DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW NRCS SAMPLE EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN FOR EARTHEN HIGH HAZARD DAMS

摘要

In 2004, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) launched a joint effort to develop a sample emergency action plan (EAP) for high hazard dams. The project was funded, in part, by NRCS. This paper presents a summary of the development of the sample EAP and a copy of the draft that resulted from this partnership. Providing current guidance for the development of an easy-to-follow EAP is important to both NRCS and ASDSO in order to continue their long-standing technical support for dam owners. NRCS has assisted landowners and communities to construct over 27,000 of the 80,000 dams in the National Inventory of Dams (NID). Approximately 2,100 of these NRCSassisted dams are currently classified as high hazard. These totals include 11,400 dams constructed under the USDA Watershed Programs, including 1,700 high hazard dams. The majority of these NRCS-assisted dams are regulated by state dam safety agencies. Typically, NRCS-assisted dams are earth embankments that are 20 to 80 feet in height with earthen vegetated spillways and are often located in remote areas. Most of the dams are designed primarily for flood control, grade stabilization, water supply or recreation. Therefore, they typically do not store much water except for short periods following large storm events. These dams are locally-owned and maintained by private landowners, local conservation districts, or other public entities that generally have non-technical persons in charge of their operation and maintenance. ASDSO formed an interagency team to assist in the development of the sample EAP. The EAP team members consisted of three state dam safety officials (MT, MD, KY), three federal agencies (Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service, NRCS), ASDSO staff, and a representative from the National Watershed Coalition (NWC). ASDSO staff solicited comments and suggestions from all state dam safety officials concerning EAP content and “lessons learned” from their experiences with previous activation of EAPs. Several examples of existing EAPs were also collected and reviewed by the team. The best ideas from the collected examples were discussed in a face-to-face workshop. After several teleconference discussions and the preparation and review of several drafts, the new sample was developed. The resulting draft sample EAP is an easy-to-follow document that can be effectively used by non-technical persons during potentially stressful times during an emergency. When finalized, this sample EAP will be incorporated into NRCS policy and used to assist local communities and landowners in developing EAPs for NRCS-assisted high hazard dams. ASDSO will be using the format and content of this draft sample EAP in training materials and an upcoming ASDSO technical seminar on EAP development. ASDSO will also consider this sample as the Model State Dam Safety Program (FEMA 316) is updated.