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| [[Image:IDF2.jpg|350px|x350px|link=https://damfailures.org/lessons-learned/high-and-significant-hazard-dams-should-be-design-to-pass-an-appropriate-design-flood-dams-constructed-prior-to-the-availability-of-extreme-rainfall-data-should-be-assessed-to-make-sure-they-have-ad/]]
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|style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"| All dams need adequate spillway capacity. Learn more at [https://damfailures.org/lessons-learned/high-and-significant-hazard-dams-should-be-design-to-pass-an-appropriate-design-flood-dams-constructed-prior-to-the-availability-of-extreme-rainfall-data-should-be-assessed-to-make-sure-they-have-ad/ this website]
|style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"| All dams need adequate spillway capacity. Learn more at [https://damfailures.org/lessons-learned/high-and-significant-hazard-dams-should-be-design-to-pass-an-appropriate-design-flood-dams-constructed-prior-to-the-availability-of-extreme-rainfall-data-should-be-assessed-to-make-sure-they-have-ad/ DamFailures.org]
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Hydrology is essential not only in the design of a dam, but also in the feasibility study of a dam and in assessments of the dam into the future as the state-of-the-practice evolves. The three main components of flood hydrology, according to the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) are “(1) hydrometeorology related to probable maximum precipitation determinations, (2) probable maximum flood hydrograph determinations, and (3) statistics and probabilities relating to the magnitude and frequency of flood flows”.<ref name="FHM">[[Flood Hydrology Manual | Flood Hydrology Manual, USBR, 1989]]</ref>
Hydrology is essential not only in the design of a dam, but also in the feasibility study of a dam and in assessments of the dam looking to the future as the state-of-the-practice evolves. The three main components of [[Flood Hydrology|flood hydrology]], according to the United States [[Bureau of Reclamation]] (USBR) are “(1) hydrometeorology related to probable maximum [[precipitation]] determinations, (2) probable maximum flood hydrograph determinations, and (3) statistics and probabilities relating to the magnitude and frequency of flood flows”.<ref name="FHM">[[Flood Hydrology Manual | Flood Hydrology Manual, USBR, 1989]]</ref>


“One of the most common causes of dam failures is the inability to safely pass flood flows. Failures caused by hydrologic conditions can range from sudden failure, with complete breaching or collapse of the dam, to gradual failure, with progressive erosion and partial breaching”.<ref name="FEMA94">[[Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams (FEMA P-94) | FEMA P-94 Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety: Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams, FEMA, 2013]]</ref> Therefore, hydrologic studies are among the most important sources of information when it comes to dam safety.  
“One of the most common causes of dam failures is the inability to safely pass flood flows. Failures caused by hydrologic conditions can range from sudden failure, with complete breaching or collapse of the dam, to gradual failure, with progressive erosion and partial breaching”.<ref name="FEMA94">[[Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams (FEMA P-94) | Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety: Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams (FEMA P-94), FEMA, 2013]]</ref> Therefore, hydrologic studies are among the most important sources of information when it comes to dam safety.  


==Hydrologic Design Criteria==
==Hydrologic Design Criteria==
“Selection of an Inflow Design Flood (IDF) for a new dam or a dam undergoing significant modifications should taken into account both current conditions and reasonably anticipated future development. Development within the upstream watershed can cause increased runoff and peak flows, while development within the downstream inundation area can alter hazard potential classification and specific estimates of consequences of hydrologic events… When the cost of more detailed methods such as incremental consequence analysis, a site-specific probable maximum precipitation study, or risk-informed hydrologic hazard analysis is prohibitive, prescriptive IDF criteria for High, Significant, and Low Hazard dams are recommended”.<ref name="FEMA94" />
“Selection of an [[Inflow Design Flood]] (IDF) for a new dam or a dam undergoing significant modifications should take into account both current conditions and reasonably anticipated future development. Development within the upstream watershed can cause increased runoff and peak flows, while development within the downstream inundation area can alter [[Hazard Potential Classification|hazard potential classification]] and specific estimates of consequences of hydrologic events… When the cost of more detailed methods such as incremental [[Consequence Analysis|consequence analysis]], a [[Inflow_Design_Flood#Site-Specific_PMP_Study_Approach|site-specific probable maximum precipitation study]], or risk-informed hydrologic hazard analysis is prohibitive, prescriptive IDF criteria for High, Significant, and Low Hazard dams are recommended”.<ref name="FEMA94" />
 
