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ARS Home » Plains Area » El Reno, Oklahoma » Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center » Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #421860
Research Project: Development of a Monitoring Network, Engineering Tools, and Guidelines for the Design, Analysis, and Rehabilitation of Embankment Dams, Hydraulic Structures, and Channels

Location: Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit

Title: Accelerating dam safety innovation through federal, state, and university collaborations

Author
item Hunt, Sherry
item Heiner, Bryan
item Livsey, Daniel
item Jin, Virginia
item ALOYSIUS, NOEL - University Of Missouri
item FARMER, KEVIN - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item KAMINSKI, ED - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
item NEILSEN, MITCH - Kansas State University
item OCHSNER, TYSON - Oklahoma State University
item WAGNER, KEVIN - Oklahoma State University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/24/2025
Publication Date: 3/7/2025
Citation: Hunt, S., Heiner, B.J., Livsey, D.N., Jin, V.L., Aloysius, N., Farmer, K., Kaminski, E., Neilsen, M., Ochsner, T., Wagner, K. 2025. Accelerating dam safety innovation through federal, state, and university collaborations. Meeting Abstract. ASABE State Section Meeting, March 7, 2025, Stillwater, OK.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Partnerships and collaborations are integral to innovation in dam safety. Partnerships leverage each other’s resources and expertise for the greater good. A successful collaboration relies on understanding partners’ goals, their strengths, and how working together can mutually benefit stakeholders, but success also requires recognition of hurdles to overcome. Scientists with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center (OCPARC) Agroclimate and Hydraulic Engineering Research Unit (AHERU) have formed collaborations between federal and state agencies, and academia for monitoring dams and reservoirs. Partners include the ARS Partnerships for Data Innovations (PDI), USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, University of Missouri – Columbia, Oklahoma State University, and Kansas State University with additional partners anticipated. These partnerships provide a multi-disciplinary research approach by leveraging expertise in hydraulic and geotechnical engineering, soil science, meteorology, water quality, computer science, instruments and controls, GIS, and economics among others. Forming collaborations create an opportunity for effective research by leveraging partnership resources and expertise while addressing redundancies by refocusing efforts to fill knowledge and monitoring gaps. Anticipated deliverables include improved flood and reservoir level forecasting, deployment of low-cost technologies (e.g., sensors), dashboards to communicate real-time and historic data, and improved alerting systems to stakeholders. Emergency managers, local sponsors (e.g., conservation and conservancy districts, municipalities), irrigation district managers, dam owners, farmers, agricultural producers, energy sector, tourism bureaus, and policy makers are expected to benefit from these collaborations. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.