Dam Safety
personnel conduct field investigations to evaluate
operating dams to determine if safety deficiencies exist and
to develop action plans to remove deficiencies. We
review applications for proposed dams and monitor the
construction of new dams and repair of existing dams to reduce
the likelihood of catastrophic dam failure.
Within
the Flood Mitigation Section there are two Units:
Floodplain Management
and Flood Warning. Staff
works closely with other state and local entities to
administer the National Floodplain Insurance Program (NFIP)
and to augment the statewide flood warning network.
Address:
3550 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 85012
We are
located on the second floor tower of the Meridian Bank building.
Phone:
602-771-8649 Fax: 602-771-8686
To
contact an individual by e-mail from this website,
click on his/her name.
,
PhD, PE, Engineering Manager
,
Administrative Assistant
,
PE, Geotechnical / Dam Safety Engineer
,
PhD, PE, Water Resources / Dam Safety Engineer
,
PE, Dam Safety Engineer
,
MSE Civil Engineering
,
Inspector
,
CFM, Section Manager & State NFIP Coordinator
,
Community Assistance Program Coordinator / Floodplain Mitigation
,
Map Modernization Coordinator
,
Flood Warning Specialist
DAM SAFETY SECTION
Program Description
Dam Safety Statutes and Rules
Arizona’s Dam Safety laws and regulations are
governed by:
Arizona
Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) Title 45 – Waters, Chapter 6.,
Article 1. Supervision of Dams, Reservoirs, and Projects
Arizona
Revised Statutes on Dams and Reservoirs
Arizona
Administrative Code (A.A.C.) Title 12. Natural Resources,
Chapter 15. Department of Water Resources, Article 12. Dam
Safety Procedures
Arizona Administrative Code for Department of Water
Resources
Dam Owner Responsibilities
Dam
owners are responsible for safe design, operation, and
maintenance of a dam. They are responsible to operate,
maintain, and regularly inspect a dam so that it does not
constitute a danger to human life or property. The owners of
high or significant hazard dams are required to develop and
maintain effective Emergency Action Plans and coordinate those
plans with local officials.
Dam
owners are responsible to notify the Dam Safety Section and
local authorities in adjacent and downstream communities of a
condition that may threaten the safety of the dam.
Dam
owners are responsible to install, maintain, and monitor
instrumentation to evaluate the performance of the dam.
Dam
owners are responsible to perform timely maintenance and
ordinary repair of the dam.
Arizona Jurisdictional Dam Inventory
The Dam
Safety Section is responsible for the safety of nearly 260
nonfederal dams in Arizona. We perform safety inspections of
high hazard dams every year, every three years for significant
hazard dams, and every five years for low and very low hazard
dams. The dam owner is charged an inspection fee as
prescribed in A.A.C. R12-13-151(12). During inspections we
sometimes identify “safety deficiencies” at operating dams and
require owners to implement corrective actions. A “safety
deficiency” refers to a condition at a dam that impairs the
safe operation of the dam.
The Dam
Safety Section evaluates the safety of operating dams and
maintains a priority list of “Unsafe” Dams. “Unsafe” means
that safety deficiencies in a dam or spillway could result in
failure of the dam with subsequent loss of human life or
significant property damage. We negotiate grants or loans
from the Dam Repair Fund to assist in repair or removal of the
highest priority Unsafe Dams in Arizona.
Arizona’s Ranking System for Dams with Safety
Deficiencies
One of
the major issues facing dam owners and the Dam Safety Section
is known as “hazard creep”. That is a dam originally
constructed and operated as low or significant hazard now
reclassified as high hazard due to new downstream
development. These dams often do not meet design and
maintenance requirements for high hazard dams and must be
improved or removed at the owner’s expense. If the
reclassified dam is considered Unsafe, the owner potentially
becomes eligible for grants or loans from the Dam Repair Fund.
