CS21B - Concurrent Session 21B: Oklahoma’s Innovative Solutions to Funding Dam Safety Projects

According to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials the average age of dams in the United Sates is 61 years and the estimated total cost to rehabilitate the nation’s non-federal dams exceeds $65 billion. As dams age beyond their intended design life, the need for dam rehabilitation projects continues to increase along with the costs. Meanwhile, the availability and access to funding for these projects poses many challenges for non-federal dam owners throughout the United States.

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) dam safety program and financial assistance program have successfully paired several different State and Federal funding sources to complete dam rehabilitation projects. Over $30 million in loans and grants have been awarded to qualified dam owners through a combination of funding sources including the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund; the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s High Hazard Potential Dam grant program; and OWRB’s Financial Assistance loan program, Rural Economic Action Plan grant program, and Emergency grant program. The Oklahoma legislature also appropriated OWRB $10 million through the US Treasury’s American Rescue Plan Act, to allocate to dam owners for rehabilitation of poor and unsatisfactory condition high hazard potential dams. These available funds have eased dam owners’ struggle to improve and maintain the safety of their dams.

Maintaining dam infrastructure is essential for public health and welfare. The collaborative effort and non-traditional approach by OWRB to identify funding opportunities for dam rehabilitation projects has improved the safety of the dams in Oklahoma while protecting lives and property. The OWRB encourages other state dam safety programs to promote the establishment of such innovative practices and hopes sharing their experience will facilitate programs to identify similar possibilities and creative approaches.