The 2009 Legislature passed Senate Bill SB 788 which contains the authority to charge an annual recurring Dam Safety fee based on a dams “hazard” rating. The Department inspects dams subject to the fee on and inspection frequency based on this hazard rating. Results of the inspection are sent directly to the dam owners.
Dam Information - The Dam Safety Program maintains an inventory of large Oregon dams. Information available includes dam height, storage, dam name, location, permit number and hazard classification.
Dam Safety Mapping Radius of Influence Tool gives all dams within a radius of influence from a center point. This tool is useful for planning emergency inspections after earthquakes or local floods.
Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) are very important where the failure of a dam would likely cause loss of life. For any dam that has homes or human infrastructure downstream, an inundation analysis should be done to determine the degree of flooding that would occur if the dam fails. If this analysis indicates significant flooding in homes, schools or any other human habitation, an EAP should be developed to properly plan actions in case a dam failure occurs.
EAP's are needed in the unlikely event of an incident that might lead to severe flooding. The need is not based on the condition of the dam but rather the population at risk downstream.
Dam safety staff at the Department review and approve EAPs as part of the application process and also review/approve EAPs for existing dams as a peer review to help ensure they work properly.
We are currently offering $5000 assistance grants for owners of high hazard dams to assist in completion of inundation analyses and EAP's.
