ASDSO is a national non-profit organization serving state dam safety programs and the broader dam safety community to improve the condition and safety of dams through education and support for state dam safety programs. Largely focused on dams for flood protection, water supply, hydropower, irrigation.
These guidelines encourage strict safety standards in the practices and procedures employed by federal agencies or required of dam owners regulated by the federal agencies. The guidelines provide the most complete and authoritative statement available of the desired management practices for promoting dam safety and the welfare of the public. The guidelines apply to federal practices for dams with a direct federal interest; the guidelines do not attempt to establish technical standards and are not intended to supplant or confict with state or local government responsibilities for the safety of dams under their jurisdiction.
There is great variance in the effectiveness of state dam safety programs. Although some of this variance may be appropriate as each state must address its dam safety needs and responsibilities in its own way, some state programs are not considered adequate. Many unsafe dams also have been identifed and any required remedial action has not been implemented. The Model State Dam Safety Program was frst developed in 1987, updated in 1997, and updated again in 2006 to assist state offcials in initiating or improving their state programs. The document outlines the key components of an effective dam safety program and provides guidance on the development of more effective and sustainable state programs to eliminate the risks created by unsafe dams.