United States Society on Dams
2010 Annual Meeting and Conference

Index of 2010 Conference Information

Overview

The 2010 USSD Conference theme is Collaborative Management of Integrated Watersheds. Dams and levees are aging and traditional concepts of service life are changing. Changes in watersheds are placing increased demands on their reliability and safety. Global climate change will affect weather and rainfall patterns, further increasing the importance of and demands on our watersheds and water resource infrastructure. Fortunately, expertise in all fields related to water resource development and management is improving. The practical application of enhanced technology calls for improved interdisciplinary collaboration. The theme for the 30th USSD Conference reflects the need for enhanced collaboration and integration between disciplines, facilities and institutions.

The Conference and Workshops will also provide a forum for dam engineers, owners, operators, environmental managers, and interest groups to share and discuss best practices and new technologies in design, construction, monitoring, safety, security and risk management for levees, impoundments, concrete dams and embankment dams.

The Opening Plenary Session on Tuesday morning will feature two invited presentations and a Panel Discussion on the CALFED Storage Program. Jinsheng Jia, President of the International Commission on Dams, will give an ICOLD update; and David Gutierrez, President of the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, will report on ASDSO activities. Additional presentations during the Plenary Session will address contemporary issues of interest to dam professionals.

Five Concurrent Technical Sessions on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday, and a Poster Session Tuesday evening, will feature the presentation of more than 120 technical papers.

On Thursday morning, a two-hour special session on current engineering activities at Folsom Dam will be held. Two Workshops will be offered on Thursday; and field tours on Thursday and Friday round out the outstanding Conference program.

Three meal-time speakers will offer their insights, including Lester A. Snow, Director, California Department of Water Resources; Donald R. Glaser, Director, Mid-Pacific Region, Bureau of Reclamation; and Michael L. Connor, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation.

The Wednesday Awards banquet will feature the presentation of the Outstanding Paper Awards, and awards for Excellence in the Constructed Project and Lifetime Achievement. The winners of the 2010 USSD Scholarships will also be announced.

Host

The Host of the 30th Annual Meeting and Conference is the Bureau of Reclamation.

Acknowledgments

The Conference technical program was organized jointly by several USSD Committees under the leadership of Kenneth A. Steele, Consultant. Gary Egan, Bureau of Reclamation, coordinated Reclamation participation and arranged the field tours to Folsom and Monticello Dams. Ross Boulanger coordinated the visit to the University of California, Davis.

Exhibition and Sponsorships

An Exhibition featuring water resources related goods and services will be held during the Conference. The exhibition will open with a reception on Monday evening; continental breakfasts and breaks on Tuesday and Wednesday, and a reception Tuesday evening will be held in and adjacent to the exhibit area to ensure maximum interaction with Conference participants.

Conference Exhibitors include the following organizations.

Exhibitor and Sponsor information.

Venue

The Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Sacramento, a short walk from the State Capitol and Capitol Park. A variety of dining and shopping options are nearby. Also nearby is Old Sacramento, which recreates the lively Gold Rush atmosphere along the Sacramento River waterfront. A variety of restaurants, nightclubs and shopping opportunities are found in Old Sacramento. History buffs will enjoy the restored Delta King riverboat and museums, including the California State Railroad Museum.

Continuing Education Units

Colorado State University, Division of Continuing Education, will grant CEUs after successful completion of the Conference and/or a Workshop. CEU information will be available at the Conference.

USSD Committees

Committee Meetings, to be held on Monday, are an important part of the Annual Meeting. All Conference participants are welcome to attend the committee meetings. A schedule of meeting will be linked from here soon.

Annual Meeting of Members

All Conference participants are invited to attend the USSD Annual Meeting of Members on Monday afternoon. Following a brief review of current USSD activities, Members will have an opportunity to present their ideas and suggestions about USSD to the Board of Directors.

Kick-Off Reception/Exhibition Opening

Each year, USSD Conference participants and guests look forward to the annual Monday evening reception to network, make new professional contacts and socialize. A highlight of this year's reception will be the opening of the Exhibition, featuring more than 30 organizations offering products and services to the dam profession.

