DWR Dam Safety Engineer; PE II

Overview

Division Of Water Resources (DWR)
State Engineer's Office
The mission is to administer the waters of the State to maximize lawful beneficial use, ensure that dams and water wells are properly constructed and safe, and provide information about water resources to the public. The Dam Safety work unit’s primary purpose is life safety protection, specifically, to protect the citizens of Colorado from potential dam failure floods. Safeguarding the safety of dams ensures that water resources in reservoirs continue to be available as a vital life resource for the citizens of Colorado.

Currently, over 2.1 million Coloradans live below dams within the potential dam failure inundation zone. The work unit must provide a high degree of assurance that the design, construction, performance, and operations of reservoir dams in the state minimize risk of potential dam failures. This position is structured under the Dam Safety Program as part of the State Engineer's Office, with regional responsibility within Division 1 and regional coverage areas including Water Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 65, based primarily out of the Greeley, CO region.

Expectations for obtaining Colorado residency and professional engineering licensure are included within this posting. This position is an individual contributor who acts as a staff authority and is immediately responsible for the safety of a high quantity of dams in a region with a high population at risk below the dams. This role exists to prevent loss of life and property damage from dam failures by setting safe storage levels in reservoirs through inspection and engineering evaluation;

to provide assistance to Colorado citizens in the area of dam safety.

Specific job duties include but are not limited to:

• Dam Safety Engineer completes inspection and assessment of jurisdictional dams per CRS 37-87-107, 109,125 to determine safe storage levels. Includes file review of historical data, field inspection of dam, advising dam owners of findings and requirements, producing written reports, and follow-up including letters and re-inspection; components may include the outlet conduit, operation of gate works, and inspection of repairs. Knowledge and skills include: computer modeling;
  
  dam failure hazard evaluations; PFMA and consequence analysis; flood hydrology; statistical analysis of rainfall or snowmelt floods; geotechnical analysis of soils including seepage and slope stability; hydraulic analysis of spillway channels and outlet structures; geologic/seismologic evaluation; and state laws, regulations and policy.
• Review design reports, plans & specifications for new dams or repairs; ensure compliance with dam safety rules and regulations, CRS, and industry standards. Conduct meetings with owners, consulting engineers and contractors to discuss requirements for new dams and repairs; inspect constructed work for conformance with approved plans and specifications.
• Reduce consequences of dam emergencies through Emergency Action Planning Rules; review Emergency Action Plans for High and Significant hazard dams; assist dam owners and emergency managers with EAP creation, fabrication, and distribution; coordinate with State and Local Emergency Management partners; respond to dam safety emergencies and participate in response with resources to reduce risk of loss of life and property damage.
• Proficient in engineering analysis methods to independently evaluate safe reservoir storage level; assess consequences of sudden dam failure; assign hazard classification; determine spillway adequacy; conduct Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluations (CDSE) for high hazard dams; apply results to risk categories; support analysis in hydrology, hydraulics and geotechnical engineering.
• Manage files for all dams in area of responsibility; maintain digital filing system with tools such as Laserfiche and Adobe Acrobat; facilitate a paperless workflow for correspondence, reporting and documentation.
• Provide information, training and outreach to build stakeholder knowledge and relationships related to dams to reduce dam safety risk statewide or regionally. Audience includes dam owners, consulting…