Alabama Dams receive a Grade of "D". How safe are you?

by: Janet Kynard, It Happens in Alabama 

Just moments ago, the Alabama Forestry Commission announced:

 “Communities across the nation will benefit from a $262 million investment to rehabilitate dams that provide critical infrastructure and protect public health and safety. The 2014 Farm Bill increased the typical annual investment in watershed rehabilitation by almost 21 fold, recognizing the critical role of these structures in flood management, water supply, and agricultural productivity.” 

I wonder how much Alabama will see of this. In a report from the American Society of Engineers, “Dam Safety in Alabama” Presented during an information session of the ASDSO Southeast Regional Conference on April 16, 2014, it was reported that Alabama is the only state in the country without a state dam safety program; therefore the condition of nearly 160 dams is unknown. If that don’t scare the heck out of you, I don’t know what will! I live at Lake Jordan. The beautiful, historic town of Wetumpka is just 9 miles down the Coosa River from me. If our dam failed, Wetumpka would get hit with something near a tsunami.

 The report continues with:

        Alabama Dams are Aging and Un-inspected

               •Over two-thirds of the Alabama dams in the NID are more than 30 years old.

               •Based on inspections reported in the NID, only 19% of high-hazard-potential dams in Alabama have been inspected in the past five years and only 2% of all dams.

               •There is a very high likelihood that undetected rusted spillway pipes, embankment erosion, etc. of older and un-maintained dams will cause a dam failure incident.

                •It is also highly likely that development of areas downstream of dams has increased the population at risk from a dam failure.

        If a Dam Does Fail, Alabama Dam Owners are Unprepared and Emergency Officials Lack Information to Respond. 

The report also warns that Alabama has nearly 200 High Hazard Dams, of those only 37 have an EAP and those are owned and/or regulated by the Federal Government. 

We do have a House Bill that is to address this issue, House Bill 610, was introduced on March 18, 2014 by State Representative Mary Sue McClurkin, Republican District 43, with Representatives Mike Hill, Republia 41 and Kurt Wallace, Republican District 42 as co-sponsors. As of today the bill is to be addressed during this 2014 Regular Session. Since the March 18^th reading of the bill, there is no reported updates and currently no roll call votes are recorded for this bill. 

From a review of the dams in Alabama, during 2013, the American Society of Engineers gave us a grade of “D”. So I ask you, how safe do you feel?

 

Click Here to read the full report