Putting Dams in OrderA Program for Comprehensive Identification and Prioritization of Dam Management Actions

Cathy Marcinkevage AECOM EnvironmentEBC Dam Program Series: Dam Removal and River RestorationJuly 16, 2009

Don Kretchmer, Matt Kennedy, Theresa McGovern AECOM EnvironmentChad Cox GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.Jason Benoit Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

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3AECOM Environment

Introduction

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation dam inventory: ~300 dams

DCR-owned Dams

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4AECOM Environment

Objective

Prioritize Capital Repairs

DamMAP• Dam Multi-Use Assessment Project

• Screening-level prioritization methodology

Enhancement Actions

Repair and Maintenanc

e

Hydropower RetrofitFish

PassageRemoval Recreation

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5AECOM Environment

Matrix Development

Office of Dam Safety Database

Formal Dam Safety Inspection Reports;

Database Data

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6AECOM Environment

Matrix DevelopmentGIS Data

Department of Conservation and RecreationDam Locations

Ü

0 10 205 Miles

DCR Dam - Non-Water Supply

Town Boundary

National Hydrography Dataset Stream

"

Major Watershed Boundary

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7AECOM Environment

GIS DataQueries with other layers to find out if the dam or impoundment is…

…in a stressed basin? Mass DEP Stressed Basin

…impaired for water quality? Integrated List of Waters (303(d) /305(b))

…historically significant? State Register of Historic Places

…in an urban watershed? MassGIS Land Use

…in sensitive habitat? ACEC, NHESP Priority Habitats of Rare Species and Core Habitats

Matrix Development

DATA

DAM CHARACTERISTIC

S

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8AECOM Environment

Matrix DevelopmentAgency and Outside Consultation

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9AECOM Environment

Matrix EvaluationRisk | Human Uses & Services | Environmental Effects

Engineering risk

Probability of failure

Consequences of failure= *

Developed by GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

DamRisk Index Age

Spillway Capacity Condition

Hazard Classificatio

nDownstream

Risks

Crooked Pond Dam 70 31 100% Good Significant Light Population

Centennial Dam 2480 15 39% Poor High Critical Area

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10AECOM Environment

Risk | Human Uses & Services | Environmental Effects

Commercial/ IndustrialSocietalPublic

SafetyRecreation

DamLake Species in Impoundment

Park Fishing Area

F&W Bass Fishing Area

Lake Fishing Score

Bass Lake Dam Yes Yes Yes 10

No Fish Dam No No No 0

Matrix Evaluation

Dam Historic Site Within Historic District Historic Score

Historic Dam Yes Yes 10

Modern Dam No No 0

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11AECOM Environment

Risk | Human Uses & Services | Environmental Effects

Ecological FunctionHabitat

Instream Flow

Dam

Anadromous Species in Watershed

Passage Structure

Rating

Barriers to Anadromous Fish

Passage

Fish Passage

Score

Barrier Dam Yes Ineffective Barrier 10

Freeflowing Dam Yes Effective No Barrier 0

Matrix Evaluation

Dam% Urban >

10%% Urban >

25%Dam Height >

5 ftDam Height >

15 ft

Sediment Quantity

Score

Large Storage Dam Yes Yes Yes Yes 10

Small Storage Dam Yes No Yes No 7

DegradationBiodiversity

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12AECOM Environment

Priority Lists for Enhancement Actions

Aquatic Habitat

Fish Passage Impact

Flood Control

Flow Augmentation Potential

Habitat Fragmentation Impact

Lake Fisheries

Migratory Fish Impact

Minimum Flow Requirements

Public/Private Abutter Issues

Risk Index

Riverine Fisheries

Sediment Quality

Sediment Quantity

Thermal Impacts

Threatened & Endangered Species

Wetlands

Aquatic Habitat

Fish Passage Impact

Flow Augmentation Potential

Historic Value

Hydropower Potential

Lake Fisheries

Lake Fishing

Migratory Fish Impact

Minimum Flow Requirements

Public/Private Abutter Issues

Risk Index

River Boating

River Fishing

Riverine Fisheries

Wetlands

Repair and Maintenanc

e

Hydropower RetrofitFish

PassageRemoval Recreation

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13AECOM Environment

Priority Lists for Enhancement Actions

Dam RM1

Dam RM2

Dam RM3

Dam RM4

Dam RM5

Dam RM6

Dam RM7

Dam RM8

Dam RM9

Dam RM10

Repair and Maintenanc

e

Hydropower RetrofitFish

PassageRemoval Recreation

Dam Re1

Dam Re2

Dam Re3

Dam Re4

Dam Re5

Dam Re6

Dam Re7

Dam Re8

Dam Re9

Dam Re10

Dam Pass1

Dam Pass2

Dam Pass3

Dam Pass4

Dam Pass5

Dam Pass6

Dam Pass7

Dam Pass8

Dam Pass9

Dam Pass10

Dam Hyd1

Dam Hyd2

Dam Hyd3

Dam Hyd4

Dam Hyd5

Dam Hyd6

Dam Hyd7

Dam Hyd8

Dam Hyd9

Dam Hyd10

Dam Rec1

Dam Rec2

Dam Rec3

Dam Rec4

Dam Rec5

Dam Rec6

Dam Rec7

Dam Rec8

Dam Rec9

Dam Rec10

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14AECOM Environment

Removal Candidate Characteristics

High Risk

Riverine Fisheries Potential

Impede Fish Passage

Fragment Habitat

Small Impoundments

Minimum Flow Deficiencies

No Flood Control

No Water Supply

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15AECOM Environment

Secondary Outputs

Dam Groups• Low-head, High-hazard

• Condition

• Passage

Data Needs• Collection

• Updates

Stakeholder Identification

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16AECOM Environment

Applications