CS23B - Concurrent Session 23B: Emergency Response for Statewide Dams

Abstract Description: The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) owns and maintains 114 regulated dams including 57 Class I dams, with an average age of over 90 years old. Prior to 2012 ODNR limited funding for capital improvement program including for dams. Since that time ODNR‘s Budget has grown significantly with over $500 million in dam rehabilitation projects and provided the foundation for ODNR’s overall Capital Improvement Program with over $2 billion in funding since 2012.

This presentation will focus on ODNR’s experience in dam emergency response and management. While no dam owner wishes to ever manage a dam safety emergency, it is important to establish the necessary team and resources required if an event arises. Through ODNR's dam rehabilitation initiative, ODNR has made efforts to update Emergency Action Plans for all regulated structures. However, preparedness goes beyond the creation of these documents.

ODNR will discuss specific events at Lake White dam, Buckeye Lake State Park, and Mt Gilead State Parks and emergency response procedures developed during these events that incorporated principles from the Incident Command System (ICS) and ultimately allowed ODNR to return these facilities to normal operating conditions. Response to these situations included 24 hour continuous inspections and technical evaluations, coordination with dam safety officials, engineering consultants, contractors, and external stakeholders. Challenges included establishing access to portions of the site, availability of record documents, and communications with required staff and appropriate technical resources.

The presentation will also focus on how these response techniques developed throughout these events provide a common structure that can apply to large and small events and has even been applied to non-dam related response within ODNR. These efforts include staff awareness and training, developing lists of available materials and contractors, pre-aligning staff to proper roles including engineering, finance and office operations, and ultimately establishing incident command with proper roles and responsibilities with internal and external partners.