Dams, drainpipes, and spillways need to be periodically inspected and maintained to prolong the useful life of the impoundment. During a dam evaluation, the dam is inspected for erosion and/or leaking and overall dam integrity to ensure the dam is in proper working conditions. If an issue arises that needs professional evaluation, AES has a Certified Professional in Sediment and Erosion Control (CPESE) and a Professional Engineer (PE) on retainer to help with those issues.
Dam do’s and don’ts:
- Inspect your dam monthly for leaks, erosion damage, or pulled drains.
- Don’t allow any trees to grow on the dam. Grass should be the only vegetation on the dam, front and back. When trees die, their root ball decays, leaving a void in the dam.
- Minimize beaver and muskrat activity. They love to burrow into the dam for their dens. The dens will eventually collapse causing voids in the dam.
- Maintain a working trash rack on your standpipe (vertical drain pipe). Make sure to keep top of trash rack debris free, especially after heavy rain events.
- Keep your siphon vent clear of obstructions on your siphon drainage system.
- Address any concerns quickly without delay. Lack of expedient action will result in higher repair costs and could jeopardize the integrity of the dam.
- If you are unsure of any issue with your dam, then contact AES for more information on having a dam and outlet inspection .