Dams in Massachusetts are regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Office of Dam Safety. Under the Dam Safety regulations 302 CMR 10 | Mass.gov, owners of regulated dams in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are required to:
- Register their dam with the Office of Dam Safety,
- Notify Office of Dam Safety of a property transfer,
- Inspect and maintain their dams in safe operating condition.
- Additionally, High Hazard Potential and Significant Hazard Potential dam owners are required to develop Emergency Action Plans.
Compliance with Dam Safety regulations is the best way to reduce the risk of dam failure and damage to people, infrastructure, and property, located downstream from dams. EOEEA recognizes that compliance with certain requirements can be costly and in certain cases an owner does not have the capacity or financial ability to secure the professional services needed to complete these regulatory requirements.
EOEEA has secured the services of six engineering firms to provide a variety of services to dam owners including:
- Phase I Dam Safety Inspections,
- Follow-Up abbreviated Dam Safety inspections,
- Emergency Action Plan (EAP) preparation and updating,
- Hydrologic and Hydraulic studies,
- Inundation mapping,
- Planning level assistance for geotechnical and structural analysis,
- Permitting, and
- Other engineering services as appropriate.
This program will provide technical assistance to dam owners with inspecting and assessing their dams, preparing and/or updating Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), if applicable, and to begin planning for dam repair or removal projects. Please note, there is no cost share requirement from the dam owner to participate in this program. Please also note, there is no requirement for a private owner to obtain public sponsorship in order to participate in this program.
All owners of regulated dams located in the Commonwealth are eligible to apply. However, EOEEA is prioritizing privately-owned dams with large lapses in compliance. EOEEA's goal is to support and advance dam safety throughout the Commonwealth.
Due to budget constraints, this work must be completed by June 30, 2025. EOEEA intends to continue this program in the future if funds are available.
If you are interested in applying for technical assistance relative to your dam(s), please contact dam.tech.assistance@mass.gov for more information.
Am I eligible to participate?
- Owners of regulated dams in the Commonwealth are eligible to participate. Dams do not need to be in compliance with Dam Safety regulations and may have open Dam Safety Orders or Certificates of Non-Compliance.
What is the cost to participate?
- There is no cost to participate in this program
What do I need to provide?
- Owners will need to provide access to the dam and permission to the engineering teams to access the property. Selected owners will be contacted by the engineering firms to coordinate permissions and access.
May I choose my own engineering consultant?
- No. Engineers for each project will be selected from the group of six contracted firms.
Will I own the reports? Will I be able to see them?
- All work products will be the property of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Dam owners will be provided with a courtesy copy of inspection reports, Emergency Action Plans, and any other work products that may be prepared under this program
What information should I include in my email to dam.tech.assistance@mass.gov?
- When contacting dam.tech.assistance@mass.gov to request technical assistance, please include the name of the dam you are contacting the program about, the legal name of the owner of the dam, the location of the dam (approximate street address and city/town), Hazard Potential Classification, and outline your needs for technical assistance as highlighted in the recent notice you received announcing the program.
Are Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Office of Dam Safety the same program?
- No, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Office of Dam Safety, within the Department of Conservation and Recreation, are two separate agencies operating independently of each other. The Office of Dam Safety is the state regulatory authority responsible for enforcing Dam Safety regulations. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs technical assistance program has been developed to assist dam owners in meeting Dam Safety regulatory requirements.
Does this funding cover construction costs?
- No this funding will not cover construction costs but will cover planning assistance for dam removal or repair projects, including but not limited to: estimation of design needs, estimation of permit costs, estimation of construction costs.