Lists of Dams
AllJurisdictional
Dams
Identified_Safety_Deficiencies
Deficiencies
Jan2008statusofunsafedamsinarizona
Unsafe
Maps
showing the locations of all Arizona dams may be viewed at
http://phxsrv4.afws.org/cgi-bin/beta/main.cgi
Dam Repair Case Studies
Reconstructing River Reservoir No. 3 - From Emergency
Action to Breach to Safe Operation in 21 Months
Applications to Construct, Reconstruct, Enlarge, Alter,
Repair, Breach, or Remove a Dam
A.R.S. §45-1203 requires written approval of a formal
application prior to construction of a new dam, or the
enlargement, repair, alteration or removal of an existing
dam. The application process must comply with A.A.C.
R12-15-1207, which also defines specific situations that do
not require an application. Application filing fees vary
based on project cost and are prescribed in A.A.C.
R12-13-151(12).
An applicant must contact the Dam Safety
Section to schedule pre-application conferences. These
conferences are to discuss ADWR requirements and resolve
issues essential to the design of the dam while the dam is in
preliminary stages. An applicant may submit preliminary
design calculations for review and comment. The Dam
Safety Section will comment as soon as practicable, depending
on the size of the submittal and current workload.
Following receipt of an application, the Dam Safety Section
performs an administrative review as prescribed in A.A.C.
R12-15-401(1) and notifies the applicant whether the
application is complete. If the application is not complete,
a list of additional required information is sent to the
application. After finding the application to be complete,
the Dam Safety Section performs a substantive review as
prescribed in A.A.C. R12-15-401(3). If during this review
period if it is determined that defects in the application
exist that would impact human life and property, a written
notice of the defects is sent to the applicant.
Following application approval, the Dam
Safety Section performs construction inspections to confirm
the work is performed in accordance with the approved
constructions drawings and specifications.
ADWR Guidelines and Forms
The
following guidelines and forms are provided in order to assist
dam owners and their engineers in performing work that meet
Dam Safety Section technical requirements.
Forms
Emergency Action Plan Template
Guidelines
PMF Hydrology and Routing
Guidelines
Flood Protection for Dams with no Spillways
Requirements for Emergency Action Plans
Technical References for Dam Design, Construction, Repair and
Analysis
The Dam
Safety Section requires dam engineering analyses and designs
be based on appropriate standardized state-of-the-practice
methods. The list below is examples of standard references on
dam design, construction, repair, and analysis that the Dam
Safety Section routinely accepts. A much more extensive list
of references is provided in the
Instructions for Filing an Application
document.
USBR 1981 Freeboard Criteria and Guidelines
USBR 1998 Prediction of Embankment Dam Breach Parameters
FEMA 1998 Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods
for Dams
NOAA 1984 Hydrometerological
Report No 49
USBR
1996 Concrete Repair Manual
NRCS 1994 Gradation Design of Sand and Gravel
Filters
Links
to Dam Engineering References Available for Download
Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission Engineering Guidelines
http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/safety/guidelines/eng-guide.asp
U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers Engineering Manuals
http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/usace-docs/eng-manuals/em.htm
U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers Technical Letters
http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/usace-docs/eng-tech-ltrs/etl-cw.html
Natural
Resources Conservation Service Engineering
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/ENG/
U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation Earth and Geology Manuals
http://www.usbr.gov/library/BRreclamation.html
Dam
Safety Related Internet Sites
Arizona
Division of Emergency Management
http://www.dem.state.az.us/
Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO)
http://www.damsafety.org/
Federal
Emergency Management Agency National Dam Safety Program (NDSP)
http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/damfailure/index.shtm
National
Performance of Dams Program (NPDP)
http://npdp.stanford.edu/
National
Inventory of Dams (USCOE)
http://crunch.tec.army.mil/nid/webpages/nid.cfm
United
States Society on Dams (USSD)
http://www.ussdams.org/
ENGINEERING TECHNICAL SUPPORT SECTION
The
Engineering Technical Support Section’s responsibility is to
assist Agency Divisions by collecting water supply and water
use data to aid in effective management of the resources.
