ExpertGlossary

In hydrologic terms, any artificial barrier which impounds or diverts water. The dam is generally hydrologically significant if it is:

1. 25 feet or more in height from the natural bed of the stream and has a storage of at least 15 acre-feet.

2. Or has an impounding capacity of 50 acre-feet or more and is at least six feet above the natural bed of the stream.

1 - Lead to a failure or malfunction reulting in an uncontrolled release of stored water that would place the downstream population potentially at risk or;

2 - Compromise the agency's ability to detect developing adverse dam performance and prudently respond to that performance.