401 KAR 4:030 - Design criteria for dams and associated structures
RELATES TO: KRS 151.250
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: This administrative regulation is necessary to establish minimum design criteria for dams and associated structures constructed in Kentucky.
Section 1. This administrative regulation
applies to all dams as defined by
KRS
151.100 and to all other impounding
obstructions which might create a hazard to life or property.
Section 2. Except as modified in this
administrative regulation, the procedures outlined by the latest edition of
"Design of Small Dams" (Second Edition, 1973), available from the U.S.
Government Printing Office and the Department of Reclamation, herein filed by
reference, shall be the minimum criteria.
Section 3. The Division of Water Engineering
Memorandum No. 5 (2-1-75) outlined as follows: Section A. Definitions; Section
B. Structure Classification; Section C. Hydrologic Criteria; Section D.
Sediment Storage; Section E. Principal Spillways; Section F. Emergency
Spillways; Section G. Earth Embankments; and Section H. Utilities Under
Embankments; is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this
administrative regulation as if fully set out herein. Copies are available from
the Division of Water upon request.
Section
4. Structure types not generally used in Kentucky, i.e. gravity,
buttress, steel, timber, etc., will be considered on an individual basis and
reviewed in accord with prevailing practices that are currently accepted by the
engineering profession.
Section 5.
In all cases the safety of the structure, the water and/or other material
impounded therein, property and human life will be the principal governing
factors. Under no circumstances will the proposed use of the structure and its
contents, or the cost of providing an unquestionably safe structure be allowed
to assume precedence over the possible hazard involved.
Section 6. Structures which are to be
repaired or reconstructed must be made to conform to the criteria established
by this administrative regulation.
Section
7. Each of the following stated criteria indicates whether the
limit is a maximum or minimum limit and is not to be construed as being
satisfactory design criteria at all sites. Professional judgment, state laws
and administrative regulations, investigations, or analysis may dictate more
conservative criteria.
Section 8.
(1) Approval of all plans and specifications
shall be divided into two (2) distinct parts:
(a) Issuance of a construction permit
pursuant to
KRS
151.250 shall constitute approval of the
final engineering documents to allow construction to be started; and
(b) Final written approval by the cabinet
upon receipt of the "as-built" plans and specifications will constitute
approval to impound.
(2)
No approval to impound water and/or other material is implied or is in any way
granted until the "as-built" plans and specifications have been approved, an
on-site inspection has been made, and a written statement of approval issued.
It is recommended that the owner and/or his engineer contact this division
before initiation of final design for a predesign
conference.
Section 9.
All plans and specifications submitted for consideration must bear the seal and
signature of the responsible engineer as defined in
KRS
322.010(2), except officers
and employees of the United States Government while engaged in engineering for
the government. Each sheet of the drawings shall bear the seal and signature of
the engineer or engineers responsible for its preparation.
Section 10. All structures, other than Class
A as defined in Engineering Memorandum No. 5 (2-1-75) shall have a complete
subsurface investigation and soil analysis submitted as an integral part of the
drawings.
Section 11.
(1) Elevation area capacity data and
elevation discharge data must be submitted as a part of the plans for each
structure. This elevation area capacity data shall give the area and capacities
from the elevation of the lowest point in the impoundment area to at least the
elevation at the top of the dam. When the configuration of the structure will
not allow the elevation discharge relationship to be developed by methods
accepted as standard by the engineering profession, the structure must provide
the storage necessary to contain the entire storm run-off without probable
damage to the structure or creating an unacceptable hazard to life or
property.
(2) When this required
basic information is furnished by the responsible design engineer, the Division
of Water will upon request assist the engineer in preparing the flood routings
required by Engineering Memorandum No. 5 (2-1-75).
(3) In the event that the elevation area
capacity data is not furnished or the flood routings show that insufficient
floodwater storage has been provided, the plans will be returned to the design
engineer without being approved.
Section 12. All information concerning
elevations shall refer to mean sea level and the use of assumed elevations for
any purpose is prohibited. Should an error in either the horizontal control or
vertical control become known during construction, the necessary information to
correct the distances and the elevations shall be referred to on the first
sheet of the "as-built" drawing or referred to in the index. Clearly marked
reference points and bench marks shall be maintained at the job site by the
responsible engineer until final written approval is received.
Section 13. Unless waived in writing by the
cabinet, no structure shall be approved unless a positive means is provided to
pass water through the structure in sufficient quantity to satisfy the needs of
downstream users and to empty the reservoir within a reasonable length of time.
Conditions considered in determining downstream water requirements and required
minimum time to empty the impoundment shall be determined by the responsible
engineer and referred to on the drawings.
Section 14. Construction supervision and
inspection must be performed by or under the direction of the design engineer.
Unless otherwise directed by the cabinet the engineer shall submit monthly
progress reports on forms to be supplied by the cabinet. Copies of all testing
reports shall be submitted with the progress reports.
Section 15. All "as-built" documents shall be
submitted by the responsible engineer in the form of permanent type drawings of
a standard and uniform size. Variations in size will be permitted for federal
agencies in order that they may use their standard drawings. Drawings that do
not conform to standard practices or drawings that are not easily legible will
not be accepted.
Section 16.
Because of the cabinet's statutory duty to review federal projects for the
Commonwealth under
KRS
151.220, the United States Army Corps of
Engineers is exempt from the provisions of this administrative regulation and
KRS
151.250.
Notes
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 151.125, 224.01-110(6)(b), 224.10-100(17)
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