EP 1110-2-13
28 Jun 96
Chapter 5
numerous dam safety activities. The problems
generally fall into two categories: hydrologic and
Rehabilitation and Modification of
seismic. The program is intended to facilitate
Dams
upgrading of those project features which have design
or construction deficiencies related to dam safety in
order to permit the project to function effectively and
as originally intended. In order to qualify, the
5-1. Dam Safety Rehabilitation
modifications must be within the Chief of Engineers'
discretionary authority and also must be such that they
Rehabilitation or modification of Corps of Engineers
cannot be accomplished under routine maintenance.
dams for safety purposes is accomplished through the
Projects approved for Dam Safety Assurance will
Major Rehabilitation Program and the Dam Safety
require budget justification and other supporting data
Assurance Program.
similar to the budget information prepared for
construction projects. The Dam Safety Assurance
Program may also be used to modify dams built by the
5-2. Major Rehabilitation Program
Corps of Engineers and turned over to local interests
to operate, maintain, replace, rehabilitate, and repair
The Major Rehabilitation Program is to allow
(ER 1130-2-419, ER 1165-2-119, ER 1110-2-1155,
accomplishment of significant, costly, one-time structural
Walz 1990a).
rehabilitation or major replacement work (other repairs
related to dam safety are accomplished under the normal
b. Policy on hydrologic criteria. Since the
Operation and Maintenance program). The work under
Corps of Engineers began building dams, the policy
this program restores the project to its original condition
has been that failure of a Corps of Engineers dam
to serve as originally intended. An example of dam
should not significantly increase the downstream
safety work under this program would be the installation
hazard over the hazard which would have existed if
of a "cut-off" wall to control seepage through a dam.
the dam had not failed. However, new policy requires
Projects approved for major rehabilitation require budget
more analysis and documentation from the field
justification and other supporting data similar to the
offices when recommending improvements to
budget information prepared for construction projects.
hydrologically deficient dams (Duscha 1986).
The Major Rehabilitation Program is limited to the major
Additional background information on hydrologic
repair or restoration of main structures such as dams,
criteria is available (National Research Council 1985;
locks, and powerhouses, exclusive of electrical, mechani-
Federal Emergency Management Agency 1986a,
cal, and other equipment, except that such equipment
1986c; Wiseman 1987; Lave, Resendiz-Carrillo, and
may be included where it is essential to and integral with
McMichael 1990; Task Committee on Spillway
the feature of the project being rehabilitated. The Major
Design Flood Selection, Committee on Surface Water
Rehabilitation Program is not applicable to local protec-
Hydrology, Hydraulics Division, American Society of
tion projects, dams, or other works turned over to local
Civil Engineers 1988). The following policy is used
interests for operation, maintenance, and major replace-
to make decisions on the merits of dam safety
ment (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Office of the Chief
modifications to meet current hydrologic criteria given
of Engineers 1977; ER 1130-2-500; Federal Emergency
in ER 1110-8-2(FR) (ER 1110-2-1155).
Management Agency 1992b; Wiseman 1987).
(1) Planning for a dam safety modification will
consider combination of structural design
5-3. Dam Safety Assurance Program
modifications as well as nonstructural measures,
including downstream actions and changes in water
a. General. The Dam Safety Assurance Program
control plans. The recommended plan should be for
provides for modification of completed Corps of
the dam safety modification which meets or exceeds
Engineers dam projects which are potential safety
the base safety condition (BSC). The BSC will be met
hazards in light of current engineering standards and
when a dam failure related to hydrologic capacity will
criteria.
This program is one part of the Corps'
result in no significant increase in downstream hazard
5-1
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