HD49 - Study of Dams Owned by Soil and Water Conservation Districts


Executive Summary:
Dams owned by soil and water conservations districts are a form of infrastructure in the Commonwealth that were built for the purpose of flood control as long as 60 years ago. These dams were built using sound engineering procedures but, to serve their intended function in a safe manner well into the future requires proper care and maintenance by the owners of the dams.

This report details the overall status of these structures and outlines some of their needs. It responds to a request made by Virginia General Assembly to provide an overall assessment of dams owned by soil and water conservation districts which are political subdivisions of the Commonwealth. See Appendix 4.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation contracted with Gannett Fleming, Inc. to perform detailed engineering studies and analyses of selected dams during the summer and fall of 1997 as outlined in the legislative language. This study was done in three phases consisting of a preliminary reconnaissance phase of the 22 dams which meet the criteria specified by the General Assembly stipulations of Class 1 or Class 2 and built prior to 1969. After the preliminary reconnaissance of all 22 dams, detailed inspections were made of major structural features of 16 dams. The study was concluded with a report prepared by the consultant that provided analyses of findings, detailed recommendations, alternative approaches, and cost estimates. See Appendices 5, 8, and 10 for additional details. The detailed study results provided by the consultant were supplemented by other data available to the Division of Dam Safety to prepare this overall assessment of district owned dams.

Detailed review of the 22 dams in this study did not reveal any conditions that warrant immediate emergency action. Some needs identified, however, do warrant priority attention to assure continued safe beneficial usage. Corrective actions can be phased in over a period of years. The Department of Conservation and Recreation recommends the following to address the identified needs of the district dams:

1 - Establish a maintenance and repair program with set objectives within a specified time frame. The initial efforts should be directed on a priority basis to sites with immediate needs.

2 - Continue systematic study to look at remaining dams on a priority basis.

3 - Continue operation and maintenance funding to the Soil and Water Conservation Districts. (NOTE: The total need has been identified as over $100,000 per year, it is recommended that there be a 50%-50% cost share between the state and the locality. $50,000 was provided to the soil and water districts during FY98 by the Acts of the 1997 General Assembly.)

4 - Identify beneficiaries of dams to determine more appropriate allocation of cost for periodic rehabilitation needs (deteriorating concrete, metal features, etc.) including a contingency fund in case damage occurs during operation of water control gates. The needs for concrete rehabilitation, particularly at dams with open, leaking joints, should not be deferred.

5 - Develop legislative initiative to investigate funding sources for dams identified as needing major upgrades on a priority basis.