2026 Webinar: The 2019 Spencer Dam Failure - An Extreme Case of Dams in Cold Regions

When:  Mar 10, 2026 from 12:00 to 14:00 (ET)
Speakers: Mark Baker, P.E.,Damcrest Consulting, Senior Dam Safety Program Engineer

PDH’s: This webinar is eligible for 2 PDH credits

This webinar will describe the physical processes and human factors that contributed to the failure of Nebraska’s Spencer Dam in a 2019 ice run. There was one fatality. Due to cold and ice, dams in cold regions can experience loadings that are not applicable to dams in warm regions, including ice runs, gate ice-up, gate clogging, and frozen operating equipment. This webinar will expand the knowledge of people who work on dams in cold regions. 

Key Takeaways:
1. Identify unusual loadings on dams.
2. Learn about dams in cold regions.
3. Understand Spencer Dam failure and its investigation.
4. View selected cases of the regulator's connection to dam incidents.
5. Understand the importance of a dam's history.
6. Learn about downstream hazard classification and why people don't evacuate.