Watershed Dams…. benefit and responsibility?   Kent Askren

For decades now, reservoir structures built by Watershed Districts have been helping to reduce the impact of flooding on agricultural lands and urban residents while at the same time reducing sediment load in our streams.  In one way or another, we all have benefited from these reservoirs which quietly, sometimes completely unbeknownst to the downstream benefactors, proceed with fulfilling their intended purposes. 

In recent years, downstream development within the breach inundation zone of watershed reservoirs has placed everyone involved in a real quandary.  Watersheds of a given size/capacity are required to have a permit from the state’s Division of Water Resources.  This permit insures that the structure is built in accordance with industry accepted and legislatively adopted engineering standards.  At the time of construction, an assessment is made to determine what property and life might be affected in the event of a catastrophic failure of the dam.  Once this is determined, the structure is then designed accordingly and given a hazard classification of either low, significant or high.   

The problem is that this hazard classification may increase after construction is completed if conditions (development) downstream of the dam within the breach inundation zone change.  Should a house, highway or improvement be made which places life or property in harms way, then the dam owner is responsible for the cost of any state mandated upgrade of the dam.  This cost can be substantial, in the tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars per structure. 

Our Legislature has wrestled with this issue a bit but the enormity of it seems to have stymied significant response.  Some money has been appropriated to help offset the cost of creating maps to determine breach inundation zones.  With the benefit of these maps, downstream landowners, county commissioners, bankers and insurance companies can make informed decisions regarding potential development. 

It is time to fully unveil the details of this issue and recognize the universal benefits of these structures.  Like everything, with these benefits come responsibilities (cost).  Should more funds be appropriated to help offset the upgrade costs that dam owners incur as the result of downstream development?  Should tighter restrictions on downstream development be imposed which some may view as in infringement of their rights as property owners? 

These are tough questions which must be addressed but only after all of the facts have been presented.  One thing is for certain, many decisions have been made in the past regarding the classification of structures without the benefit of breach inundation maps.  Regardless of how we tackle this issue, having these maps is the first step in making informed decisions and we should encourage our legislative leaders to fully fund and oversee the implementation of a comprehensive breach inundation zone mapping program. 

Watershed structures benefit us all and we should all take responsibility in helping to guarantee their future success.