Tennessee Bulletin Number 210-08-1

January 24, 2008

Subject: ENG – Inspection of Watershed Dams.

Action Required By: May 15, 2008

Purpose: To provide guidance to field offices on inspection requirements for watershed dams, which include verifying the hazard classification of the dams and determining if the dams are in compliance with the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) agreements.

Expiration Date: September 30, 2008

Background: In 1999, an NRCS Oversight and Evaluation (O&E) review showed that one-third of the NRCS-assisted dams reviewed showed significant deterioration that could lead to major structural problems, including failure. The report identified the cause for deterioration as sponsors not adequately carrying out their Operation and Maintenance responsibilities. Further, the report revealed that NRCS was failing to conduct reviews of hazard classification, and to inform the sponsors (owners) of deficiencies in their execution of the agreements/contracts that they entered into with the agency.

A follow-up O&E field review in 2006 of 35 dams in six states showed that 67 percent of the dams had unsatisfactory O&E. The review cited the causes as lack of sponsors’ compliance with terms of the O&M agreements, and lack of oversight and follow up by the agency. Over the last seven years, agency actions at NHQ to correct this deficiency have proven insufficient for NRCS to meet our responsibilities.

As a result of O&E reviews, the State Conservationist will have as a performance element in his plan a requirement to identify and report all non-compliances in regards to the terms of the Operation and Maintenance agreements. A written notification to Sponsors and the State of Tennessee Dam Safety Officer for violations of the Operations and Maintenance (O&E) agreement, including changes in hazard classification of all project dams, will be required.

Action: Inspect all dams constructed under the PL-566, Pilot, and RC&D programs. This comprises approximately 144 dams across the state, most of which are in West Tennessee (121). An inspection form for use by the field, along with instructions, is included with this bulletin. The inspections for significant or high-hazard dams will be performed by the engineers from the state and/or area offices. District Conservationists will complete inspection forms for low hazard dams. To provide training on dam inspections, district conservationists, soil conservationists, technicians and dam owners/sponsors may accompany the engineers on significant and high-hazard dam inspections.

For consistency, an inspection form has been developed. It is a fillable form compatible with Acrobat 6.0, and it is to be used for all inspections. In addition to the inspection form, pictures of the dam, appurtenant structures, and areas showing where the structure is not in compliance with the O&E agreement should be taken. The inspection form, instructions, and a sample form with pictures are enclosed. The completed inspection form and pictures for each dam should be placed on the Area Office server shared drive under the folder Service_Center/NRCS/Engineering/Dam Safety Inspections, no later than one week after the dam is inspected. Please make a folder for each watershed that has a dam, and place the inspection reports and photos for each dam in a folder within the watershed folder. An email stating if the hazard classification has changed and whether or not the dam is compliant with respect to the O&E agreement must be sent to the State Conservation Engineer no later than one week after inspection.

For questions or additional information, please contact Paul Bluhm, State Design Engineer, at 615-277-2586.

Enclosures

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