Gathright Dam
USACE Dam Safety Program &
Dam Safety Action Classification
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates 610 dams throughout the United States. As part of the responsibility for managing these dams, USACE has a comprehensive Dam Safety Program that features public safety as its primary objective. The USACE Dam Safety Program is critical to addressing the nation’s aging infrastructure, reducing the risks of flood and storm damage and ensuring owned and operated dams are safe and present minimal risk to the public. USACE routinely inspects and evaluates its dams to ensure compliance with the Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety issued in 1979.
In 2005, USACE initiated the Dam Safety Action Classification System to provide consistent and systematic guidelines for addressing dam safety issues and deficiencies, and to allow prioritization of work at the national level. The DSAC provides a standard strategy for the continued safety and security of USACE projects and the public. This risk management approach includes two components: probability of dam failure and consequences if failure occurs.
Updated: 13-Aug-2010