FLOOD05666 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Colorado Dam Failure Hazard reside in dam inundation zones. Until this has been accomplished risk levels will remain unacceptably high. Dam failure hazard awareness and mitigation plan- ning can best be undertaken locally with state assis- tance. Both should be tailored to address the hazard and capability conditions that exist locally. State agencies and organizations can coordinate and sup- port hazard mitigation strategies and proposals but, in the end, projects must be directed and sponsored lo- cally. State assistance should be channeled through local preparedness officials. Public education and planning efforts can be developed and coordinated to- gether, allowing maximum opportunity for public par- ticipation and governmental cooperation. Local radio stations, newspapers and brochures are the best media to reach and influence the population most affected by the dam safety issue. Public service announcement tapes, brochures and articles for local newspapers can be developed by state (including uni- versity) staffs and then modified by local officials for presentation by them to the media. Important hazard awareness targets include: a residents of inundation zones, [J the emergency management community, educators and students, a lending institutions, insurance agencies and real- tors, a businesses, volunteer relief agencies, past victims, disabled citizens and many others. Also, state as- sistance to local governments can encourage inter- jurisdictional and interagency participation. Publicizing progress in some localities across the state can help influence slower rrwving entities. State efforts to implement nonstructural mitigation measures should focus on high risk inundation areas. Any entity exposed to high hazard dams classified as unsatisfactory or conditionally satisfactory by the State Engineer should receive priority attention from state and local planners. Although the State Engineer has implemented structural mitigation measures at these dams, it is impossible to eliminate all risks to public safety. High priority communities may have: a large numbers of Class I (high) and Class II (rrwderate) hazard dams; a a chain reaction dam failure hazard, i.e., several dams situated so that the failure of anyone dam could result in others being overtopped and thus increasing the overall hazard; [J exposure to conditionally satisfactory dams or un- satisfactory dams until they have been improved and upgraded to satisfactory under Colorculo's Dam Safety Program. LIABILITY OF DAM OWNERS Article 87 - Reservoirs 37-87-104. Liability of owners for damage. - -(3) (a) No stockholder, officer, or member of a board of directors of a reservoir shall be liable for any personal injury or property damage resulting from water escaping from such reservoir or as a result of the failure or partial failure of the structure or structures forming such res- ervoir for which the owner shall have been found liable if a valid liability insurance policy, or adequate substi- tute as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (3), has been purchased by the owner of the reservoir and is in effect at the time such damage occurs. Such insur- ance policy shall insure against damages and provide coverage in an amount of lJIlt It:JuL than tiff", thnu. .azul dollars fJH:. aM:b. claim and in an aggregate amount of lJIlt ka than fiVl~ hundred l:1uuuand dol. hJca for all elai""" which arise out of any 1lII'- i~i. dmt. (b) An adequate substitute for such insurance may be in the form of: (1) A good and sufficient bond, in an equal amount to such recovery limitations duly executed by a qualified corporate surety approved by the commissioner of in- surance, conditioned upon the payment by the entity or person who owns, controls, or operates a water stor. age reservoir of any valid and fmaljudgement for dam- ages imposed within the judgement limitations established in this subsection (3). In view of the continuing hazard created by dams in Colorado, there is an urgent need to stimulate public awareness and local planning. Although public awareness cannot itself make dams safer, it can im- prove overall dam safety. When the magnitude of the threat is realized, public officials and citizens may find the motivation to produce the plans and exercise programs needed to improve overall safety. 9