National Dam Safety Program Publications

The National Dam Safety Program provides a variety of publications, including:

  • Research Needs Workshop Reports
  • Technical Manuals, Guides and Reports
  • Technical Advisories
  • Safety Series Fact Sheets
  • Response and Recovery (R&R) Dam Response Operations Matrices
  • Dam Safety & Risk MAP/Flood Mapping Studies Fact Sheet Series
  • DSS-WISE Fact Sheets
  • FEMA P-1015, Technical Manual: Overtopping Protection for Dams (ZIP, 410MB)

Search for Dam Safety Publications

Search for documents below, or view our pages on Federal Guidelines, National Dam Safety Program Information, Resources for the General Public, or Resources for States.

You can order publications from the FEMA Distribution Center.

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Final Environmental Assessment including FONSI signed 8/26/2024 for Marlette Lake Dam Resilient Infrastructure Project, PDMC-PJ-09-NV-2018-001, August 2024

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National Dam Safety Program Research Summit Report

Hosted by FEMA's National Dam Safety Program (NDSP), the research summit had 55 attendees from 39 different federal and state agencies and industry partners in attendance. The mission of the Research Summit was to evaluate near-term industry needs for dam safety and to outline a path forward for the future. This report summarizes each phase of the process taken to identify these priorities and projects.

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Detection Equipment Eligible for Purchase with National Dam Safety Program Grants

Under the National Dam Safety Program (NDSP) State Assistance (SA) grant, the purchase of technology supporting State dam safety programs is an allowable expense. Unmanned aerial systems, also known drones or controlled equipment, are authorized for purchase using these grants. In this fact sheet, unmanned aerial systems are referred to as detection equipment.

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National Dam Safety Program Strategic Plan: Fiscal Years 2024 -2029

Developed in partnership with the ICODS and the NDSRB, this 5-year strategy is focused on results for the NDSP to reduce risks to life, property, and the environment from dam failure by guiding public policy and leveraging industry best practices across the dam safety community. It also builds the foundation for what the program will look like in 5 years to ensure the benefits and risks of dams are understood and managed equitably, enhancing public safety, national security, and the environment while adapting to climate change.

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The Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams Grant Program Brochure

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NDSP Overview Brochure

The National Dam Safety Program is a partnership of states, federal agencies and other stakeholders to encourage and promote the establishment and maintenance of effective federal and state dam safety programs to reduce the risk to human life, property, and the environment from dam related hazards. This brochure provides an overview of the FEMA National Dam Safety Program.

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NDSP State Assistance Brochure

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Model State Dam Safety Program Manual

The overall purpose of the Model State Dam Safety Program (Model Program) is to enhance national dam safety. The objective is to encourage progressive safety standards in the promulgated practices and procedures state agencies use to regulate dam site investigation, design, construction, operation and maintenance, and emergency planning and preparedness.

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The National Dam Safety Program Biennial Report to the United States Congress, Fiscal Years 2018–2019

Between FY 2018-2019, FEMA demonstrated progress toward all goals and objectives in the 2017-2021 NDSP Strategic Plan. Throughout this Biennial Report, activities performed that were related to a strategic goal or objective are noted. See figure 2 for a breakdown of these goals and objectives.

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FEMA FY 2022 HHPD Grants Post Award Presentation

This PowerPoint contains guidance and resources for those who received FY 2022 High Hazard Potential grants. It also includes information on the Scope of Work package.