watershed programs operation and maintenance kansas · wave erosion on front slope trees in...

United States Department of AgricultureNatural Resources Conservation Service

Watershed Programs Operation and Maintenance

KANSASPERSPECTIVE


Why do we do O&M???BIG INVESTMENT

We want the dam to meet its design life and hopefully well beyond

SAFETYLarge structures can cause loss of life or damage property if one fails

LIABILITYIf the sponsor has not maintained the dam in good shape there is a liability issue.

PERMITTINGMust maintain each dam to as-built conditions as a condition of the construction permit


Why do we do O&M???ELIGIBILITY FOR OTHER PROGRAM ASSISTANCE – Emergency

Watershed Program (EWP), Watershed Rehabilitation Program and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance

CONTINUED FUNDING – If we don’t take care of what we have, the chances of getting additional local, state, or federal funds are reduced

PUBLIC PERCEPTION IN THE WATERSHED – The public wants to see their tax dollars protected

WE’RE JUST PLAIN PROUD We are proud of what we accomplished and it looks good!!


Kansas Watershed Program

830 NRCS assisted dams across the state550 Division of Conservation assisted dams

Plus watershed district fully funded dams

Over 1380 watershed district dams in the State!!!


Operation and Maintenance Agreement

Components:

1. Responsible entity “Sponsor” for O&M 2. Watershed structure(s) involved3. Sponsor and NRCS responsibilities4. Operation and Maintenance Plan reference5. Inspection and Reports


Operation and Maintenance AgreementComponents continued-

6. Records7. Financial Plan8. Violations9. Review and Revisions10. Signatures


O&M RESPONSIBILITIESThe O&M Agreement shall be reviewed by the Sponsor(s) and the NRCS district conservationist (DC) at least once every 5 years.

The purpose of the review is to discuss Sponsor(s) responsibilities, status of financial needs, availability of funds, unforeseeable developments, and potential need for revision of the O&M agreement. The agreement may only be revised by mutual consent of all of the signatories of the original agreement.


O&M RESPONSIBILITIESSponsors are required to complete an annual inspection of each dam each year!!!!!!!

Copies of the report are to be provided to NRCS (for NRCS project dams) and other copies distributed as per the instructions on the inspection form


O&M RESPONSIBILITIESFor NRCS Assisted Project Dams:

The responsible NRCS DC or the responsible DC’srepresentative is to participate in annual inspections ofproject dams at least once every three years.

Project dams include those constructed utilizing fundsthrough Public Law 83-566 (PL-566) work plans, Pilot

Watershed Projects, or Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D ) measure plans.


O&M RESPONSIBILITIESIn addition:Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A.) 82a-301 to 303bStream Obstruction Act requires that a qualified, licensedprofessional engineer must conduct a safety inspection of all class (b) and (c) dams according to the following schedule:

Class B – Significant hazard dams – once every five years

Class C – High hazard dams – once every three years


Unauthorized Modifications


O&M RESPONSIBILITIESSpecial investigations shall be madeduring or immediately following theoccurrence of major events such asfloods, earthquakes, vandalism, andthe initial filling of the reservoir.


Auxiliary Spillway Reports


To be eligible for Emergency Watershed Program (EWP) assistance,

O&M must be current!


O&M ResponsibilityWhat happens if you identify a deficiency on the damLevel 1 Adequate – No maintenance required

Level 2 Potential Problem – Monitor

Level 3 Deficient – Future repairs required DC follows up with watershed board on regular basis. Item may be moved from level 3 to level 2 if issue resolves itself or to level 4 if it becomes worse.

Level 4 Deficient - Immediate repairs requiredDC will notify the sponsors at once concerning the need to take immediate action. Sponsors are required to take immediate action to address the deficiency. The responsible DC shall prepare follow-up reports and send to the assistant state conservationist for field operations every 90 days until the deficiency is corrected. Process can also involve a letter to sponsors from State Conservationist.


Common Issues Trees/brush on the dam and around the stilling basin (bad for the

vegetative cover and may cause piping through the dam) Erosion around the stilling basin Non-functioning drain outlets Hay feeders in the auxiliary spillway Cattle trailing along the front and back slope of the dam Wave erosion on front slope Trees in approach, level section, and outlet section of auxiliary spillway Cattle panels around the riser Debris around the riser Beavers dam around the riser Deteriorating fence components Fence removal if area around the dam is no longer grazed


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watershed programs operation and maintenance kansas · wave erosion on front slope trees in...

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