Safety Evaluation and Visual Inspection
of Existing Dams International Technical
Seminar and Study Tour
August 20-28, 2012
of Existing Dams International Technical
Seminar and Study Tour
August 20-28, 2012
Introduction/Seminar Objectives In most countries throughout the world, interest in the safety of dams has risen significantly in recent years. Aging dams, new hydrologic information, and population growth in floodplain areas downstream from dams has resulted in an increased emphasis on dam safety evaluation as well as operation and maintenance related to the safety of dams.
Those responsible for the safety of existing dams must implement policies and procedures that warrant public confidence. This demands professional practices that incorporate the lessons of the past and conform to the most advanced technical state-of-the-art. The need for trained personnel is essential. This seminar will provide professional personnel with a comprehensive guide to establishing or enhancing a visual inspection/evaluation program and increase the technical capabilities of those responsible for safety evaluations.
Bureau of Reclamation officials will provide the training for the seminar. Reclamation is responsible for the proper operation, maintenance, and structural safety of more than 400 dams and distribution systems. Reclamation has conducted similar seminars for its own staff, as well as for more than 5,000 technical and administrative officials from other domestic and international agencies.
Seminar Topics The first portion of the seminar will take place in Denver, Colorado, and will consist primarily of classroom presentations and discussions. A tour of the Bureau of Reclamation Research Laboratories will also be featured. Lectures, case histories, and structured discussions covering all aspects of a dam safety examination program are led by Reclamation engineers or geologists with extensive experience and knowledge in the areas of design, construction, operation, maintenance, and dam safety. The course outlines the hydrologic, seismic, geotechnical, electrical, mechanical and structural considerations of dam safety as well as operation, maintenance, surveillance, and emergency preparedness. Presentations, case histories, and a walk-through abbreviated examination are used to present the multi-discipline approach to an effective safety of dams program.
Site Visits The post session site visits from August 24-27, will take participants to Green Mountain Dam and Granby Dam, located in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. A simulated examination will take place at one of these facilities. The study tour will conclude in Nevada with a special tour of Hoover Dam.
Green Mountain Dam - Green Mountain Dam is on the western slope, 21 kilometers (13 miles) southeast of Kremmling, Colorado, on the Blue River, a tributary of the Colorado. The dam is an earthfill structure, 94 meters high (309 feet), with a crest length of 350 meters (1,150 feet). The reservoir has a total capacity of 190 million cubic meters (154,000 acre-feet). The powerplant has two units with a total installed generating capacity of 21,600 kilowatts.
Granby Dam - Granby Dam is located on the Colorado River about 9.6 kilometers (6 miles) northeast of Granby, Colorado. It collects and stores most of the project water supply, including the flow of the Colorado River and water pumped from Willow Creek. The dam is constructed of compacted earthfill 91 meters high (298 feet), with a crest length of 262 meters (861 feet). There are 3,877 meters (12,722 feet) of auxiliary dikes. The reservoir has a capacity of 666 million cubic meters (539,800 acre-feet).
Hoover Dam - Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, spanning the Arizona-Nevada state line, are located in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River about 56 kilometers (35 miles) southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a concrete thick-arch structure, 221 meters high (726.4 feet) and 379 meters long (1,244 feet). The dam contains 2.48 million cubic meters (3.25 million cubic yards) of concrete; total concrete in the dam and appurtenant works is 3.36 million cubic meters (4.4 million cubic yards). Built during the Depression; thousands of men and their families came to Black Canyon to tame the Colorado River. It took less than five years, in a harsh and barren land, to build the largest dam of its time. Now, years later, Hoover Dam still stands as a world-renowned structure. The Dam is a National Historic Landmark and has been rated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of America's Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders.
Who Should Attend The seminar is designed for managers, administrators, engineers, and geologists responsible for the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and safety of dams. Policymakers and planners, as well as those with technical responsibilities, may also benefit from the seminar. All presentations, discussions, and printed materials will be in the English language. Participants should have a good command of general and technical English usage.
Costs and Registration The registration fee is U.S. $3800 per person. Various printed and electronic materials, lodging for 9 nights (August 19-27), most breakfast and lunches and transportation during the study tour are included. Hotel accommodations will be arranged by Reclamation and participants are expected to stay in selected hotels. Any miscellaneous costs such as laundry, telephone usage, etc. will be at the participant’s own expense.
It is strongly recommended that individuals apply as soon as possible for visas and seek sponsorship, if necessary. Funding is not available from the seminar organizers. Please submit a legible copy of your passport with your registration form.
Payment should accompany the registration form Checks should be in U.S. dollars and made payable to the Bureau of Reclamation. Credit card payments, which is the preferred method of payment, and wire transfers are acceptable (see registration form). The registration form must be received before August 10, 2012. Due to contractual arrangements with hotels and airlines any registration forms received after August 10, 2012, will incur a registration fee of $4,000.
International travel should be arranged into Denver,Colorado, no later than Sunday, August 19, 2012, and out of Las Vegas, Nevada, no earlier than Tuesday August 28, 2012.
Climate/Clothing Suggestions/Medical Insurance Participants should expect warm days and cool nights whereby a light-weight jacket may be necessary. Casual clothing and work boots/sturdy closed-toed shoes are required on field tours. Accidental injury/medical emergency insurance is strongly recommended and should be purchased prior to traveling to the United States. Reclamation is not financially responsible for any illnesses or injuries that may be incurred by participants. Please refer to the following website for reference. http://www.medexassist.com/Individuals/Products/travmedchoice.aspx
Further Information For additional information, contact International Affairs - Denver, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 25007, Denver, Colorado 80225, telephone 1-303-445-2127 or 1-303-445-2139, fax 1-303-445-6322, e-mail inquiries to Lprincipe@usbr.gov (Leanna Principe) or Amedina@usbr.gov (Angela Medina). Information contained in this announcement can also be located at www.usbr.gov/international.
Last updated: 4/25/12