Information For Dam Owners

• Video:  Hiring an Experienced and Qualified Engineer (Association of State Dam Safety Officials - 8 minutes)
• More Information on How to Procure the Services of a Professional Engineer (Association of State Dam Safety Officials)

• The Dam Safety Program has a list of engineers available who specialize in dam related work
• Identify several engineering firms to call, keeping in mind that you will be charged for travel time
• When you talk to the engineering firm, describe what you have been asked to do (i.e., conduct an inspection, repair a deficiency, etc.)
• Have some basic information about your dam ready:
  • Legal description
  • Owner name/landowner name
  • Height
  • Storage Capacity
  • Current water level
  • Downstream hazard classification (or description of what is downstream)
  • Brief description of outlet works and spillway
  • Regulatory or permitting agency (if any)
• Suggest the engineer talk with the Dam Safety Program Staff for more information
• Ask what their availability is – if you only have a short time frame to get an engineer out to your dam, tell them so.
• Ask the engineer what their specific experience is related to your particular concern. Engineers are like doctors – they tend to specialize.   You want an engineer with expertise in the evaluation of dams.   Cost should not be the deciding factor.  Getting an engineer with experience in dams will ultimately save you money in the long run.   The Dam Safety Program does NOT pre-qualify engineers on our Private Engineers List.   It is up to you to ask the right questions to assure you are getting the right firm and person for the job.
• Ask them to get back to you with a proposal and a cost estimate (they will need some time to prepare this proposal).
• Ask for references. (If faced an emergency, you may not have time to contact references.)
• Any information you have on the construction, operation and maintenance of the dam will be most helpful to your engineer.
• If someone you know is more familiar with the dam, see if they can be present.

O&M Inspection Forms

Several forms are available to help dam owners with their annual inspection. Please reach out to DNRC engineers with any questions.

• Dam Owner Annual Inspection Form Adobe Reader 2023 (Form Fillable for Adobe Reader)
• Dam Owner Annual Inspection Form Print Version 2023 (Printable in .pdf format)
• Dam Owner Annual Inspection Form Excel Version Older (MSExcel)

These files are handy for describing photos taken during the inspection.

• Photo Log 04-26-21 Acrobat (pdf form fillable & modifiable in Adobe Acrobat)
• Photo Log 04-26-21 Reader (pdf Form Fillable Adobe Reader)