Green Horizons

Missouri dam safety regulations

By ROBERT STOUT

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources Dam Safety Program is responsible for ensuring that all new and existing non-agricultural, nonfederal dams 35 feet or more in height meet minimum safety standards as established by the Dam and Reservoir Safety Law. The dam safety bill was signed and became law on September 28, 1979. To ensure safety standards are met, a permitting process is contained within the regulations.

Any owner of a proposed new dam which will be 35 feet or more in height is required to obtain a construction permit and a safety permit for the dam and reservoir.

A construction permit and safety permit for a new dam must be prepared by a licensed professional engineer in the state of Missouri, and must include an engineering analysis to verify spillway capacity and slope stability standards are met. Once construction is complete, the safety permit becomes effective. An existing dam that was built prior to the enactment of the law is also required to submit an engineering analysis by a professional engineer or an agency engineer to prove the spillway capacity meets the law. This type of permit is called a registration permit. A slope stability analysis is not required for a registration permit unless the dam has visual signs of an unstable embankment or significant modifications are made to the height, slope, or water storage elevation.

Safety and registration permits are required to be renewed at a minimum of every five years. Currently the renewal inspection is performed by the Mo. Department of Natural Resources, Dam and Reservoir Safety staff, unless the owner wishes to retain the services of another licensed professional engineer. For additional information on dam regulations in the State of Missouri contact MDNR Water Resources Center, Dam Safety Program at 573-368-2175 or visit http://dnr.mo.gov/env/wrc/damsft/damsfthp.htm