Examples of Dam Incidents

Dam Inspection

Any dam inspection that identifies an unsatisfactory condition at a dam, exclusive of ordinary maintenance and repair.

Dam Safety Modification

Any change intended to improve the safety of the dam or its appurtenances (e.g., upgrade a spillway to pass the Inflow Design Flood).

Dam Breach

Any event leading to the breach of a dam (controlled or uncontrolled).

Misoperation

Operation error such as the failure to open a spillway gate as required by operating procedures.

Earthquake

Performance of dams (satisfactory or unsatisfactory) during a nearby seismic event of magnitude 5 or greater.

For more information on dam incidents, see:

• Guidance for Determining if a Dam Incident Has Occurred, or
• The Guidelines, Reporting Basics

Back to the Reporting Dam Incidents Page

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