DAM BREACH / HAZARD CLASS ANALYSIS

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DAM BREACH / HAZARD CLASS ANALYSIS

• Warren Johnson, P.E.
• Civil Engineer
• Frederick, Maryland

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Dam Classification

• Structure Hazard Classification - Documentation
  of the classification of dams is required.
• Documentation is to include but is not limited to
  location and description of dam, configuration of
  the valley, description of existing development
  (houses, utilities, highways, railroads, farm or
  commercial buildings, and other pertinent
  improvements), potential for future development,
  and recommended classification.

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Dam Classification Documentation

• Qmax discharge.
• Description of Dam.
• Description of all roads, structures and
  utilities down stream of pond.
• Map showing pond, downstream structures, cross
  section locations and proposed breach wave.
• All appropriate, routing, computations and
  supporting cross sections.
• Conclusion.

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Dam Classification

• The class (a, b, and c) as contained in
  this document is related to the potential hazard
  to life and property that might result from a
  sudden major breach of the earth embankment.
• The classification of a dam is the responsibility
  of the designer, and subject to review and
  concurrence of the approving authority.

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Dam Classification

• The classification of a dam is determined only by
  the potential hazard from failure, not by the
  criteria. Classification factors in the NRCS -
  National Engineering Manual, as supplemented, are
  given below
• Class a - Structures located in rural,
  agricultural or urban areas dedicated to remain
  in flood tolerant usage where failure may damage
  non-inhabited buildings, agricultural land,
  floodplains or county roads.

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Dam Classification

• Class b - Structures located in rural,
  agricultural, or urban areas where failure may
  damage isolated homes, main highways or minor
  railroads or cause interruption of use or service
  of relatively important public utilities.
• Class c - Structures located where failure may
  cause loss of life or serious damage to homes,
  industrial and commercial buildings, important
  public utilities, main highways, or railroads.

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Dam Breach

• NRCS uses a Sunny-day breach approach.
• Increased likelihood of people down stream.
• Conservative discharge on small structures.

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Dam Failure Methods for Small Dams

• Use Breach Equation to determine Breach Flows
• Determine Downstream Flood Depths
• Simple approach, Mannings formula with
  downstream cross sections
• HECRAS Model
• Stop Danger Reach when hazard no longer exists

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Dam Breach

• The minimum peak discharge of the breach
  hydrograph, regardless of the techniques used to
  analyze the downstream inundation area, is as
  follows
• Qmax 3.2 Hw2.5 where, Qmax the peak breach
  discharge, cfs.
• Hw depth of water at the dam at the time of
  failure, feet. This is measured to the crest of
  the emergency spillway or to design high water,
  if no emergency spillway exists. Use nonstorm
  conditions downstream of the dam.

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Dam Breach
Emergency Spillway or DHW Elevation
Hw
Existing Ground
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Dam Breach
Emergency Spillway or DHW Elevation
Excavate for Barrel
Hw
Existing Ground
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Dam Breach
Emergency Spillway or DHW Elevation
Hw
Existing Ground
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Dam Breach
Emergency Spillway or DHW Elevation
Hw
Existing Ground
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Dam Breach
Where breach analysis has indicated that only
overtopping of downstream roads will occur, the
following guidelines will be used
Class Depth of Flow (d) ft.
a d lt 1.5
b c d gt 1.5
importance of the roadway shall be considered
when making a classification.
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Dam Breach

• Breach flow against a house. Class b -
  Structures located in rural, agricultural, or
  urban areas where failure may damage isolated
  homes,.
• Use Flood Danger for Houses graphics for
  determination of hazard.
• If home has basement and breach water may enter
  basement via window well or door, this may be
  considered damage.

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Dam Breach How far downstream should the
analysis be taken

• To a point where there are no structures present
  downstream of the pond.
• The breach wave enters a flood prone area where
  no structures are present.
• The total volume of proposed breach is stored
  within the downstream valley, another storage
  structure or by a roadway fill.

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Determining Danger Reach Length

• Height of dam 10 feet
• Volume of storage 8 acre feet
• Average valley width (usually at the 100 year
  flood plain) 400 feet

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H Height of Dam
Width of Valley in Feet (100 year flood plain)
8 ac. ft. x 160 length of reach per ac. ft.
1280 ft.
160
Length of Reach per Ac. Ft. of Storage for
Depth (Lower) 1 foot
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Example Dam Breach Analysis
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Breach Wave Map
Proposed Breach
Houses / Road
SWM Facility
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Dam Classification

• Other things to look out for.

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Dam Classification

• Ponds exempt from the requirements of the Soil
  Conservation District Small Pond Approval Letter
  (i.e., excavated ponds) must be classified prior
  to exemption. The exemption must be reviewed and
  have concurrence of the approving authority.

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Dam Breach
Excavated Pond Class a Structure?
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TABLE 1 - HYDROLOGIC CRITERIA FOR PONDS
Structure Class Storage Height Product1 Watershed Area (Acres) Height To Emergency Spwy Crest (Feet) Normal Surface Area (Acres) Spillway Capacity5 Spillway Capacity5 Spillway Capacity5 Spillway Capacity5
Structure Class Storage Height Product1 Watershed Area (Acres) Height To Emergency Spwy Crest (Feet) Normal Surface Area (Acres) Spillway Capacity5 Spillway Capacity5 Spillway Capacity5 Spillway Capacity5
Structure Class Storage Height Product1 Watershed Area (Acres) Height To Emergency Spwy Crest (Feet) Normal Surface Area (Acres) Principal2 Principal2 Emergency3, 4 Emergency3, 4 Freeboard6
Structure Class Storage Height Product1 Watershed Area (Acres) Height To Emergency Spwy Crest (Feet) Normal Surface Area (Acres) Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban
c b Any Any Any Any TR 60 TR 60 TR 60 TR 60 TR 60
a 3,000 ormore Any Any Any TR 60 TR 60 TR 60 TR 60 TR 60
320 gt20 - 35 gt12 25 YR TR 60 100 YR 100 YR 2.0 above E.S.Design Storm
Less and lt20 gt12 10 YR 25 YR 100 YR 100 YR 2.0 above E.S.Design Storm
Larger lt15 lt12 5 YR 10 YR 50 YR 100 YR 2.0 above E.S.Design Storm
100 gt20 - 35 gt12 10 YR TR 60 100 YR 100 YR 2.0 above E.S.Design Storm
a than to lt20 gt12 5 YR 10 YR 50 YR 100 YR 1.0 above E.S.Design Storm
320 lt15 lt12 2 YR 5 YR 25 YR 100 YR 1.0 above E.S.Design Storm
Less gt20 - 35 gt12 5 YR TR 60 50 YR 100 YR 1.0 above E.S.Design Storm
3,000 Than lt20 gt12 2 YR 5 YR 25 YR 100 YR 1.0 above E.S.Design Storm
100 lt15 lt12 10 of 25 YR Peak 5 YR 25 YR 100 YR 1.0 above E.S.Design Storm
Therefore Class a
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Where to Breach
Breach Here
Breach Here
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Dam Breach Weir length at road
Weir Length At Road
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Dam Breach Weir length at road
2H
Average Breach Width
4
1
Width At Road
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Dam Breach Breach width downstream
2H
Average Breach Width
2
1
Width At House
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Dams In Series
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Dams in Series - Considerations

• Effects of the proposed breach, from the upstream
  pond, on the downstream pond.
• Potential breach of downstream pond.
• Effects of breach of from both ponds.

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Potential for Downstream Development

• Zoning
• Land use Plans
• Pathway for breach