Repair of Dams and Levees

How to Obtain Approval for Repairs to a Dam or Levee:

  Three copies of plans and specifications (design report) for the dam or levee repair prepared by a professional engineer registered in the State of Ohio should be submitted to:

Rodney Tornes, P.E.
Repair Program Manager
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Division of Water
2045 Morse Road, Bldg. B
Columbus, Ohio 43229-6693

Phone: (614) 265-6731
FAX:(614) 447-9503
Email: rodney.tornes@dnr.state.oh.us

PLEASE NOTE: Before submitting plans and specifications, it is highly recommended that you or your engineer contact the Dam Safety Engineering Program to discuss your plans for repair. This gives us the opportunity to answer any questions and to provide guidance prior to your submittal.

   Approval, conditional approval, or disapproval of the plans and specifications will be mailed no later than thirty days following receipt of the design report. If you would like to check on the status of the review or to verify that a design report was received, please call or email the Dam Safety Engineering Program.

   Once approval is granted, a pre-construction meeting including the dam owner, dam owner's engineer, construction testing company representative, and the Division of Water engineer will likely be required. Construction of the repair may not begin until the plans and specifications are approved and a pre-construction meeting is held (if necessary).

Common Pitfalls with Design Reports and Construction Plans

Commonly Asked Repair Questions: 

Q.
 Why Should I Maintain and Repair my Dam?

A.

  Dams are owned and operated by individuals, private and public organizations, and the government. The responsibility for maintaining a safe dam rests with the owner. A dam failure, resulting in an uncontrolled release of the reservoir, can have a devastating effect on persons and property downstream. Additionally, a dam failure could mean loss of a vital resource to you. As a dam owner, you are liable for the water stored behind your dam. Therefore, proper operation, maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation of a dam are key elements in preventing a failure, limiting your liability, and maintaining your water resource.

 

Q.
How do I Know What Repair(s) My Dam Needs?

A.

   If your dam is under the Division of Water's jurisdiction, it has probably been inspected by one of our dam safety engineers. Following inspection of a dam, the owner is provided with a Dam Safety Inspection Report. Listed in the report will be required maintenance and repair items, if needed. The items are listed in two sections. One section refers to items that can be performed by the dam owner, and the other section refers to items that must be designed by a professional engineer registered in the State of Ohio. Only maintenance and repair items listed as required to be designed by a registered professional engineer must be submitted to the Division of Water for review and approval. However, we are available to answer any question or concern regarding any type of maintenance or repair item regardless of how small the item may be.

 

Q.
Why is There a Dam Safety Repair Program?

A.

   Much like buildings, bridges, and roads, dams are designed and constructed to function effectively for a specific period of time. This period of time is called design life. The design life of a dam will vary, but it is not unusual for a dam to function effectively for 100 years or more. Concrete structures, spillway and drain pipes, valves and gates, embankment surfaces, and so forth, deteriorate and usually require repairs at some point during a dam's design life.
 
  The Repair Program has the responsibility to ensure that dam repairs, typically identified during the Dam Safety Inspection Process, are properly designed and constructed. This serves two purposes. The first is to ensure that the health and safety of downstream residents and structures are protected from the catastrophic effects of a dam failure. Secondly, the dam owner is assured that the design and construction of repairs are done in accordance with Ohio's dam safety laws and sound dam safety engineering principles and practices.

 

Q.
Are Submitting Plans & Specifications For Repairs the Law or Just a Recommendation?

A.

    Ohio Revised Code Section 1521.062 (E) requires that before commencing with the repair, improvement, alteration, or removal of a dam, the owner shall file an application including plans, specifications, and other required information with the division, and shall secure written approval of the application by the Chief. In other words, the design for the repairs to a dam is required by law and must be reviewed and approved by the Chief prior to construction.

 

Q.
Why Do I Need to Hire a Registered Professional Engineer?

A.

    It is essential to hire someone with a professional engineer certification registered in the State of Ohio, with a background in civil or agricultural engineering, which is competent in the field of dam safety. This not only ensures that the repair design will be in accordance with sound engineering practice, but also is required by the law.

  According to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, preferred criteria to look for in a prospective engineer include the following:
1. A licensed professional engineer registered in the State of Ohio;
2. A minimum of 10 years experience in dam design and construction;
3. A knowledge of the regulations governing dam design and construction in Ohio;
4. Specific experience in the problem area, e.g., hydrology, hydraulics, structural, or geotechnical engineering.

 

Q.
How Can I get in Contact With a Professional Engineer?

A.

   A list of consultants, which perform dam safety engineering services, can be found as part of this web site.
Click here to go to the firms list now.

 

Q.
Can I Get a Loan to Help Pay for the Repairs?

A.

   Yes. There is a dam safety loan fund available for that purpose. Please see the Dam Safety Loan Programs page for details.
Click here to go to the loan page now.

 

Q.
Will Dam Safety Staff Inspect the Repairs While Underway?

A.

   Yes. While construction of repairs is underway, Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rule 1501:21-22 allows for inspection visits by Division of Water staff to ensure that construction is accomplished in accordance with the approved plans and specifications. This does not, however, relieve the owner or the owner's registered professional engineer from responsibility to provide adequate inspection of the work.

 

Q.
I've Completed the Repair Construction, Now What?

A.

  Upon completion of construction, the owner's engineer must submit certification stating that construction of the repairs was accomplished in accordance with the approved plans and specifications, and any approved changes. In addition, the owner's engineer must submit as-built plans. Within thirty days following completion of construction and receipt of the certification and as-built plans, OAC Rule 1501:21-22-03 requires that Division of Water staff inspect the repair construction. If the inspection finds that the repairs were constructed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications, an approval will be granted by the Chief within fourteen days. If the inspection reveals significant problems with the repairs, the Chief must notify the owner of the necessary remedial measures within fourteen days.
 
  Following approval, your dam will be placed back into the Dam Safety Inspection Program. Engineers from the Dam Safety Engineering Program will perform a routine dam safety inspection no later than five years following the completion of repairs.