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The mission of the USSD Committee on Dam Safety (CODS) is to establish and
accomplish programs which gather and disseminate information, and to coordinate
activities with other organizations for the purpose of enhancing the safety of
dams within the United States.
The CODS promotes awareness of the importance of dam safety, by sponsoring
appropriate conferences, seminars, training and other forums whose objective is
the enhancement of the safety of dams.
The CODS maintains liaison with other professional organizations promoting
dam safety, including the Association of
State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO), and the Interagency Committee on Dam
Safety (ICODS), as well as various other USSD committees. The Committee's reviews
during the past year of an ASDSO redraft of the USCOLD Model Law for State
Supervision of Dams and Reservoirs, and the ICODS Emergency Action
Planning Guidelines for Dam Owners are examples of that cooperation.
USSD has published Anthology of Dam Modification Case Histories,
prepared by CODS. This document is a compilation of brief synopses of dam
safety modifications of interest to the profession, with a point of contact for
further information for each.
The CODS encourages member's organizations to support the National Performance of Dams Program
(NPDP). NPDP is a national effort to create an information resource on the
performance of dams by retrieving, archiving, and disseminating information on
dam performance.
The CODS organized, with two other USSD committees, the 1998 USCOLD Annual
Lecture on risk management in project development, operation, and dam safety.
The CODS also supports the International Commission on Large Dams Committee
on Dam Safety. The ICOLD CODS is completing a bulletin on Safety
Improvements to Existing Dams, and will be undertaking the development of a
bulletin titled Guidelines on Risk Assessment for Dams.
Terms of Reference
(2000 - 2002)
Establish and
accomplish programs which gather and disseminate information, and coordinate
activities with other organizations for the purpose of enhancing the safety of
dams within the United States.
Assist ICOLD in
developing a publication on risk assessment and management in dam safety,
and/or prepare a USSD publication on the subject:
- Building upon the 1998 Annual Meeting, prepare a white paper on the current state of practice regarding the use of risk analysis and risk assessment in dam safety in the United States.
- Attend meeting and workshops on the subject.
- Participate in effort by ICOLD's Committee on Dam Safety.
- Develop USSD white paper on philosophy, uses, thoughts, etc.
- Develop workshops and meetings as necessary.
Continue to
support the National Performance of Dams Program by providing representation on
the Executive Committee and encouraging submittal of dam incidents to the
archive on dam incidents.
- There has been a perceived de-emphasis by owners on dam safety caused by regulatory agency downsizing, reduction in research, budget cuts, maintenance delays. The Committee on Dam Safety should work with the ASDSO and National Performance of Dams Center at Stanford to expand the current ASCE dam safety report card project to develop clearer definitions of problems and potential remedial actions.
- Assess and prepare a white paper on how organizations can utilize the National Performance of Dams Program to advance the safe performance of dams. The President of USSD would then provide a briefing to committee chairs and a brief presentation at the general meeting to inform the encourage members to participate in the program.
Support the National Dam Safety Program of the Water Resources Act of 1996 (PL 104-303) by
encouraging funding appropriation and providing representation on the National
Review Board, Section 8(h) of the Act.
Maintain
liaison with other professional organizations promoting dam safety: ASDSO,
Interagency Committee on Dam Safety (ICODS), and various USSD Committees.
Further information may be obtained by contacting the Committee Chairperson:
Bruce C. Muller, Jr.
Bureau of Reclamation
P.O. Box 25007, 86-44000
Denver, CO 80225
Telephone: 303-445-2765
Fax: 303-445-6463
e-mail: bmuller@do.usbr.gov
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