DNR, Corps monitoring high hazard dams

The Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have paired up this week to check privately owned high hazard dams in 20 flood-affected counties of southern Indiana.

Significant progress has been made in evaluating the dams and determining if any emergency steps need to be taken. A dozen two-person teams have been at work in Bartholomew, Brown, Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Greene, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Ripley, Sullivan, Vigo and Wayne counties.

The following general information is designed to answer most questions about dams and the regulation process in Indiana.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Exactly what is a dam?
A dam is a man-made barrier constructed for the purpose of storing or diverting water. It usually is built across a stream or river and usually consists of earthen materials or concrete. Many of the existing dams in Indiana are relatively old (30 years or more), making safety inspections and regular maintenance extremely important practices.

Who is responsible for keeping a dam safe?
The Indiana General Assembly has established dam safety laws to protect the citizens of the state. Generally, the laws are intended to ensure the dam owner maintains his/her dam in a safe manner that minimizes potential safety risks downstream to lives and property. Since dam owners can be held accountable for any damage that results from the failure of their dams, they should do whatever is necessary to avoid injuring persons or property.

Who makes sure dam owners are doing what’s required?
The Department of Natural Resources has the statutory authority to regulate dams in Indiana. The DNR oversees the inspections of about 1,100 dams statewide.

Are all dams the same?
No. The DNR regulates dams that meet one of three criteria - the drainage area above the dam is greater than 1 square mile; the dam embankment is greater than 20 feet high; or the dam impounds more than 100-acre feet of water.

These dams fall into three “hazard” categories - low, significant, and high.  “Hazard” refers to the level of damage downstream if a dam fails. There are about 600 low hazard dams in Indiana, about 250 in the significant category, and about 250 in the high category.

What’s the difference between “high” and “low” hazard?
A high hazard structure is one in which its failure may cause the loss of life and serious damage to homes, industrial and commercial buildings, public utilities, major highways, or railroads.

Failure of a significant hazard structure may damage isolated homes and highways, or cause temporary interruption of public utility services.

Failure of a low hazard structure may result in damage to farm buildings, agricultural land, or local roads.

How often are dams inspected?
State law requires a DNR inspection of low hazard dams once every five years, and once every three years for significant hazard dams. When it comes to high hazard dams, state law requires the owner of the dam to have an inspection by a licensed professional once every two years.

What happens in a dam inspection?
Actually, it’s rather complex. A responsible dam safety program should include four types of inspections - formal technical inspections, maintenance inspections, informal inspections, and special inspections. A formal technical inspection is the most comprehensive and usually includes review and analysis of available data and plans, a field examination, and a final report. The field exam is performed by a team of one or more professional engineers, geologists or qualified technicians, accompanied by the dam owner or his/her representative. Depending on the type of dam, a field exam can take 2 to 3 days for a team of experts to complete and may cost the owner $2,500 to $4,000.

Does a dam inspection guarantee the dam is safe?
Absolutely not. An inspection is only a snapshot of the dam’s relative safety status at that time while providing the owner with information on necessary repairs. Year-round vigilance by the owner using informal inspections coupled with special inspections and proper maintenance practices are far better tools for ensuring the long-term integrity of a dam.

What about levees? Are they handled the same as dams?
It depends on the type of levee. Some levees are designed and built for flood control. Others are agricultural structures not meant for the same sort of flood control but instead designed to divert water from crop fields, or to prevent topsoil erosion in the event of high water. Flood control levees are inspected. Agricultural levees are not.

So, with the recent floods, what’s the status of dams in impacted areas?
Personnel from two DNR divisions - Water and Reclamation - have teamed up with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to form two-person teams that are performing damage assessment of approximately 100 high hazard dams in 21 southern Indiana counties. It is important to note these are not dam inspections in the truest sense, but rather spot checks to evaluate visible damage and determine if there is any immediate danger.

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DNR courtesy boating inspections set during Memorial Day weekend

In an effort to keep state waterways safe during the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division will again be conducting courtesy safety inspections at some public boat landings.

The Memorial Day holiday weekend is considered the first blast of summer and one of the busiest weekends of the year on state waters.

DNR boating safety and enforcement officers will perform a quick, but thorough, inspection for items such as required safety equipment and proper boat and motor registration. “Those who are not in compliance with safety regulations or registration requirements will not be ticketed during the complimentary inspections,” said Col. Alvin Taylor, deputy director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Law Enforcement Division. “Instead, they will be given an opportunity to correct the problem before they launch their boat.” DNR officers will also be available to answer questions and give boaters tips on how to stay safe on the water.

To report boating violations such as reckless operation or an intoxicated boat operator, call the DNR toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-922-5431. For a copy of South Carolina’s boating regulations, to find out about local boating safety courses or to obtain a free float plan form contact the DNR Boating Safety Office at 1-800-277-4301.

Courtesy safety inspections at the following locations and times:

• Beaufort & Colleton Counties                                                                                            
              Bennetts Point - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 24)                           
              Pinckney Island - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 25)
              Lemmon Island Landing - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 26)
• Broad River                                                                                    
              Cherokee County/Pick Hill Landing - (8 a.m. - 10 a.m. - May 24)             
              99 Island Landing - (8 a.m. - 10 a.m. - May 26)
             
• Congaree River                                                                                           
              Rosewood Landing - (4 p.m. -7 p.m. - May 23)                  
              Bates Bridge/601 Bridge - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 24)                   
              Rosewood Landing - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 25)               
              Billy Tolar - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 26)
             
• Hampton & Jasper Counties                                                                                               
              Sand’s Boat Landing - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 24)     
              Stokes Bluff Boat Landing - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 25)
              Battery Creek Landing - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 26)
• Horry County                                                                                              
              Craig Campbell Landing - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 24)          
              Conway Marina - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 25)
              Enterprise Landing - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 26)
             
