Dam Safety Guidelines and Policies

The Department has developed, adapted or adopted the following documents to support dam owners, engineers and contractors in the shared mission of dam safety.

Policies

• Policy Memorandum No.1 - Maintenance and Repair, Trees and Woody Vegetation (.pdf file)

• Policy Memorandum No. 2 - Roadway and Railroad Embankments with Culvert Crossings(.pdf file)
  

• Policy Memorandum No. 3 - Impoundments Adjacent to Steep Slopes (pdf file)
  

• Policy Memorandum No.4 - Hazard Classification: Small Impoundments (.pdf file)
  

• Policy Memorandum No. 6 - Dam Decomissioning (.pdf file)
  

• Policy Memorandum No. 7 - Impoundment Filling Plans  (.pdf file)
  

• Policy Memorandum No. 9 - Water Storage and Collection Tanks (.pdf file)
  

• Policy Memorandum No. 10 - Utilities in Dam Embankments (.pdf file)
  

• Policy Memorandum No. 11 - Activities Not Requiring Dam Safety Permit (.pdf file)
  

• Policy 93-2: Landscape Plantings on Dam (.pdf file)​
  

• Policy: Roadway Embankment Design Criteria (.pdf file)

• Policy Small Pond Review Criteria (.pdf file)
  

Guidance Documents

• Maryland Dam Safety Manual (Rev.2003)​ (.pdf file)

• Maryland Dam Inspection Checklist​ (.pdf file)          ​           

Contact Information

You may also call us at (410) 537-3538.  Our mailing address is:

Dam Safety Division
Water and Science Administration
Maryland Department of the Environment

1800 Washington Boulevard, Ste. 440
Baltimore, Maryland 21230-1708

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