Division of Water Supply

  Safe Dams Program

Click here to hear Safe Dams Program Public Service Announcement

The Division of Water Supply’s Safe Dams Program is responsible for conducting inspections, plans reviews, and permitting of dams and reservoir projects as required in the Safe Dams Act of 1973. The purpose of the program is to protect the public from dam failures. All non-federal dam owners are required to have a certificate of approval from the Commissioner to construct, alter, remove, or operate a dam.

Safe Dam Program responsibilities include:

  » Inspect dams to insure stability and the ability to withstand storm events

  » Issue or deny certificates for construction, alteration, removal, or operation of dams

  » Assess civil penalties for violations of the Safe Dams Act and to institute court proceedings as necessary to enforce the Act.

  » Hear appeals from orders issued, certificates denied or suspended, etc.

  » Request that the governor declare a state of emergency, if necessary, and take whatever actions needed to render a dam safe.

Construction, alteration, or removal of non-federal dams may also require other environmental permits, such as an ARAP (Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit), Storm Water Runoff, Corps of Engineers 404, or TVA 26a permit, even if the dam is not subject to the Safe Dams Act. If you have any question about whether or not an activity you wish to pursue requires a permit, contact the environmental program that you think may have permitting authority over the activity you wish to do.