Arizona Administrative Code
Title 12 - NATURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 15 - DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
Article 12 - DAM SAFETY PROCEDURES
Section R12-15-1205 - General Responsibilities

Universal Citation: AZ Admin Code R 12-15-1205

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 38, September 20, 2024

A. Each owner is responsible for the safe design, operation, and maintenance of a dam. The owner shall operate, maintain, and regularly inspect a dam so that it does not constitute a danger to human life or property. The owner of a high or significant hazard potential dam shall provide timely warning to the Department and all other persons listed in the emergency action plan of problems at the dam. The owner shall develop and maintain effective emergency action plans and coordinate those plans with local officials as prescribed in R12-15-1221.

B. The owner shall conduct frequent observation of the dam, as prescribed in the emergency action plan and as follows:

1. The owner shall increase the frequency of observation when the reservoir is full, during heavy rains or flooding, and following an earthquake.

2. The owner shall report to the Director any condition that threatens the safety of the dam as prescribed in R12-15-1224(A). The owner shall make the report as soon as possible, but not later than 12 hours after discovery of the conditions.

3. If dam failure appears imminent, the owner shall notify the county sheriff or other emergency official immediately.

4. The owner is responsible for the safety of the dam and shall take action to lower the reservoir if it appears that the dam has weakened or is in danger of failing.

C. The owner of a dam shall install, maintain, and monitor instrumentation to evaluate the performance of the dam. The Director shall require site-specific instrumentation that the Director deems necessary for monitoring the safety of the dam when failure may endanger human life and property. Conditions that may require monitoring include land subsidence, earth fissures, embankment cracking, phreatic surface, seepage, and embankment movements.

D. The owner shall perform timely maintenance and ordinary repair of a dam. The owner shall implement an annual plan to inspect the dam and accomplish the maintenance and ordinary repairs necessary to protect human life and property.

E. If a change of ownership of a dam occurs, the new owner shall notify the Department within 15 days after the date of the transaction and provide the mailing address and telephone number where the new owner can be contacted. Within 90 days after the date of the transaction, the new owner shall provide the name and telephone number of the individual or individuals who are responsible for operating and maintaining the dam.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arizona may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.