Small Dam Owner Inspection Logger
Owner-level embankment dam checks — seepage, settlement, spillways, outlet works, vegetation and instrumentation; offline + GPS.
New dam feature inspection
Owner walkdowns monthly and after major storms; formal engineering inspections per state schedule (1–5 yr by hazard class).
Field guide: Small Dam Owner Inspection Logger
Most dams aren't federal concrete — they're small earthen embankments owned by farms, HOAs and towns, inspected (if at all) by their owners. Dam-failure forensics repeat one lesson: failures telegraph. Muddy seepage means the embankment is moving through itself (piping) — the single most lethal finding in this log and an immediate emergency-plan trigger. Clear seepage that's increasing, new wet spots, boils at the toe, transverse cracks, seepage along the outlet conduit: each is a chapter of the same story, and a monthly walk catches them at the cheap chapter.
Spillway findings rank just behind seepage because overtopping is the other classic killer: an emergency spillway grown over with trees doesn't exist when the design storm arrives. The outlet-works check includes actually exercising the drawdown valve — the ability to lower the pool IS the emergency response, and a seized valve discovered during an event is a finding made years too late. EAP currency rides along; phone numbers rot faster than embankments.
Field tips
- Measure flowing seepage (bucket-and-stopwatch at a collection point) — 'about the same' hides the doubling that matters.
- Walk the toe, not just the crest: boils, soft ground and new wet vegetation live where the slope meets original ground.
- Exercise the low-level outlet annually under controlled conditions and log it; a drawdown you've never tested is a hypothesis.
Records are stored only in this browser (localStorage) — export regularly. This tool aids field documentation; it does not replace your agency's official inspection procedures or engineering judgment.
Small Dam Owner Inspection Logger — Owner-level embankment dam checks — seepage, settlement, spillways, outlet works, vegetation and instrumentation; offline + GPS. Free, offline-first and GPS-aware: open it on any phone, log in seconds, and hand your GIS team clean GeoJSON.
About Small Dam Owner Inspection Logger
Most dams aren't federal concrete — they're small earthen embankments owned by farms, HOAs and towns, inspected (if at all) by their owners. Dam-failure forensics repeat one lesson: failures telegraph. Muddy seepage means the embankment is moving through itself (piping) — the single most lethal finding in this log and an immediate emergency-plan trigger. Clear seepage that's increasing, new wet spots, boils at the toe, transverse cracks, seepage along the outlet conduit: each is a chapter of the same story, and a monthly walk catches them at the cheap chapter.
How to use Small Dam Owner Inspection Logger
- 1Enter the dam & feature and tap 📍 GPS to pin the dam feature's exact location (or type coordinates).
- 2Work through the dam feature checklist — every field matches what a real inspection program records.
- 3Pick a condition on the Normal / Monitor closely / Engineer assessment / Emergency indicators ⚠ scale; actionable findings are tallied automatically.
- 4Add notes and log the inspection — it saves instantly to your device, even with zero signal.
- 5Export the round as CSV for your asset system, GeoJSON for the GIS, or print a clean report.
Why use Small Dam Owner Inspection Logger?
- ✓100% free, no sign-up — built for crews, not per-seat licences
- ✓Offline-first: records save to your device instantly and survive dead zones
- ✓One-tap GPS tagging with accuracy capture on every record
- ✓Exports CSV for asset systems, GeoJSON for GIS, and print-ready reports
- ✓Checklist and guidance aligned with FEMA P-1150 / 'Pocket Safety Guide for Dams'
Frequently asked questions
Why is muddy seepage an emergency?+
Color means transport: the water is carrying embankment or foundation material out of the dam — internal erosion (piping) in progress. Pipes enlarge exponentially; failures have gone from first muddy observation to breach within hours. The response is the EAP: notify authorities, begin lowering the pool, get engineering eyes on it immediately.
Why can't trees grow on dams?+
Roots create seepage paths through the section and die into open channels; windthrow tears craters in the embankment; trunks hide the face from inspection. Removal needs care too — dead roots decay into pipes, so larger removals warrant engineering input. Grass is the only crop a dam should grow.
What does the hazard classification of a dam mean?+
It rates consequence, not condition: high hazard = probable loss of life on failure, significant = major damage, low = limited. Classification drives state inspection frequency, spillway design standards and EAP requirements. Development downstream can re-rate a dam without the dam changing — worth checking if houses appeared below yours.
What belongs in an Emergency Action Plan?+
Trigger conditions (exactly the findings this log flags), notification flowchart with CURRENT phone numbers (state dam safety, emergency management, downstream contacts), inundation maps, and response actions like drawdown steps. Test it annually on paper. The log's 'EAP contacts out of date' flag exists because stale numbers are the most common EAP failure.
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