 Dams in British Columbia
Water storage dams are generally built to supply water for domestic, industrial, conservation, or agricultural use, or for the production of electricity. In British Columbia, these dams are usually situated at the higher elevations so as to use gravity for distribution and to gain benefit from the plentiful rainfall and snowmelt.
Many of these dams are located above major population centres. Due to the effects of gravity, the water stored behind a dam can have immense potential energy that if released in an uncontrolled manner, such as the result of a dam failure or mis-operation of the works could cause loss of life, great social and economic loss and severe environmental damage to the drainage area downstream. Who Is Responsible?
 Dam Safety Program
The function of regulating the licensed dams is carried out by Regional and Victoria Staff. Dams 9 metres or greater are the responsibility of Victoria and dams below 9 metres are a Regional responsibility.
BC Dam Safety Program Annual Report 2010/11 ( 1.mb)
British Columbia Dam Safety Regulation [includes amendments up to B.C. Reg. 163/2011, September 12, 2011
Note: To Dam Owners Re Sign Requirement - As per OIC 108/2011, Appendix 2,
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Effective November 30, 2011 a dam owner of a dam located partially or entirely on Crown Land and that has a classification of significant, high, very high or extreme must ensure that there is at all times posted on the land at both ends of the top of the dam a sign that meets the criteria specified in the Regulation.
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Please see the Dam Signage Information Sheet below
Dam Safety Regulation Information Sheet, September 12, 2011 ( 190kb)
Application of the Dam Safety Regulation
Dam Signage Information Sheet, July 2011 ( 270kb) - Dam Signage Requirements for Dam Owners with Dams on Crown Land.
Dam Consequence Classification Conversion Information Sheet, August 2011 ( 470kb)
Dam Failure Consequence Classification Conversion Guideline for dams in British Columbia, BC Reg. 108/2011.
Dam Safety Officers ( 65kb)
The objective of the Regulation is to mitigate loss of life and damage to property and the environment from a dam breach by requiring dam owners to: inspect their dams, undertake proper maintenance, report incidents and take remedial action and ensure that the dams meet current engineering standards
Response to the Deputy Solicitor General's Recommendations To Strengthen the Dam Safety Program and Ensure Compliance and Enforcement:
Response to Recommendations (October 14, 2010) ( 1.5mb)
Information Bulletin (October 14, 2010)
Deputy Solicitor General's Recommendations:
Review of the Testalinden Dam Failure (July 2010) ( 1.1mb)
Guidelines and Information for Dam Owners:
Dam Safety Review (DSR) Guideline:
A DSR is a comprehensive, formal review carried out in intervals as shown in Schedule 2 of the BC Dam Safety Regulation.
Instructions (145kb) ....HFMM ( 245kb)....Framework ( 1mb)
Legislation:
Check Lists:
Contacts:
Guidelines:
Templates & Lists:
Mapping:
- Dams of British Columbia displayed in iMap BC's Geographic Gateway
- BC Dams
 In Google Earth.
Note: in order to run BC Dam Google Earth program, you must save the file to your computer, you may open the file from the dialogue box which will appear once the download is complete. The latest version of Google Earth is required.
Other B.C. Web Links:
Links to Neighbouring Dam Safety Programs:
State of Washington - Dam Safety
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