Inspections

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“Inspections of installed practices are necessary to ensure that they are functioning properly and safely. Inspections shall accomplish the following:

• "Assess performance of the practice;
• "Determine compliance with the O&M Plan;
• "Assess the adequacy of previous O&M activities;
• "Identify O&M needs;
• "Identify conditions that may threaten life and property;
• "Identify any changed conditions that may affect the hazard classification; and
• "Develop a schedule to address O&M needs”.

Types of Inspection

"Four types of inspections may be required over the life of a practice:

1. "Monitoring of all practices should be routinely conducted to observe operation and assess performance. On-site monitoring may be accomplished by anyone, including landowners, operators, O&M personnel, and NRCS personnel.
2. "Special inspections shall be made during or immediately following the occurrence of major events such as floods, earthquakes, vandalism, and the initial filling of a reservoir.
3. "Annual inspections shall be performed on all structural practices to determine if they are functioning as designed. For ‘significant’ and ‘high’ hazard dams, a qualified engineer shall assist with the annual inspection and sign/certify the inspection report for at least each of the first 3 years after the structure is installed and accepted by NRCS. The downstream floodplain that could be inundated by the failure of all ‘low’ and ‘significant’ hazard dams shall be evaluated at least once every 5 years to determine the current hazard classification.
4. "Formal inspections shall be conducted under the leadership of a qualified engineer at least once every 5 years for ‘significant’ and ‘high’ hazard dams and class I and II dikes. The State Conservationist shall determine if inspections are required for other potentially hazardous practices”.

Frequency of Inspections

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Regulatory Requirements

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Examples

Best Practices Resources

National Operation and Maintenance Manual: For Conservation Practices Installed with NRCS Assistance

Trainings

Citations:

Revision ID: 2467
Revision Date: 09/07/2022