Hotel Reservations

The Conference and Workshops will be held at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento at Capitol Park, 1209 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, 916-443-1234, www.sacramento.hyatt.com.

The special rate for USSD Conference participants is $114 single/$139 double, plus taxes and fees. To make reservations, call 888-421-1442 and request the special USSD rate. Online Reservations.

A limited number of rooms are reserved in the USSD room block; the room block rate is guaranteed only through March 19, or until the room block fills.

Thursday Evening Old Sacramento Shuttle

Experience the dining and entertainment options of Old Sacramento on Thursday evening. Complimentary shuttle service will be provided to take Conference participants to and from Old Sacramento. Departures from the Hyatt will be hourly from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; the return trips from downtown to the hotel will be hourly from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Field Tours

On Thursday, participants will have the option of attending one of two Workshops or a Field Tour to Folsom Dam. The Conference concludes with a Field Tour on Friday to the University of California, Davis; Monticello Dam and the Napa Valley. Each Field Tour includes lunch.

Folsom Dam is located on the American River, just upstream of Sacramento. The dam was designed and constructed by the Corps of Engineers, and completed in 1956; it is operated and maintained by Bureau of Reclamation. It has a structural height of 354.5 feet at its tallest point, a crest width of 36 feet, and a crest length of 1,400 feet at crest elevation 480.5. There are five service spillway radial gates and three emergency spillway radial gates.

Currently there is construction underway at the dam to improve the flood control capabilities of the facility. A joint effort between the USACE and Reclamation was formed to address these issues. A gated auxiliary spillway alternative with submerged spillway gates will provide a lower-level flood control capability. It will consist of a concrete structure constructed near the left abutment of the Left Wing Dam. Final designs for modifications to the spillway piers and gates at Folsom Dam are also currently underway, as are two modifications to reinforce the spillway gates for seismic loading conditions and O&M modifications to install self-lubricating trunnion bushings.

The Friday tour will begin with a stop at the University of California, Davis, to visit the University laboratories.

Next, the tour will visit Monticello Dam. Monticello Dam is a concrete thin-arch dam with a structural height of 304 feet and a crest length of 1,023 feet at crest elevation 456.0. The crest of the dam is 12 feet thick with 4-foot-high parapet walls on each side. The dam is located on Putah Creek about 50 miles west of Sacramento, California. It impounds Lake Berryessa. Principal benefits of the reservoir include irrigation storage, municipal and industrial water supply, flood control and recreation. The dam was constructed from 1953-1957. Release facilities at the dam include a spillway, outlet works, and powerplant.

A highlight of the tour will include a winery tour and lunch in the Napa Valley. A scenic drive through the Napa Valley back to Sacramento will conclude the tour.

Thursday Field Tour	Friday Field Tour
Folsom Dam	Monticello Dam

Conference and Workshop Registration

The Conference Registration Fee for the Annual Meeting and Conference includes the Conference Proceedings, participation in all technical sessions, the Monday evening kick-off reception, continental breakfasts and lunches Tuesday and Wednesday, Tuesday evening reception, and the Wednesday reception and dinner. It also includes either a Field Tour or a Workshop on Thursday, with lunch; the Thursday Evening Old Sacramento Shuttle; and the Friday Field Tour, with lunch. The fee is $795 for USSD Members and $895 for non-members, with a $100 discount for early registration. A Young Professional Fee of $395 is available to participants age 35 and younger. To receive the Early Registration Rate, you must register by April 2. The Late Registration Fee applies to registrations received after April 2 and on-site registrations. The Registration Fee can be pre-paid by check, VISA or MasterCard or purchase order.

Cancellation Policy: To receive a refund, USSD must receive notice of cancellation by the end of business on April 7. All refunds are subject to a $25 processing fee. After April 7, the registration fee is not refundable, but substitutions are acceptable.

Online Registration Form.