The applicability and acceptability of various hydrologic methods varies widely across the US. Familiarity with the primary runoff generating mechanisms based on the geology, topography, meteorology, and seasonality of the region are paramount to inflow design flood determination. Guidelines and regulations related to hydrologic methods and the inflow design flow also vary based on regulatory jurisdiction.


==Types of Evaluations==
==Types of Evaluations==
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* [[Flood Conditions]]
* [[Flood Conditions]]
* [[Sedimentation]]
* [[Sedimentation]]
* [[Groundwater]]
* [[Unusual or Changing Conditions in a Watershed]]
* [[Unusual or Changing Conditions in a Watershed]]
A critical aspect of any [[engineering]] analysis is communication. There are a variety of hydrologic modeling approaches and methodologies, and it is important to owners, consultants, and regulators that clear communication is integrated in the process. General guidance and recommendations regarding both pre- and post-modeling communication are provided on this page: [[Modeling Communication]]. Items specific to hydrologic analysis that should be considered in advance of any modeling effort are summarized here: [[Pre-Modeling Communication: Hydrologic Model Considerations]].


==Examples==
==Examples==
{{Website Icon}} High and significant hazard dams should be designed to pass an appropriate design flood. Dams constructed prior to the availability of extreme rainfall data should be assessed to make sure they have adequate spillway capacity. Learn more at [https://damfailures.org/lessons-learned/high-and-significant-hazard-dams-should-be-design-to-pass-an-appropriate-design-flood-dams-constructed-prior-to-the-availability-of-extreme-rainfall-data-should-be-assessed-to-make-sure-they-have-ad/ DamFailures.org]
{{Website Icon}} [https://damfailures.org/lessons-learned/high-and-significant-hazard-dams-should-be-design-to-pass-an-appropriate-design-flood-dams-constructed-prior-to-the-availability-of-extreme-rainfall-data-should-be-assessed-to-make-sure-they-have-ad/ High and significant hazard dams should be designed to pass an appropriate design flood. Dams constructed prior to the availability of extreme rainfall data should be assessed to make sure they have adequate spillway capacity. Learn more at DamFailures.org]
 
==Best Practices Resources==
==Best Practices Resources==
{{Document Icon}} [[Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 2- Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams|Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 2- Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)]]
{{Document Icon}} [[Technical Release 210-60: Earth Dams and Reservoirs | Technical Release 210-60: Earth Dams and Reservoirs, NRCS]]
{{Document Icon}} [[Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams (FEMA P-94)|Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams (Federal Emergency Management Agency)]]
{{Document Icon}} [[Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 2- Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams | Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 2- Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams, FERC]]
{{Document Icon}} [[Technical Release 210-60: Earth Dams and Reservoirs|Technical Release 210-60: Earth Dams and Reservoirs (Natural Resources Conservation Service)]]
{{Document Icon}} [[Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams (FEMA P-94) | Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams (FEMA P-94), FEMA]]
{{Document Icon}} [[Design Standards No. 14: Appurtenant Structures for Dams (Ch. 2: Hydrologic Considerations)|Design Standards No. 14: Appurtenant Structures for Dams (Ch. 2: Hydrologic Considerations) (Bureau of Reclamation)]]
{{Document Icon}} [[Design Standards No. 14: Appurtenant Structures for Dams (Ch. 2: Hydrologic Considerations) | Design Standards No. 14: Appurtenant Structures for Dams (Ch. 2: Hydrologic Considerations), USBR]]
{{Document Icon}} [[Flood Hydrology Manual|Flood Hydrology Manual (Bureau of Reclamation)]]
{{Document Icon}} [[Flood Hydrology Manual | Flood Hydrology Manual, USBR]]
{{Document Icon}} [[Hydrologic Engineering Requirements for Reservoirs (EM 1110-2-1420)|Hydrologic Engineering Requirements for Reservoirs (EM 1110-2-1420) (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)]]
{{Document Icon}} [[Hydrologic Engineering Requirements for Reservoirs (EM 1110-2-1420) | Hydrologic Engineering Requirements for Reservoirs (EM 1110-2-1420), USACE]]
 
