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<br />policies of the State Engineer are assigned to the dam safety engineers in each division, The <br />number of inspections to be performed is related to the number of dams in each division and <br />their hazard class. Included in these numbers is the annual inspection of all Class I, one-half of <br />the Class 2, and about one-sixth of the Class 3 dams, Subsequent follow-up and problem solving <br />meetings with dam owners result in additional inspections each year. <br /> <br />In order to track potential problems that could develop at Class 3 dams, the dam safety engineers <br />assign dams to be observed by the division's water commissioners and they file an observation <br />report, The report is reviewed and then furnished to the owner for their information and to <br />implement any recommendations for repair and maintenance. A copy of the Water <br />Commissioner Dam Observation Report form is included in Appendix E, <br /> <br />During FY 02-03, a total of approximately 573 safety inspections and approximately 233 <br />construction inspections were conducted for a total of 806 inspections. In addition, <br />approximately 178 follow-up inspections were made. The safety inspections included 237 Class <br />I (High hazard), 190 Class 2 (Significant hazard), 142 Class 3 (Low hazard), 2 Class 4 (No <br />hazard), and 2 (other) dams. Although slightly less dam inspections were performed in FY 02- <br />03 than in FY 01-02, significantly more construction inspections were performed. The increased <br />construction inspections were due to the increased construction activity this year generated by <br />generally lower reservoir levels as a result of the drought conditions. The lower reservoir levels <br />afforded many dam owners the opportunity to construct repairs to their dams without the need of <br />additional draining their already lower reservoirs, The combined safety inspections and <br />construction inspections in FY 02-03 resulted in an overall increase in the workload performed <br />by the dam safety staff. This additional workload was incorporated into the overall schedules of <br />the staff. No additional staff was added as a result of the increased workload. <br /> <br />For inspections of federally-owned and FERC-regulated dams that the State Engineer's Office <br />does not participate in, the reports prepared by the federal agencies are received and reviewed. <br /> <br />3.4 Staff Training <br /> <br />A critical element in the Dam Safety Program is the continued training of our personnel to <br />maintain a high level of technical competency, to keep up with changing technology, to develop <br />additional management and communication skills, and to keep abreast of changes in the <br />development of dam safety programs across the country. The following training opportunities <br />were achieved this fiscal year: <br /> <br />1, ASDSO Annual Conference, Dam Safety 2002, Tampa Bay (attended by one dam <br />safety engineer and the Deputy State Engineer); <br /> <br />2, U ,S, Bureau of Reclamation, Safety Evaluation of Existing Dams Seminar, Denver <br />(attended by one dam safety engineer); <br /> <br />3. ASDSO Western Regional Conference and Technical Seminar, Plan Review and <br />Construction Inspection of Dams, Salt Lake City (attended by one dam safety <br />engineer); <br /> <br />11 <br />