Do your dam wall over flow in heavy rain falls? Warning: If it does, this can cause your dam wall the break.
A large number of dam failures have caused immense property damage when floodwaters destroy infrastructure. In addition, ecosystems and habitats are destroyed as a result of waters flooding them
Spillways
Dams almost always have “spillways” (Like Spoon drains or large pipes) designed to release the water if it is about to “overtop,” or overflow the top of the dam wall. Overtopping of a dam is often a precursor of dam failure.
Spillways can be made of concrete, earth, rock. Most spillways for most ponds are made of dirt. Earthen spillways typically sit at the end of the dam, with terraces extending well beyond the back toe of the dam, typically releasing water into the same creek or waterway that was dammed in the first place, as far away from the dam as possible. Earthen spillways have the gentlest slope possible, to allow water to move as slowly as possible.
Spillway Failure
In most cases of dam wall failures on our smaller dams found on farms and acreages, are a result of spillway failures. Over time spillways gets over grown, floaded with mud and debris. This caused blockage in the spillway and a ineffective spillways becomes active. The result, the dam wall over flows and start to erode/damage the dam wall.
The overtopping the dam wall, will start to erode/remove bedding layers from the top and the back of the dam wall. At some stage this will lead to a catastrophic results
Preventive action:
Periodically the spilway area needs cleaning around the spillway. Over growth, mud and debris needs to be removed. Call, Txt or email us, we will get this sorted for you.
Other Maintenance
Do not let trees or shrubs grow on the embankment,
spillway or spillway outlet slope. Roots might disturb
the compacted soil and provide a seepage path for
water, while trees or shrubs in the spillway area will
restrict the flow of flood water.