Overview
The Dam Safety Interest Group develops and makes available cost-effective dam safety tools, expertise, leading edge technology, and operational information. This is achieved through the interactive, collaborative participation of a wide community of knowledgeable members including dam owners, utilities, independent power producers, as well as government agencies.

Focus areas

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    Assessment, Monitoring, and Management of Aging Infrastructure
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    Challenges Associated with Changing Operating Conditions and Extreme Loading Conditions
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    Changes in the Delivery Models for Dam Safety Oversight and Services
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    Understanding of Dams as Systems
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    Public Safety and Emergency Planning
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This group is for

Chief dam safety engineers and civil engineers
EXPLORE MEMBERSHIP
Technical Advisors
Bruce Muller
Bruce Muller
Dam Safety

Bruce Muller graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Purdue University and earned his Master of Science in Civil Engineering/Water Resource Management from Colorado State University. He has a broad background in water resources engineering and management, including being a member of the US government’s Senior Executive Service and working as a design engineer and project manager at Reclamation. Bruce was responsible for a variety of Reclamation's risk management programs including Dam Safety, Safety and Occupational Health, Security, Law Enforcement and Emergency Planning and Operations. He worked closely with the Department of the Interior and Reclamation's Regional Directors to implement risk reduction and public protection actions at Reclamation facilities. He also worked closely with industry partners to implement risk management techniques for dam safety both nationally and internationally.

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Hugh Armitage
Hugh Armitage
Dam Safety

Hugh Armitage graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering Science (Civil) and earned his Master of Engineering Science in Geotechnical Engineering, both from the University of Western Ontario, Canada. Hugh has a broad background in geotechnical engineering and construction experience while working for an international geotechnical engineering consultant, a national specialty contractor and a large national power utility. During his years with Southern Company, Hugh was involved with the company’s dam safety program for all of Georgia Power and Gulf Power embankment and hydroelectric dams. As supervisor and the Chief Dam Safety Engineer, he was responsible for all aspects and oversight of the company’s dam safety program in Georgia. This included inspections, remedial repairs, training, emergency action and security plans, inundation mapping and reporting to ensure compliance to FERC mandated requirements. The responsibilities also required regular interaction with the regional FERC D2SI office and liaison with the company’s senior management. Hugh has been actively involved with CEATI’s Dam Safety Interest Group since 2010.

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Top Resources
Benchmarking Tool
Dam Safety Maturity Matrix
The Dam Safety Maturity Matrix (DSMM) tool enables utilities to assess the effectiveness of their dam safety program against industry practice. Improvements to the program can be identified, prioritized, and planned. The assessment can be repeated at a later date to determine if progress has been made. The DSMM’s primary benefit is for CEATI members to gain an improved understanding of their dam safety program across the full range of activities that influence its effectiveness.
RESEARCH REPORT
Gates Refurbish vs. Replacement
The objective of this project was to develop a report to provide a view of the current state of practice for refurbishment/repair versus replacement of water control gates. The report provides guidance for dam owners in their decision-making process to either refurbish/repair or replace a gate. The report summarizes and analyzes the results of a questionnaire developed by the CEATI Gate Task Force. Respondents provided details including the location and size of the project, type and purpose of the gate, age, preventative maintenance program, and the decision process for refurbishment or replacement. Consequently, the report reflects the diversity of responses.
GUIDANCE DOCUMENT
Best Practices for Assessment of Existing Spillways
This document provides best practices for performing hands-on inspections and assessments of existing dam spillways. The guidance introduces the current state of practice for spillway assessments, case histories of spillway failures, and the approach for spillway assessments. Assessments include a thorough review of the original design and construction documentation, an inspection of the current condition of the spillway, and an assessment of the spillway’s ability to perform under the original design or current state of practice design loading conditions. The evaluation provides the spillway owner with the engineers’ interpretation of which observations are most important, why they are important, and a summary of their recommendations listed in order of priority. This document presents the current state of the industry and recommendations for future research.
TRAINING
Dam Safety Essentials for Engineers
The Dam Safety Essentials Guidance and Training for Engineers resource provides dam owners with a framework and materials for delivery of dam safety training to engineering and technical personnel. This resources builds on, but is independent of, the Dam Safety Inspection Procedures, Guidance, and Training for Plant Operators training materials. The dam safety essentials training was conceived to address the needs of entry-level engineers, or engineers new to hydropower or dams, with dam safety responsibilities, who require a more in-depth understanding of dam safety essentials.
training
Dam Safety Inspection Procedures, Guidance, and Training for Plant Operators
This guide is intended to help hydroelectric plant operators recognize, understand, and respond to potential dam safety hazards. Recognizing that no two hydroelectric projects are exactly alike and that the most effective dam safety surveillance practices are those that are tailored to a specific site, this document has been designed so that readers can focus on content that is directly relevant to the types of structures they encounter and for which they are responsible.