DCR Dam Safety Guidance Documents

Below are guidance documents related to regulations and the administration of the Virginia Dam Safety Program.

Agricultural Exemption Requirements
Credits and Refunds of Dam Safety Certificate Application Fees
Dam Break Inundation Zone Modeling and Mapping Procedures (Revised June 28, 2018, and Sept. 27, 2018)
Dam Safety Owner's Handbook, Second Edition - under revision*
Design and Use of Devices to Lower the Reservoir Water Level
Determination of Insurance Levels in Accordance with §10.1-605 of the Code of Virginia
Guidance Document on New Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) Implementation
Guidance Document on the Use of Overtopping Protection Systems on Existing Dams
Impounding Structure Hazard Classification Procedures
Impounding Structure Ownership
Roadways on or Below Impounding Structures Policy
Virginia Dam Safety Program Enforcement Manual
Emergency Action and Preparedness Plans

* The March 2014 version of the Dam Safety Owner's Handbook is out-of-date and should not be used for reference. Instead, we recommend you access the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) Dam Toolbox at https://damtoolbox.org/wiki/Main_Page.

There is no charge to access the site and most federal dam safety references are included therein and the site is regularly maintained.