Workshops

Two concurrent Workshops will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 15. Attendance at either Workshop is included in the Conference Registration Fee. For those not attending the Conference, the Workshop fee is $250.

Risk Analysis Case Histories

Moderator — David S. Bowles, Utah State University

Impoundments and Tailings Dams

Moderators — Denise Bunte-Bisnett, Santee Cooper; and Patrick Mangan, Bureau of Reclamation

The workshop, organized by the USSD Committee on Environment, is geared to a wide audience including representatives from electric utilities operating coal combustion byproduct (CCB) impoundments. Building on expertise within the dam safety community, this workshop focuses on CCB impoundments.

Technical presentations by leading consultants will cover a number of timely topics including:

• applying knowledge of tailings dams to CCB impoundments
• impoundment liners
• permeable reactive barriers
• EAPs for high hazard CCB impoundments/ tailings dams

The workshop will also feature a panel of utility dam safety engineers discussing how they have successfully integrated dam safety practices with the operation of CCB impoundments.

The Workshop will conclude with an update on regulations for CCB impoundments.

Guest Program

A highlight of the Guest Program is the Monday evening Kick-Off Reception. Also included are continental breakfasts on Tuesday and Wednesday, reception on Tuesday evening, reception and awards banquet on Wednesday, Field Tours and lunches on Thursday and Friday, and the Thursday Evening Old Sacramento Shuttle. The Guest Registration Fee is $225.

Two optional guest tours will also be offered.

The Tuesday Guest Tour starts off with a private tour of Sacramento by motorcoach. Sit back and relax while you listen to the legends that made Sacramento famous and hear the fascinating tales of Sacramento's intriguing past: from the Indians, to the Spaniards, to the Mexicans and finally the Gold Rush with its colorful and entertaining characters. Pause at Sutter's Fort, an adobe fort built in 1839 and Sacramento's earliest permanent settlement. Hear about the humble James Marshall and other gold rush notables. Wait 'till you hear about the women of the gold rush!

You will also drive past the historic Governor's Mansion and see Sacramento's midtown area with palm trees, other "painted ladies" and giant trees planted by homesick pioneers. Also see the Fabulous Forties, a charming and exclusive residential area close to downtown. The excursion will include a driving loop through Old Sacramento, the waterfront district that sprang up in the mid-1800s when gold seekers poured in from around the world. Today it is a national landmark and 28-acre state historic park. You will see the Pony Express Statue, the origination point of the Transcontinental Railroad and The Delta King riverboat.

A lovely hosted lunch awaits you at Casa Gardens. After lunch, you will go inside the remarkable Crocker Art Museum (housed in an 1800s Victorian building) for free time to explore this architectural gem as well as the impressive art collection.

The Tuesday Guest Tour is $85, including lunch.

On Wednesday, join us for an active walking tour of the "Heart of the Capitol." Departing from the Hyatt Regency Hotel, we will walk to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament to marvel at the beautiful interior that was recently restored to its original beauty. Hear the story of the young Irishman, Patrick Manogue, who is credited with the inspiration and drive to get this beautiful Cathedral completed in 1888. Next we will walk past the historic Stanford Mansion; this magnificent four-story former home of California Governor, Senator, and Railroad Baron Leland Stanford, reflects 19th century splendor.

Today, the mansion serves as the State's official location for diplomatic and protocol receptions for the current governor of California. See the interior of the exquisitely restored State Capitol Building, which underwent a $68 million dollar restoration to bring back its original beauty and grace. Today, it is a working building where legislators pass laws for the fifth largest economy in the world. Enjoy a stroll through the 40-acre International Gardens, with plants and trees from around the world. See deodar cedars from high in the Himalayas in India and the Bunya Bunya tree from Australia. Also visit the Firefighters' Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, and the World Peace Rose Garden.

The Wednesday Guest Tour is $52, including lunch.

Note: USSD reserves the right to cancel one or both guest tours if there is insufficient participation. In the event of a cancellation, full refunds will be given.