31.19 Inspection of dams; orders.

448 words·~2 min read·/wi/chapter-31/31-19-3

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(1g)Definitions. In this section:

(a)“High hazard dam” means a large dam the failure of which would probably cause loss of human life.

(b)“Low hazard dam” means a large dam the failure of which would probably not cause significant property damage or loss of human life.

(c)“Significant hazard dam” means a large dam the failure of which would probably cause significant property damage but would probably not cause loss of human life.

(1m)Determination of dam size. For the purposes of this section, a dam is considered to be a large dam if either of the following applies:

(a)It has a structural height of 25 feet or more and impounds more than 15 acre-feet of water.

(b)It has a structural height of more than 6 feet and impounds 50 acre-feet or more of water.

(2)Large dam inspection.

(a)Inspection by the department. At least once every 10 years the department shall conduct a detailed inspection of each high hazard dam and each significant hazard dam.

(ag)Owner responsibility.

1. Owners of each high hazard dam, each significant hazard dam, and each low hazard dam shall engage a professional engineer registered under s. 443.04 to inspect the dam as specified in this paragraph.

2. An owner of a high hazard dam shall cause the dam to be inspected at least 4 times between each inspection conducted by the department under par.

(a). An owner of a significant hazard dam shall cause the dam to be inspected at least 2 times between each inspection conducted by the department under par.

(a). An owner of a low hazard dam shall cause the dam to be inspected at least once every 10 years.

3. The owner of a dam required to be inspected under this paragraph shall submit to the department, no later than 90 days after the date of the inspection, a report of the results of the inspection. The report shall include information on any deficiencies in the dam, recommendations for addressing those deficiencies, and recommendations on improving the safety and structural integrity of the dam.

(ar)Dam classification. The department shall classify each dam in this state as a high hazard, significant hazard, or low hazard dam for the purpose of this section.

(b)Exemption for federally inspected dams. Notwithstanding the inspection requirements under pars.

(a)and

(ag), an inspection under par.

(a)or

(ag)is not required if the dam is inspected periodically by or under the supervision of a federal agency in a manner which is acceptable to the department and if the results of each inspection are made available to the department.