California Increases Dam Inspection Standards

California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation that will increase dam inspection standards in the wake of the Oroville Dam spillway failure in February 2017. Assembly Bill 1270 requires the California Department of Water Resources to annually inspect the vast majority of the 1,249 dams it oversees. Dams with low hazard potential would need to be inspected every other year.

According to The Sacramento Bee, inspections would be required to investigate major structural features and be available to the public. To prevent further incidents such as last years spillway failure, spillway control features will be tested each year and state inspectors must witness the tests at least every three years. The Department of Water Resources also must consult with independent experts and update its safety protocols every 10 years.

The spillway at the base of the country’s tallest dam was damaged in February 2017 when unexpectedly heavy rains caused the dam to overflow. Unanticipated leaks in the spillways, intended to protect communities in the case of overflow, lead to the emergency evacuation of 200,000 citizens and considerable damage to the flawed infrastructure.