the inspection;
  • Please visit the following website for more details: https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Dams/InspectionConsultant.html.

Please note that some repairs identified in your inspection report may require that plans and specifications be prepared by a Professional Engineer registered in Wisconsin.  The plans and specs will need to be submitted to the Department for review and approval prior to construction.

Thank you for your continued cooperation in maintaining safe dams in Wisconsin by following inspection schedules in a timely manner.  If you have any questions, please contact the Department Water Management Engineer that covers the county where the dam is located.

Planning For Your Dam: Tips & Techniques

Concrete Maintenance and Repairs

Do you have poured-in-place concrete associated with your dam?  Now is a good time to plan for maintenance and any needed repairs.  Neglecting maintenance and repair work, or waiting until later, can result in further deterioration, structural damage, and increased repair costs.

Recognizing the factors associated with concrete cracking and deterioration are very important, and every structure is unique.  One question to ask is “WHY DID THIS DAMAGE OCCUR?”  It is important to identify and understand why the cracking and deterioration or failure took place.  For example, can steel reinforcement bars be seen?  In our Summer Issue (2019) of Dam Safety News, we mentioned that reinforcement placed too close to forms during construction can lead to concrete spalling and exposed reinforcement.  In addition, for concrete cracks it is important to know if the crack is active or moving.  Once a better feeling of what is occurring is realized, it is easier to identify the type of repair needed.

As with any concrete repair, concrete repair materials require proper surface preparation to insure a good bond between new and existing concrete surfaces.  All unsound concrete should be removed, and the repair area thoroughly cleaned. 

For best results, work with your engineer and concrete repair specialist to determine why the cracking and deterioration occurred, as well as the correct repair method and appropriate materials you will need. The goal here is to prevent failure of your structure, minimize future repair costs, and provide continued use and safe operation of your dam. 

Many concrete repairs will need to have plans and specifications submitted by an engineer registered in Wisconsin to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for review and approval, prior to construction.  Please confirm with your DNR Regional Water Management Engineer.

Meet Our DNR Dam Safety Staff

The DNR Dam Safety/Floodplain Management Program is pleased to announce that Uriah Monday joined our team on January 21, 2020 as a Regional Water Management Engineer (WME)!  Uriah works out of the DNR Fitchburg Service Center.

Regional WMEs are your local contact regarding technical questions on dams and floodplain studies, and they also assist with floodplain management.  A complete list of the WMEs by county including telephone numbers, email addresses and mailing addresses can be found on the DNR website at:  http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/dams/regionalcontacts.html.

In Uriah’s words, “I’m coming to DNR after 21+ years as a civil engineering consultant.  Over my professional years, I’ve had experience in everything from surveying and land development to municipal roadway and utility design to stormwater management and waterway/wetlands permitting to floodplain analysis and dam design.  I like being hands on and really getting a feel for project settings and places.  I really enjoy what I call “forensic” modeling and numerical analysis – things like calibrations and scenario reconstructions – it’s particularly satisfying when you hit that “aha” moment and find the key to solving a vexing problem, and then coming up with a viable solution.

I’m a Wisconsin native, and have lived “up north”, in the southeast part of the state, and in the greater Madison area over the course of my lifetime.  My wife of nearly 20 years is a Chicago-suburb native and has adapted well to Sconnie culture – she’s as fond as the Packers, Badgers, and supper clubs as the rest of us, but will never ever give up her beloved Cubbies.  We have two high-school-aged sons and have gotten involved in the band program, choir, Scouts, and other community activities.  I pretty much like doing anything with my family.  Camping, canoeing, hiking, and fishing are popular with the kids, my wife and I like “supper clubbing” and finding a good glass of wine and/or craft beer, and I personally enjoy cooking – mainly because I also enjoy eating!

I’ve worked with many of the folks here at DNR over the years, and have had many positive interactions with them.  I am excited to learn here in my new experience, and be part of helping keep Wisconsin the great place that I know it is.”