How does the Division ensure the safety of dams in California?
The Division has several programs that ensure dam safety. When a new dam is proposed, Division engineers and geologists inspect the site and the subsurface exploration to learn firsthand of the geologic conditions. Upon submittal of an application, the Division thoroughly reviews the plans and specifications prepared by the owner to ensure that the dam is designed to meet minimum requirements and that the design is appropriate for the known geologic conditions. After approval of the application, the Division oversees the construction to ensure the work is being done in accordance with the approved plans and specifications. Following construction, the Division inspects each dam on an annual basis to ensure the dam is safe, performing as intended, and is not developing problems. Roughly a third of these inspections include in-depth instrumentation reviews of the dam surveillance network data. Lastly, the Division periodically reviews the stability of dams and their major appurtenances in
