Dam safety and maintenance

Dam safety and maintenance

Did you know that summer is the best time to inspect your dam? While water levels are low and the land is dry, you can more easily spot common issues and get onto fixing them early. Remember- if you have a dam on your property, it’s your responsibility to ensure it is safe!

Join us for one of our dam maintenance workshops in February, where you will learn what to look for when inspecting your dam, and how to address some common issues.

This project is being delivered by Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu, in partnership with the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, with funding from the South Australian government’s Landscape Priorities Fund and the Department for Environment and Water.

REGISTER NOW - On-farm dam inspection and maintenance workshops

  • Woodside: Saturday 8 Feb, 9.30-12pm
  • Myponga: Thursday 27 Feb, 4pm-6.30pm
  • Williamstown: Tuesday 29 April, 10am-12:30pm

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Dams degrade over time and require ongoing maintenance to keep them operational and to prevent them causing damage to people, property, and the natural environment.

Regular inspection and management of dams can significantly reduce the risk of them overfilling and adding pressure to dam walls, potentially causing collapse. Dam overfill and wall failure can jeopardise the safety of downstream neighbours, assets and the local environment. Routine inspection also enables the identification of minor defects which can be repaired cost effectively before major damage occurs, prolongs the life of the dam and protects it against deterioration.

Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu is encouraging landholders to undertake maintenance inspections on their dams throughout the year to prevent similar incidents from occuring. The best time for preventative maintenance is in summer, when water levels are low and land is dry. Proper planning can prevent dam wall failure and also benefit the environment by releasing water to downstream catchments before the dam spills.

Questions for landholders to consider

  • Does my dam have an unobstructed spillway operating that ensures the maximum water level is at least half a metre below the top of the dam wall?
  • Are there any leaks or signs of animal burrows, cracking, slumping or erosion on the dam wall?
  • Is my dam wall free of obstructions and vegetation other than grasses?
  • Does my dam need de-silting to maintain its volume?
  • Can I exclude livestock where possible?

Below are some helpful resources to help you understand best practice dam management.