2019 Webinar: Dam Overtopping Protection Systems - Part I

When:  Nov 12, 2019 from 12:00 to 14:00 (ET)


This is the first of a two-part series on overtopping protection systems for embankment and concrete dams.  Many dams today have insufficient spillway capacity and may be overtopped during large floods below the regulatory requirement.  In recent years, dam overtopping protection has become increasingly popular as a means to provide additional flood release capacity when more conventional methods such as increasing spillway discharge capacity or reservoir storage are cost prohibitive or impractical.  This course will present many of the overtopping protection systems currently in use, describing for each their range of design applications, construction considerations, and potential limitations and risks.  Using FEMA’s 2014 “Technical Manual: Overtopping Protection for Dams” as a guide, the two most commonly used systems today, roller-compacted concrete (RCC) and articulating concrete blocks (ACB) will first be presented, followed by various reinforced concrete, turf, and rockfill alternatives for embankment dams.  The course will conclude with special applications for concrete dams.  Part 2 will explore the performance of various systems in hydraulic model studies.


Five takeaways/learning objectives attendees will receive from this course:

  1. Exposure to wide range of potential overtopping protection systems for dams.
  2. Case histories of design applications and performance.  
  3. Limitations of use, including infrequent operation and/or low hazard conditions.  
  4. Advantages of one system relative to the others, including cost.  
  5. Current research and development of new systems or system refinements worldwide. 

  Member Rate: $99

  • Non-Member Rate: $130