California Department of Water Resources Division of Safety of Dams

California Department of Water Resources Division of Safety of Dams
Agency name	Division of Safety of Dams
Formed	1929
Jurisdiction	California
Parent agency	California Department of Water Resources
Headquarters	Sacramento, California
Chief1 name	Chief Engineer
Chief1 position	Division Chief

California Department of Water Resources Division of Safety of Dams The Division of Safety of Dams is the state office within the California Department of Water Resources responsible for the oversight of dams and reservoirs in California. It administers inspection, regulation, and emergency response activities affecting major structures including those owned by United States Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, State Water Project, and local Metropolitan Water District of Southern California facilities. The Division interacts with federal agencies such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, United States Army Corps of Engineers, and state entities like the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

History

The Division traces its origins to early 20th century concerns following failures such as the Saint Francis Dam collapse, which prompted legislative action and the creation of state oversight in the 1920s under the California Water Commission. Subsequent developments involved coordination with the Reclamation Act era agencies and infrastructure programs including the Central Valley Project and the California State Water Project. Key regulatory milestones parallel enactments like the California Water Code provisions and response to events including the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill in broader infrastructure policy, with continued evolution after incidents such as the Oroville Dam crisis (2017) that reshaped operational protocols and interagency agreements with entities like the National Weather Service and United States Geological Survey.

Organization and Administration

The Division is administered within the California Department of Water Resources and structured into sections responsible for engineering review, inspections, seismic analysis, and emergency planning. Leadership liaises with the California State Legislature, Office of the Governor of California, and county offices such as the Sacramento County authorities. Technical staff collaborate with academic partners including University of California, Berkeley, California Institute of Technology, and Stanford University for research on hydraulics, geotechnical behavior, and seismic risk. Interagency coordination involves the California Geological Survey and state permitting bodies like the California Environmental Protection Agency.

Dam Safety Programs and Responsibilities

The Division administers programs covering design review, dam classification, licensing, and public safety oversight for high- and significant-hazard dams such as those operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and municipal districts including the East Bay Municipal Utility District. Responsibilities include approving construction plans under statutes in the California Water Code, issuing orders to owners such as Bechtel Corporation-contracted projects when necessary, and maintaining databases of dams that intersect with Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps and National Inventory of Dams records. The Division’s remit also includes oversight of hydropower facilities regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission where state jurisdiction applies.

Regulatory Authority and Standards

Authority derives from provisions in the California Water Code and executive regulations that set criteria for dam design, seismic stability, spillway capacity, and reservoir operations. The Division adopts technical standards based on guidelines from United States Geological Survey, American Society of Civil Engineers, and consensus documents like the Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety. It enforces requirements on owners from private firms to public entities including Irvine Ranch Water District and San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, issuing Notices of Intent and Orders when hazards are identified and coordinating with courts when legal remedies are required under state statute.

Inspection, Monitoring, and Enforcement

Routine inspections, periodic reviews, and instrumentation monitoring form the core of the Division’s enforcement strategy. Inspectors assess structural conditions at sites including Oroville Dam, Shasta Dam, and Pardee Dam and rely on instrumentation data from piezometers, inclinometers, and accelerometers calibrated to standards from National Institute of Standards and Technology and protocols used by United States Bureau of Reclamation. Enforcement tools include violation notices, mandatory remedial action orders, and coordination with regulatory counterparts such as the California Public Utilities Commission when utility-owned dams are implicated. The Division works with owners and consultants from firms like AECOM and Michael Baker International for remediation design and construction oversight.

Emergency Preparedness and Incident Response

The Division develops emergency action plan templates and inundation maps used by counties and cities like Butte County, Yuba County, and Los Angeles County for evacuation planning. It coordinates exercises with the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Weather Service, and local first responders including California Office of Traffic Safety partners. In incidents such as spillway damage or near-failure events, the Division directs urgent mitigation, arranges emergency repairs with contractors, and liaises with agencies such as the United States Army Corps of Engineers and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to secure resources.

Notable Dams and Projects Overseen

The Division oversees safety aspects of major California dams and reservoirs including Oroville Dam, Shasta Dam, Folsom Dam, Pardee Dam, Castaic Dam, and Exchequer Dam. It has been heavily involved in reviews and remediation of facilities associated with projects like the State Water Project, Central Valley Project, and hydropower developments licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Collaborative efforts with utility and municipal owners have led to significant modifications at sites such as New Bullards Bar Dam and structural assessments at Don Pedro Dam and New Melones Dam to meet contemporary seismic and hydraulic criteria.

Category:California state agencies Category:Dams in California Category:Public safety in California