Implementation of risk analysis principles into the bureau of reclamation's dam safety program actions

Reclamation is the owner of 378 high and significant hazard dams in the 17 western states. More than 50 percent of the inventory is more than 50 years old. As structures age, continued safe performance becomes a greater concern. Reclamation places great reliance on recurring and ongoing dam safety activities to detect, intervene, and effectively respond to dam safety incidents. While Reclamation has previously used risk analysis approaches for the evaluation of potential economic losses, the agency is now implementing regular use of risk analysis approaches to identify, evaluate, and manage issues involving the personal safety of the public. Risk analysis provides a systematic approach to the prediction of the likelihood of how the structure will perform, not just an assessment of how they were designed to perform. Risk analysis approaches to assess dam safety is not a new idea. The Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety in 1978 encouraged the development of risk-based approaches. However, the implementation of risk analysis in Reclamation has had its challenges as would any change in a large organization. As an organization we continue to grow and develop an increased understanding of risk analysis as a risk management tool in a variety of programmatic areas. The implementation of risk analysis approaches has identified many areas where additional information or research is needed to improve our understanding of probable loads, likelihood of response, and the identification of potential consequences. Reclamation has been pursuing many of these issues to improve our risk management through workshops and research with noted industry experts and practitioners. Risk analysis has already provided benefits to Reclamation in the justification of risk reduction actions performed to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and to the public.