Dams_Content Page_Responsibilities of a dam owner

Responsibilities of a Dam Owner

Dam ownership carries significant legal and financial responsibility, and every dam owner needs to be aware of their obligation to safely manage and operate their dam. Dam owners may be liable if their dam fails and causes loss of life or damage to property.

Below are ways that dam owners can improve the safety of their dam as well as reduce their own liability:

  • Inspect your dam – Dam owners need to perform regular inspections of their dam, as well as after any high-water event, to identify any needed repairs and the existence of serious deficiencies that, if left unaddressed, could lead to failure of the dam. In addition, Chapter 31, Wis. Stats., requires owners of large dams to periodically hire a professional engineer to inspect their dam. More information about inspections is available here: Inspections page
  • Properly operate your dam – Dam owners are responsible for operating the dam within authorized levels, when subject to a Department water level order. Additionally, dam owners must release a minimum flow for the protection of downstream fish and aquatic organisms. In order to manage the pool level appropriately, dam owners must monitor flow conditions and precipitation rates, especially during high-water events.
  • Repair and maintain your dam – Dam owners need to conduct regular maintenance activities, while also planning for larger, more expensive and extensive repairs or reconstruction. Activities such as mowing and filling rodent holes on the embankment require more frequent attention than other activities like concrete repair or conduit replacement. Review and approval of plans are required for dam repairs or reconstruction, see more information here: Permits page
  • Develop an EAP and IOM for your dam – The Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and Inspection, Operation and Maintenance (IOM) Plan are written documents that outline procedures and contact information. These documents are required for large dams and recommended for small dams. More information, including guides and templates, are available here: Emergency action plan (EAP) and Inspection, operation and maintenance plan (IOM)

Dam owners selling property that includes a dam must transfer ownership of the dam to the new property owner. Both the seller of property on which a dam is located and the buyer of the property must cooperate to complete a dam transfer application. More information about dam transfers is available here: Dam transfer of ownership page

Finally, if a dam is no longer needed or requires costly repairs to bring into compliance, dam owners can consider dam removal. Removing a dam can eliminate ongoing safety liabilities, reduce regulatory burdens, and restore natural river processes that benefit aquatic habitat and water quality. More information about dam abandonment and removal is available here: Dam abandonment and removal page

Additional resources on being a responsible dam owner are available at the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) resources for dam owners and operators website.

Contact information

DNR Dam Safety
DNR Dam Safety Program, WT/3
101 S Webster St
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707–7921