Safety Evaluation of Existing Dams International Technical Seminar and Study Tour

This seminar will provide professional personnel with a comprehensive guide to establishing or enhancing a visual inspection/evaluation program and increase the technical capabilities of those responsible for safety evaluations. In most countries throughout the world, interest in the safety of dams has risen significantly in recent years due to aging dams, new hydrologic information, and population growth in floodplain areas downstream from dams, resulting in an increased emphasis on dam safety evaluation as well as operation and maintenance related to the safety of dams. Those responsible for the safety of existing dams must implement policies and procedures that warrant public confidence, demanding professional practices that incorporate the lessons of the past and conform to the most advanced technical state-of-the-art. The need for trained personnel is essential. The first portion of the seminar, August 3-7, will consist primarily of classroom presentations and discussions, led by Reclamation engineers or geologists with extensive experience and knowledge in areas such as design, construction, operation, maintenance, and dam safety. Topics include hydrologic, seismic, geotechnical, electrical, mechanical, and structural considerations of dam safety, as well as operation, maintenance, surveillance, and emergency preparedness. Presentations, case histories, and a walk-through abbreviated examination will be used to present the multidiscipline approach to an effective safety of dams program, including a tour of the Bureau of Reclamation Research Laboratories. The Study Tour, August 10-13, will take participants through the states of Colorado and Nevada, including site visits to Green Mountain Dam, Granby Dam, Shadow Mountain Dam, a mock abbreviated simulated examination at Olympus Dam, and a VIP tour of Hoover Dam.