NJ Infrastructure > Infrastructure by Category > Dams

Infrastructure by Category:
Dams (Grade C-)

Introduction
Dams have been around for thousands of years. Their use is basic in nature, but vital to human survival. Their value in our day-to-day lives is often overlooked and seldom given the deserved attention. Despite the little attention we pay to this type of structure, it continues to provide our society with a source of water, irrigation, flood protection, recreation and beauty. Continued deterioration of these structures through insufficient funding to support rehabilitation and remediation efforts has left this nation and the State of New Jersey in particular, with dams failing to meet dam safety standards. The result is higher potential for loss of life, property and infrastructure damage, as well as drinking water deficits.

History of the Dam Safety Program
In 1912, New Jersey initiated the Dam Safety Program to control the construction, inspection and repair of existing dam structures. In 1981, laws were amended to provide further control over the regulation of dams. By 2005, the State had provided the Dam Safety Program with increased authority over dams. Currently, Dam Safety has the authority to inspect dams and, if appropriate, may lower the water levels, impose fines or even order the removal of a dam. Unfortunately, ordering a removal of a dam requires funding beyond current levels.

According to the NJ Dam Safety and Flood Control :

The primary goal of the program is to ensure the safety and integrity of dams in New Jersey and, thereby, protect people and property from the consequences of dam failures. In the past 25 years, our nation has experienced a number of dam failures that resulted in the loss of life and extensive property damage.

Fortunately, New Jersey has not had the misfortune of experiencing a catastrophic dam failure but there have been an increasing number of small dam failures. This is largely attributed to the lack of maintenance and inspection, as well as the fact that many of the dams in the state are nearing the end of their design life.

Regulation
As stated above, the program regulates the inspection, repair and construction of dams. The process entails the inspection of existing dams by a Licensed Professional Engineer, review of the inspection report, issuance of a repair order to fix the dam, preparation of plans and specifications, the issuance of a permit and construction of repairs.

The program evaluates and classifies dams in order of potential damage in the event of a failure. According to N.J.A.C. 7:20-1.8 dams are classified into 4 classes; Class I, II, III and IV. The definitions of each class are provided below:

Class I dams are High Hazard Potential dams, which include those dams, the failure of which may cause the probable loss of life or extensive property damage.

Class II dams are Significant Hazard Potential dams, which include those dams, the failure of which may cause significant damage to property and project operation, but loss of human life is not envisioned. This classification applies to predominantly rural, agricultural areas.

Class III dams are Low Hazard Potential dams, which include those dams, the failure of which would cause loss of the dam itself but little or no additional damage to other property.

Class IV dams are Small Dams, which include any project which impounds less than 15 acre-feet of water to the top of dam, has less than 15 feet height-of-dam and which has a drainage area above the dam of 150 acres or less in extent. No dam may be included in Class IV if it meets the criteria for Class I or II. Dam owners may request consideration for their dam to be classified as a Class III dam upon submission of a positive report and demonstration proving low hazard.

History of Dam Failures in New Jersey
During rainfall, water is controlled through dams, regulating its release and preventing flood damage. Large amounts of rainfall flex their destructive power by swelling rivers and raising lake waters damaging or causing complete failure of dams already in need of repair. The three storms described below resulted in the complete failure of 20 dams, damaging 62 other dams and totaling an estimated $729 million in property damage.

September 16, 1999 - 3 dams completely failed and 21 others were damaged when Tropical Storm Floyd and a storm system from the west combined. Up to 8 inches of rain fell during the storm event in towns and counties in the Raritan Valley. Localized areas in New Jersey received over 14 inches of rain. Property damage to New Jersey from flooding associated with Tropical Storm Floyd is estimated at $500 million.

August 11, 2000 - 4 dams completely failed and 26 others were damaged when over 14 inches of rain fell in a 24 hour period in Sparta Township and 7 to 8 inches in areas other of Sussex and Morris County. Damages were estimated at $179 million.

July 13, 2004 - 13 dams completely failed and 15 others were damaged when 13 inches of rain fell within 12 hours in several towns and counties in southern New Jersey. Sewer overflows due to flood waters posed significant health risk. Damages were estimated at $50 million.