This section provides support in planning studies, hydrologic
analyses, dam safety inspections of registered and
unregistered dam, flood mitigation, surface water rights, and
adjudication activities. We also offer support in the
preparation of required technical reports for other Sections
within the Agency. Authority for these activities can be
found in ARS § 45-105, 45-112, 45-141, 45-151 et seq., 45-171
et seq., 45-181 et seq, 45-251 et seq, 45-271 et seq., and
45-1201 et seq.
The mission of the Engineering Technical Support Section is:
To assist in reducing the likelihood of catastrophic
failure of jurisdictional dams minimizing the risk for loss of
life and property damage, ensuring a long-term, sufficient,
and secure water supply for the State by investigating and
support managing the rights and interests of the State’s water
resources for the citizens of Arizona.
FLOOD MITIGATION SECTION
The
Flood Mitigation Section, consisting of the Floodplain
Management Unit and the Flood Warning Unit, is responsible for
assisting communities that participate in the National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP). The section administers the
Community Assistance Program; assists in delineation of
floodplains and developing flood control projects; sets State
Standards for floodplain management; and coordinates the
planning, design, and construction of flood warning systems.
The section also works with local, state, and federal entities
during times of flood emergencies. Statutory authorities for
the activities of the section are found in
A.R.S. §§ 45-105, 45-1441 et seq., 45-1471 et
seq., 45-1491, 45-1501 et seq., and 48-3601 et seq.
The
mission of the Flood Mitigation Section is:
To
reduce the loss of lives, property, and water resources in
Arizona by providing appropriate flood information to the
National Weather Service and local entities, and by
facilitating appropriate development and mitigating the impact
of inappropriate development within floodplains through
structural and nonstructural flood control planning
assistance.
Floodplain Management Unit
ADWR is
the state coordinating agency for the NFIP. The
Floodplain Management Unit fulfills this function and provides
technical assistance to those communities that participate in
the program. The Unit also has the responsibility of
developing State Standards for floodplain delineation and
mapping and assists in flood hazard mitigation planning.
When funding is available, the unit allocates State monies to
county flood control districts and communities to study,
design, and implement structural and nonstructural flood
control projects.
Historical Perspective
In
September of 1977, Arizona Governor Raul Castro signed
Executive
Order No. 77-6,
thereby requiring all state
agencies to comply with the National Flood Insurance Program,
National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, and the Flood Disaster
Protection Act of 1973.
In 1980,
the Arizona State Legislature designated the newly created
Arizona Department of Water Resources as the state
coordinating agency for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Authority
Several
key components in statute give authority to the director of
ADWR to do the following:
-
Act as
the official representative for the state with regard to
floodplain activities, including investigation, study,
survey, and compilation of data, and to keep the public
informed;
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Assist
in the establishment of floodplain boundaries;
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Assist
the flood control districts with topographic mapping if
sufficient funds are available;
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Contract with private businesses or other government
agencies for floodplain management activities; and
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Act as
the state coordinator for assistance to local jurisdictions
in the National Flood Insurance Program; to coordinate with
the Army Corps of Engineers flood management services; and
to coordinate research among federal, state, and local
agencies, including making recommendations.
Community Assistance Program
ADWR’s floodplain
management program is funded primarily by FEMA’s Community
Assistance Program (CAP). One of the main objectives of CAP
is to assure that jurisdictions adopt and enforce their local
floodplain management ordinance in accordance with regulations
of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the Arizona
Revised Statutes (A.R.S.). ADWR has developed several
Floodplain Management Model Ordinances that meet state and
federal requirements.
The first Floodplain
Management Model Ordinance (Word
version,
PDF
version) is for a non-Colorado River community that manages
its own floodprone areas.
The second Floodplain
Management Model Ordinance
is for a non-Colorado River community that depends on
a county to assist in managing floodprone areas.
The third Floodplain Management Model Ordinance (Word
version,
PDF
version) is for a Colorado River community that manages its
own floodprone areas
The fourth Floodplain Management Model Ordinance
is for a Colorado River community that depends on a
county to assist in managing floodprone areas.
