| The goal of the Dam Safety Program is to protect people and property from the damaging consequences of catastrophic dam failures. Since 1960, in the United States there have been at least 25 dam failures that caused one or more fatalities. The worst of these failures, in terms of loss of life, was the 1972 failure of a privately-owned tailings dam in Buffalo Creek, West Virginia, which devastated a 16-mile long valley with 6,000 inhabitants. As a result of that one failure, 125 people were killed and 3,000 were left homeless. All of the failures since 1960 have resulted in 318 deaths in the United States. |
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Each year, there are a number of dam failures in Mississippi and probably an equal number of dams that are breached under controlled conditions to avoid the possibility of a sudden failure. Some dam failures in the state have caused significant property damage, but there have been no fatalities in Mississippi attributable to a dam failure. Our goal is to provide sufficient oversight of the operational safety and structural integrity of dams in Mississippi to minimize the possibility of a life threatening catastrophic failure occurring at a dam that falls under our jurisdiction.
The Dam Safety Program classifies all regulated dams into three categories: High Hazard, Significant Hazard, or Low Hazard. For purposes of complying with these requirements, the owner of any dam near an existing or proposed residential, commercial, or industrial site should assume that the dam is classified as High Hazard, or call the department for clarification. All High Hazard Dams must have an Emergency Action Plan that is reviewed and updated annually and tested periodically. Significant Hazard dams are dams that pose no threat of loss of life or major property damage, but may interrupt some road or pubic utility services. MDEQ may require owners and operators of Significant Hazard dams to have Emergency Action Plans in place, when needed. |
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| Mississippi State Law, section 51-3-39, requires that any person proposing to construct, enlarge, repair or alter a dam or reservoir must obtain written authorization. Applications shall be made on forms provided and detailed plans shall be required when deemed necessary. |
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| Our Duties |
- Enforce the Dam Safety Statutes and Regulations of the State
- Receive and process requests for authority to construct dams
- Review the design, plans, and specifications for all dams constructed in the state
- Inspect dams that fall under State jurisdiction peroidically.
- Provide information and educational outreach to dam owners and the general public
- Oversee the development of emergency action plans for high hazard dams, and assure the plan is reviewed and updated periodically
- Maintain a database and files on all dams in the state
- Maintain the Mississippi portion of the National Dam Inventory
- Respond to dam emergencies
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Dam Inspections
Dam Safety Regulation adopted by the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality in 2004 requires all owners of High Hazard and Significant Hazard Dams to have their dams inspected by a registered professional engineer before March 2006. All High Hazard dam owners must also have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) submitted to MDEQ by the March 2006 deadline. EAPs may also be required for some Significant Hazard Dams. Guidelines for the inspections and for the preparation of the EAPs can be accessed from the links listed below.
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Contact Information
State Dam Safety Office Contacts by Region. |
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| Click here to view a staff directory of the Dam Safety Division. |
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Street Address
700 North State St.
Jackson, MS 39202
| | Mailing Address
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Land and Water Resources
P. O. Box 2309
Jackson, MS 39225 |
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