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Dam Watch

By John Nixon

07/06/2015

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack

(USDA)-- A new web-based application is available, allowing real-time monitoring of rainfall, snowmelt, steam flow and seismic events that could pose potential threats to dam safety.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the availability of Dam Watch.

Dam Watch is intended to help keep the public safe and protect infrastructure. It is to help watershed project sponsors monitor and manage dams that were built with assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. By monitoring the program, sponsors should be able to better prevent and protect against hazardous, costly and potentially catastrophic events.

The system will be an excellent tool for providing information about structures such as previous site inspection records, plans and photos of dams and during disaster events, pinpoint areas of highest potential for damage.

In Nebraska, 735 structures are being monitored by Dam Watch. When a large amount of rainfall occurs in an area where these structures are located, Dam Watch triggers an alert that is sent to the local sponsor and NRCS staff. These structures benefit more than 1.6-million acres in Nebraska.

Dam Watch was developed for NRCS by USEngineering Solutions Corporation, and is currently monitoring nearly 12,000 dams across the country.

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