Best Practices Resources Catalog

The following table summarizes the best practices documentation that is referenced on this website. It is not an exhaustive list of dam safety technical references, but is intended to provide the best high level guidance that is currently in use.

Author	Title	Date
FEMA	Dam Safety Warning Signs Best Practices (FEMA P-2188)	2021
FEMA	Emergency Operations Planning: Dam Incident Planning Guide (FEMA P-508)	2019
FEMA	Pocket Safety Guide for Dams and Impoundments (FEMA P-911)	2016
FEMA	Evaluation and Monitoring of Seepage and Internal Erosion (FEMA P-1032)	2015
FEMA	Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety Risk Management (FEMA P-1025)	2015
FEMA	Technical Manual: Overtopping Protection for Dams (FEMA P-1015)	2014
FEMA	Emergency Action Planning for Dams (FEMA P-64)	2013
FEMA	Federal Guidelines for Inundation Mapping of Flood Risks Associated with Dam Incidents and Failures (FEMA P-946)	2013
FEMA	Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams (FEMA P-94)	2013
FEMA	Filters for Embankment Dams	2011
FEMA	Technical Manual: Outlet Works Energy Dissipators (FEMA P-679)	2010
FEMA	Geotextiles in Embankment Dams (FEMA P-730)	2008
FEMA	Emergency Action Planning for State Regulated High-Hazard Potential Dams (FEMA P-608)	2007
FEMA	Model State Dam Safety Program (FEMA P-316)	2007
FEMA	Technical Manual: Plastic Pipe Used in Embankment Dams (FEMA P-675)	2007
FEMA	Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety: Earthquake Analyses and Design of Dams (FEMA P-65)	2005
FEMA	Technical Manual: Conduits through Embankment Dams (FEMA P-484)	2005
FEMA	Technical Manual for Dam Owners: Impacts of Animals on Earthen Dams (FEMA P-473)	2005
FEMA	Technical Manual for Dam Owners: Impacts of Plants on Earthen Dams (FEMA P-534)	2005
FEMA	Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety (FEMA P-93)	2004
FEMA	Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety: Hazard Potential Classification System for Dams (FEMA P-333)	2004
FEMA	Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety: Glossary of Terms (FEMA P-148)	2004
FERC	Guidelines for Public Safety at Hydropower Projects	1992
ICMM	Tailings Management: Good Practice Guide	2021
ICMM	Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management	2020
NRCS	Hydrology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 5- Streamflow Data	2020
NRCS	Hydrology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 4- Storm Rainfall Depth and Distribution	2019
NRCS	Hydrology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 21- Design Hydrographs	2019
NRCS	Technical Release 210-60: Earth Dams and Reservoirs	2019
NRCS	Soils National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 26- Gradation Design of Sand and Gravel Filters	2017
NRCS	Hydrology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 6- Stream Reaches and Hydrologic Units	2015
NRCS	Dams National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 50- Earth Spillway Design	2014
NRCS	Dams National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 51- Earth Spillway Erosion Model	2014
NRCS	Hydrology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 17- Flood Routing	2014
NRCS	Geology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 2- Engineering Geologic Investigations	2012
NRCS	Geology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 3- Engineering Classification of Earth Materials	2012
NRCS	Geology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 4- Engineering Classification of Rock Materials	2012
NRCS	Geology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 5- Engineering Geology Logging, Sampling, and Testing	2012
NRCS	Hydrology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 14- Stage Discharge Relations	2012
NRCS	Geology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 30- Groundwater Hydrology and Geology	2010
NRCS	Hydrology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 15- Time of Concentration	2010
NRCS	Hydrology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 7- Hydrologic Soil Groups	2009
NRCS	Dams National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 45- Filter Diaphragms	2007
NRCS	Hydrology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 16- Hydrographs	2007
NRCS	Hydrology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 9- Hydrologic Soil-Cover Complexes	2004
NRCS	Hydrology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 10- Estimation of Direct Runoff from Storm Rainfall	2004
NRCS	Hydrology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 11- Snowmelt	2004
NRCS	Hydrology National Engineering Handbook: Chapter 1- Introduction	1997
NRCS	Technical Release 210-39: Hydraulics of Broad-Crested Spillways	1968
USACE	Instrumentation of Embankment Dams and Levees (EM 1110-2-1908)	2020
USACE	Drilling in Earth Embankment Dams and Levees (EM 1110-1-1807)	2014
USACE	Interim Risk Reduction Measures for Dam Safety (EC 1110-2-6064)	2007
USACE	Slope Stability (EM 1110-2-1902)	2003
USACE	Ice Engineering (EM 1110-2-1612)	2002
USACE	Hydrologic Engineering Requirements for Reservoirs (EM 1110-2-1420)	1997
USACE	Geophysical Exploration for Engineering and Environmental Investigations (EM 1110-1-1802)	1995
USACE	Rock Foundations (EM 1110-1-2908)	1994
USACE	Hydraulic Design of Spillways (EM 1110-2-1603)	1992
USACE	Hydraulic Design of Reservoir Outlet Works (EM 1110-2-1602)	1980
USACE	National Program for Inspection of Non-Federal Dams (EM 1110-2-106)	1980
USACE	Ice Pressure on Engineering Structures (CRREL III-B1b)	1970
USBR	Design of Small Dams	1987