• Georgetown County                                                                                               
              Georgetown Ball Park - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 24)
              Murrells Inlet - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 25)                 
              Wacca Wache - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 26)
             
• Lake Blalock                                                                                               
              Main Ramp - (Noon - 2 p.m. - May 23) - (10 a.m. - Noon - May 24) - (10 a.m. - Noon - May 25) - (10 a.m. - Noon - May 26)
• Lake Bowen                                                                                    
              Main Ramp - (Noon - 2 p.m. - May 23) - (11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - May 24) - (11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - May 25) - (11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - May 26)
• Lake Hartwell                                                                                             
              Hurricane Creek Landing - (Noon - 2 p.m. - May 23) - (11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - May 24)
              Twelve Mile Park - (10 a.m. - Noon - May 24)                   
• Lake Jocasee                                                                                               
              Main Ramp - (10 a.m. - Noon - May 25
• Lake Keowee                                                                                              
              Gap Hill Landing - (10 a.m. - Noon - May 25)                   
              South Cove Park - (10 a.m. - Noon - May 24)                                                        
• Lake Greenwood                                                                                        
              Reeders Boat Landing - (Noon - 2 p.m. - May 23) - (11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - May 24)                           Greenwood State Park - (10 a.m. - Noon - May 24) - (Noon - 2 p.m. - May 25) - (10 a.m. - Noon - May 26)                     
• Lake Marion                                                                                    
              Alex Harvin Landing (Clarendon Co) - (9 a.m. -12 p.m. - May 23) - (9 a.m. - 12 p.m. - May 24) - (9 a.m. - 12 p.m. - May 25) - (9 a.m. - 12 p.m. - 26)               
              State Park (Orangeburg Co) - (5 p.m. - 8 p.m. - May 23) - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 24) - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 25) - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 26)                       
              Packs Landing (Sumter Co) - (9 a.m. -12 p.m. - May 23) - (9 a.m. - 12 p.m. - May 24) - (9 a.m. - 12 p.m. - May 25) - (9 a.m. - 12 p.m. - 26)      
              Low Fall Landing (Calhoun Co) - (5 p.m. - 8 p.m. - May 23) - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 24) - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 25) - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 26)               
              White Oak (Clarendon Co) - (9 a.m. - 12 p.m. - May 26)
• Lake Murray                                                                                               
              Lake Murray Dam (Irmo Side) - (4 p.m. - 7 p.m. - May 23) - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 24) - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 25) - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - 26)  
              Billy Dreher Island (Newberry Co) - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 23) - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 24) - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 25) - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - 26)                           
              SCE&G Ramp #3 (Saluda Co) - (4 p.m. - 7 p.m. - May 23) - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 24) - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 25) - (8 a.m. - 11 a.m. - 26)  
• Lake Robinson (Greenville Co)
              Main Ramp - (Noon - 2 p.m. - May 23) - (11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - May 24) - (11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - May 25) - (11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - May 26)
• Lake Robinson (Darlington/Chesterfield Cos)                                                                               
              Johnson’s Landing - (1 p.m. - 3 p.m. - May 25)                                           
              Morrison Bridge - (1 p.m. - 3 p.m. - May 24)                                              
              Black River at Andrews - (9 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 24)        
              Black River at Kingstree - (4 p.m. - 6 p.m. - May 23)                                 
              Little Pee Dee at Galivants Ferry - (4 p.m. - 6 p.m. - May 25) - (1 p.m. - 3 p.m. -May26)
              Dewitts Landing Big Pee Dee - (1 p.m. - 3 p.m. - May 24) - (10 a.m. - 12 p.m.- May 26)
• Lake Secession                                                                                            
              Barton’s Landing - (Noon - 2 p.m. - May 23) - (11 a.m. - 1 p.m. -May 24)
• Lake Thurmond                                                                                          
              Parksville Boat Landing - (10 a.m. - noon - May 26)                      
              Scotts Ferry Landing - (Noon - 2 p.m. - May 25)                
              Dorn Landing - (10 a.m. - 12 p.m. - May 24)
• Lake Wallace                                                                                              
              Lake Wallace Public Ramp - (1 p.m. - 3 p.m. - May 25)                             
              Dargan’s Pond - (8 a.m. - 10 a.m. - May 24)                         
              Hwy 34 Big Pee Dee - (4 p.m. - 6 p.m. - May 24)
• Lake Wateree                                                                                              
              Dutchman Creek Landing - (2 p.m. - 4 p.m. - May 23)       
              Clearwater Cove - (9 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 24) - (9 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May26)                     
              Wateree State Park - (2 p.m. - 4 p.m. - May 25)
            
• Lake Wylie                                                                                      
              Ebenezer Boat Landing - (4 p.m. - 6 p.m. - May 23) - (10 a.m. - Noon - May 24) - (1 p.m. - 3 p.m. - May 25) - (9 a.m. - 11 a.m. - May 26)
             
• Lower Charleston County                                                                                      
              Cherry Point - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 24)
              Wappoo Cut - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 25)
              Limehouse - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 26)
• Saluda Lake                                                                                    
              Main Ramp - (Noon - 2 p.m. - May 23) - (11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - May 24) - (11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - May 25) - (11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - May 26)               
• Union County                                                                                             
              Neal Shoal Landing - (8 a.m.  - 10 a.m. - May 26)   
              Lake John D. Long - (8 a.m.  - 10 a.m. - May 24)                           
             
• Upper Charleston & Berkeley Co.                                                                                      
              Moore’s Landing - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 24)
              IOP Marina - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 25)       
              Bushy Park Both Sides - (9 a.m. - Noon - May 26)

DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.

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