Maryland Department of the Environment

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Dam Breach Analysis and Hazard Classification Resources

​​​​Maryland Guidance

In recognition to a growing need for increased clarity and consistency of expectations for the acceptable methods of performing a breach analysis and determining the hazard both for small ponds and large dams, the Dam Safety Division has developed the following guidance document and supporting worksheets.

The document is currently a working draft. Breach analyses using the methods provided in the document, if correctly performed, will be considered acceptable. Should users encounter areas that require clarification, or where unique circumstances were not contemplated in the development of the guidance document, contact the Dam Safety Division for assistance. After a period of time collecting such feedback, the document will be revised as necessary.

If a dam has been determined to be a Significant or High Hazard, an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) must be prepared in accordance with Maryland law. Templates and supporting resources for EAP development is provided at the following link:

Other Guidance Documents

The following documents have been prepared by Federal agencies and provide supporting background information and further detail regarding dam breach analyses and hazard classification for dams. These documents are provided for reference only, and do not reflect policy or guidance from the Dam Safety Division

Hydraulics Spreadsheets

The following spreadsheets may be used to compute flows through a riser and an open channel emergency spillway. Flows through a standard riser or a slotted multiple opening riser can be computed.

Hydrology Spreadsheets

A runoff depth table based on the Soil Conservation Service TR-55 Runoff Equation is provided. The runoff table can also be used to determine the rainfall amount necessary to generate the 50% probable maximum flood. Precipitation depths for various storm durations and frequencies should be determined using the NOAA Atlas 14 Precipitation Data Frequency Server website.

Phreatic Surface Estimation Spreadsheets

This spreadsheet uses the Casagrande Graphical Method to determine the phreatic seepage surface through a dam and estimates the seepage amount.

Executable Programs

The following executable programs are used to determine breach flows and routed breach flows downstream of dams. The "hec1vm" program is a user friendly editor program for the HEC-1 Model as well as run the HEC-1 Program. The HEC-1 Program will develop flood hydrographs and breach hydrographs and route the downstream flows through stream cross sections, roads and other dams. The "smpdbk" (Simple Dam-Break) program is a shortcut version of the National Weather Service full Dam-Break Model. This program will determine breach flows from dams and route flows through downstream cross sections but is limited because it will not route flows through and over downstream roads and dams.

  • Hydrologic Engineering Center model (HEC-1 User Friendly Interface & HEC-1 Model) - hec1vm.zip
  • National Weather Service (NWS) Simple Dambreak Program - smpdbk.zip

Model Input Files

The "hec1 data" file contains several dam breach examples with downstream flood routings. The data can be used as a input guide for computing a danger reach for your dam. The "smpdbk" file contains several input and output examples using the National Weather Service Simple Dambreak Program.

 US Army Corps of Engineers' HMR52 Program

This program is used to determine the elliptical rainfall distribution for dams with drainage areas larger than 10 square miles. The program outputs a rainfall hyetograph (rain depth vs. time) for the watershed areas above and below the dams. The output data is used as input in the HEC-1 Model to generate storm hydrographs. The model predicts smaller elliptical rainfall bands moving further away from the storm center.


Contact Information

For more information, you may call us at (410) 537-3623 or reach us at our mailing address:

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

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

​ 

Maryland Guidance

 

In recognition to a growing need for increased clarity and consistency of expectation​s for the acceptable methods of performing a breach analysis and determining the hazard both for small ponds and large dams, the Dam Safety Division has developed the following guidance document and supporting worksheets.

The document is currently a working draft. Breach analyses using the methods provided in the document, if correctly performed, will be considered acceptable. Should users encounter areas that require clarification, or where unique circumstances were not contemplated in the development of the guidance document, contact the Dam Safety Division for assistance. After a period of time collecting such feedback, the document will be revised as necessary.

If a dam has been determined to be a Significant or High Hazard, an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) must be prepared in accordance with Maryland law. Templates and supporting resources for EAP development is provided at the following link:

​

Other Guidance Documents

 

The following documents have been prepared by Federal agencies and provide supporting background information and further detail regarding dam breach analyses and hazard classification for dams. These documents are provided for reference only, and do not reflect policy or guidance from the Dam Safety Division

Hydraulics Spreadsheets

 

The following spreadsheets may be used to compute flows through a riser and an open channel emergency spillway. Flows through a standard riser or a slotted multiple opening riser can be computed.

Hydrology Spreadsheets

 

A runoff depth table based on the Soil Conservation Service TR-55 Runoff Equation is provided. The runoff table can also be used to determine the rainfall amount necessary to generate the 50% probable maximum flood. Precipitation depths for various storm durations and frequencies should be determined using the NOAA Atlas 14 Precipitation Data Frequency Server website.

Phreatic Surface Estimation Spreadsheets

 

This spreadsheet uses the Casagrande Graphical Method to determine the phreatic seepage surface through a dam and estimates the seepage amount.

Executable Programs

 

The following executable programs are used to determine breach flows and routed breach flows downstream of dams. The "hec1vm" program is a user friendly editor program for the HEC-1 Model as well as run the HEC-1 Program. The HEC-1 Program will develop flood hydrographs and breach hydrographs and route the downstream flows through stream cross sections, roads and other dams. The "smpdbk" (Simple Dam-Break) program is a shortcut version of the National Weather Service full Dam-Break Model. This program will determine breach flows from dams and route flows through downstream cross sections but is limited because it will not route flows through and over downstream roads and dams.

  • Hydrologic Engineering Center model (HEC-1 User Friendly Interface & HEC-1 Model) - hec1vm.zip
  • National Weather Service (NWS) Simple Dambreak Program - smpdbk.zip

Model Input Files

 

The "hec1 data" file contains several dam breach examples with downstream flood routings. The data can be used as a input guide for computing a danger reach for your dam. The "smpdbk" file contains several input and output examples using the National Weather Service Simple Dambreak Program.

US Army Corps of Engineers' HMR52 Program

 

This program is used to determine the elliptical rainfall distribution for dams with drainage areas larger than 10 square miles. The program outputs a rainfall hyetograph (rain depth vs. time) for the watershed areas above and below the dams. The output data is used as input in the HEC-1 Model to generate storm hydrographs. The model predicts smaller elliptical rainfall bands moving further away from the storm center.

Contact Information

 

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

Dam Safety Division
Water Management Administration
Maryland Department of the Environment

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

Maryland Department of the Environment
1800 Washington Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21230