Performance
According to statistics from the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO), New Jersey currently owns and maintains 1,716 dams, of which 214 are classified High Hazard dams. Dam Safety placed a priority on larger dams with the highest potential loss of life. As of September 2007, only 67 high hazard dams are deficient. In addition, 243 of the over 400 significant hazard dams are deficient. A total of 310 high hazard and significant hazard dams are in need of funding. Dam Safety estimates the need for repairing these dams at $300 million dollars. According to ASDSO :

New Jersey requires that the owner/operator of a dam undertake required dam safety inspections. At this moment, 110 of the 214 (51%) high hazard dam owners have undertaken current safety inspections. The rest have received an order from the Department to undertake their regular inspections. 206 of the 214 high hazard dams have Emergency Action Plans (defined as plans to be enacted in the event of a catastrophic failure of a dam).

High Hazard and Significant Hazard Dams labeled as deficient and in need of repair by County:

In addition to the repair of high hazard and significant hazard dams, low hazard dams are also in need of repair. Dam Safety estimates that an additional $250 million are needed to repair these dams.

Funding Requirements
New Jersey is credited with having one of the best programs in the nation, but the failures are a reminder that funding for stronger programs and enforcement are needed to prevent or lessen the impact of torrential rains .

Based on the classification criteria, the State set out to inspect, document, provide engineering solutions and repair dams. The 1992 Dam Restoration and Clean Water Trust Fund set up through the Green Acres, Clean Water, Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1992, provided the state with sufficient funds to repair 20 high hazard dams. In 2003, another bond was issued in the amount of $95 million in low interest loans for public and private dams. An additional $15 million was also provided for State-Owned dams. In 2004, the entire 2003 bond was appropriated.

On August 2, 2007, the full House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure voted HR 3224 out of committee. No date is set for floor action. H.R. 3224 would authorize federal appropriations totaling $201 million over the 2008-2012 period for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make grants to states to repair, replace, reconstruct or remove structurally deficient dams. Assuming appropriation of the specified amounts, The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that implementing H.R. 3224 would cost $103 million over the 2008-2012 period and $98 million after 2012. Enacting H.R. 3224 would have no effect on direct spending or revenues.

H.R. 3224 would authorize the appropriation of $201 million over the 2008-2012 period for FEMA to make grants to states for a maximum of 65 percent of the costs to repair, replace, reconstruct, or remove publicly owned dams determined to be deficient. The bill would define deficient dams as those failing to meet minimum state standards and that pose an unacceptable level of risk to the public. One-third of the funds authorized by the bill would be equally divided among all states that apply for assistance. The remaining two-thirds would be awarded based on the number of deficient dams within a state compared to all other state applicants.

Former (2001-2002) ASDSO President John Moyle, who heads New Jersey's Bureau of Dam Safety & Flood Control, told committee members of the need for passage of the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act (H.R. 1098), legislation that would authorize funds to repair and rehabilitate the nation's most critical publicly owned dams. The proposed Federal contribution from H.R. 1098 to New Jersey is estimated at $4.4 Million Dollars.

Conclusion
In addition to repair, Dam owners are required to inspect dams for damage and or disrepair. According to New Jersey State Legislature Office of Legislative Services Office of the Auditor, 70% of the State's 1,713 dams are not in compliance with the inspection requirements outlined in NJAC 7:20-1.11. A number of these dams are classified as High Hazard or Significant Hazard . Although this figure raises concern, New Jersey High Hazard dams continue to be a focus for the Bureau of Dam Safety. "Approximately 30 (of 214) High Hazard dam owners need to upgrade their structures to meet minimum engineering and safety standards."

The ASCE grading system based the grading of dams on the percentage of High Hazard and Significant Hazard Dams in need of funding for repair. Of the 214 High Hazard dams in New Jersey only 67 were deficient and only 30 need to secure funding for repair. Of the 400 Significant Hazard dams only 200 were deficient. Based on these figures 62.5% of High Hazard or Significant Hazard dams are in a state of good repair or are funded for repair, constituting a grade of "D". However, The New Jersey Dam Safety program has continued to improve their ability to enforce engineering and safety standards. According to the Bureau of Dam Safety and Flood Control :

The Safe Dam Act was amended in August 2005 to strengthen the Department's enforcement powers by providing administrative penalties and enforcement procedures when dam owners/operators fail to adhere to established safety standards. Penalties for violations may include fines of up to $25,000 per day and/or the removal of the dam.

New rules for implementing this program have been drafted and should be published in the New Jersey Register in January 2008. This should result in an enhanced enforcement program.

Based on the continued pursuit for improved regulation of dams, ASCE assigns a grade of C- to the area of Dams.

 

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