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Workshops: Floodplain management workshops provide updated
information and training for community officials and others
interested in floodplain management. Three workshops are
presented throughout the State each year and are advertised
on the webpage. Topics include the FEMA Elevation
Certificate, Duties of the Local Floodplain Administrator,
and Substantial Improvement and Substantial Damage of
Structures located in floodplains.
-
Community Assistance Visits (CAV): There are
99 NFIP
participating communities in Arizona. It is the goal of
ADWR to visit 20% of the communities each year to provide
updates on state and federal floodplain management program
changes, provide technical and programmatic assistance and
verify that development in floodprone areas is compliant
with local floodplain management regulations. In
cooperation with FEMA, each year the Unit develops a
five-year
CAV
schedule
for NFIP participating communities.
-
Technical Assistance: Assistance relating to the NFIP and
related Arizona Revised Statutes is provided to community
officials and the citizens of Arizona. The
Handbook for Arizona Communities on Floodplain Management
and the NFIP
was prepared by ADWR in 2000. This
Handbook is a reference and a guide for Arizona communities
participating in the NFIP.
Flood Map Modernization
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been
creating flood hazard maps for National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP) communities since the 1970s. These maps, known
as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), show designated flood
zones and physical features such as major highways, secondary
roads, railroads, lakes, rivers, streams and sheet flow areas.
Community officials use the FIRMs to administer floodplain
management regulations and mitigate flood damage. Lending
institutions use them to locate properties and buildings and
determine whether flood insurance is required when making
loans or providing grants for the purchase or construction of
buildings. Federal agencies use the FIRMs to target areas for
mitigation projects. It is important that these flood maps be
accurate, reliable, and easily accessible.
Many of the FIRMS for Arizona communities are outdated because
they no longer accurately reflect jurisdictional boundaries,
street names, and physical features. FEMA has instituted the
national Map Modernization Management Support (MMMS) program
to update and modernize the flood maps. ADWR's Floodplain
Management Unit is collaborating with FEMA, county flood
control districts and local communities across the state
during this process.
Levee certification issues have recently affected the
production of the new Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs).
This delay is due to nationwide concerns about the safety of
levees that provide flood protection. To learn more about the
levee issue and how it will affect the DFIRMs, please visit
FEMA’s website:
www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/lv_intro.shtm
Upcoming
Training Opportunities
None scheduled at this time.
Links:
Federal
Emergency Management Agency
http://www.fema.gov
Association of State Floodplain Managers
http://www.floods.org
Arizona
Floodplain Management Association
http://www.azfma.org
State Standards
The ADWR
State Standards Work Group was formed in 1990 to develop
standards and provide technical assistance to promote
consistent responsible floodplain management and watercourse
use on a statewide basis. These standards are mandated by
state law, as stated in A.R.S. §
48-3605(A), which states, “The director of water resources
shall develop and adopt criteria for establishing the
one-hundred year flood and delineating floodplains.”
To accomplish this goal, the State Standards Work Group is
developing a comprehensive set of publications and training
resources that are used for consistent floodplain management
and watercourse use through:
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Utilizing input and expertise from local, state, federal and
private entities;
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Seeking sufficient funding needed to implement our mission
successfully; and
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Providing training opportunities on the proper use of State
Standards and related issues in cooperation with the
educational community.
The
membership
of the State Standards Work Group consists of
representatives of the following agencies and organizations
who donate their time and resources to support the goals of
the Work Group:
-
Arizona Department of Water Resources, Flood Mitigation
Section;
-
2
Urban Counties;
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2
Rural Counties; and
-
Arizona Floodplain Management Association (AFMA) Technical
Committee
Funding
for the State Standards program is obtained by voluntary
donations from agencies and others who benefit from the State
Standards.
The
following table describes all current State Standards:
1 of 3 Floodplain and Floodway Delineation in
Riverine Environments