==Trainings==
==Trainings==
{{Video Icon}} [[On-Demand Webinar: Hydrology 101 for Dam Safety]]
{{Video Icon}} [[On-Demand Webinar: Hydrology 101 for Dam Safety]]
{{Video Icon}} [[On-Demand Webinar: Hydrology 201 for Dam Safety]]
{{Video Icon}} [[On-Demand Webinar: Hydrology 201 for Dam Safety]]
{{Website Icon}} [[Technical Seminar: HEC-HMS with Application to Dam Safety]]


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Latest revision as of 19:45, 27 August 2024


All dams need adequate spillway capacity. Learn more at DamFailures.org

Hydrology is essential not only in the design of a dam, but also in the feasibility study of a dam and in assessments of the dam looking to the future as the state-of-the-practice evolves. The three main components of flood hydrology, according to the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) are “(1) hydrometeorology related to probable maximum precipitation determinations, (2) probable maximum flood hydrograph determinations, and (3) statistics and probabilities relating to the magnitude and frequency of flood flows”.[1]

“One of the most common causes of dam failures is the inability to safely pass flood flows. Failures caused by hydrologic conditions can range from sudden failure, with complete breaching or collapse of the dam, to gradual failure, with progressive erosion and partial breaching”.[2] Therefore, hydrologic studies are among the most important sources of information when it comes to dam safety.

Hydrologic Design Criteria

“Selection of an Inflow Design Flood (IDF) for a new dam or a dam undergoing significant modifications should take into account both current conditions and reasonably anticipated future development. Development within the upstream watershed can cause increased runoff and peak flows, while development within the downstream inundation area can alter hazard potential classification and specific estimates of consequences of hydrologic events… When the cost of more detailed methods such as incremental consequence analysis, a site-specific probable maximum precipitation study, or risk-informed hydrologic hazard analysis is prohibitive, prescriptive IDF criteria for High, Significant, and Low Hazard dams are recommended”.[2]

The applicability and acceptability of various hydrologic methods varies widely across the US. Familiarity with the primary runoff generating mechanisms based on the geology, topography, meteorology, and seasonality of the region are paramount to inflow design flood determination. Guidelines and regulations related to hydrologic methods and the inflow design flow also vary based on regulatory jurisdiction.

Types of Evaluations

A critical aspect of any engineering analysis is communication. There are a variety of hydrologic modeling approaches and methodologies, and it is important to owners, consultants, and regulators that clear communication is integrated in the process. General guidance and recommendations regarding both pre- and post-modeling communication are provided on this page: Modeling Communication. Items specific to hydrologic analysis that should be considered in advance of any modeling effort are summarized here: Pre-Modeling Communication: Hydrologic Model Considerations.

Examples

High and significant hazard dams should be designed to pass an appropriate design flood. Dams constructed prior to the availability of extreme rainfall data should be assessed to make sure they have adequate spillway capacity. Learn more at DamFailures.org

Best Practices Resources

Technical Release 210-60: Earth Dams and Reservoirs, NRCS

Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 2- Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams, FERC

Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams (FEMA P-94), FEMA

Design Standards No. 14: Appurtenant Structures for Dams (Ch. 2: Hydrologic Considerations), USBR

Flood Hydrology Manual, USBR

Hydrologic Engineering Requirements for Reservoirs (EM 1110-2-1420), USACE

Trainings

On-Demand Webinar: Hydrology 101 for Dam Safety

On-Demand Webinar: Hydrology 201 for Dam Safety

Technical Seminar: HEC-HMS with Application to Dam Safety


Citations:


Revision ID: 8037
Revision Date: 08/27/2024