CDA - Dam Safety Review Workshop

The Canadian Dam Association (CDA) published Technical Bulletin: Dam Safety Reviews in 2016, to bring together knowledge from over 20 years of practice since the term “Dam Safety Review” (DSR) was introduced in Dam Safety Guidelines first published by the Canadian Dam Safety Association in 1995. The concept of periodic and systematic review is now widely accepted as an important part of dam safety programs in Canada and elsewhere in the world. This Bulletin is a result of extensive work and consultation by a CDA working group, and it is intended to supplement the guidance that was included in the CDA Dam Safety Guidelines.

This workshop present the concepts and processes developed in the CDA’s Technical Bulletin: Dam Safety Reviews. Participants will develop an understanding of the following:

DSR process as described in the CDA technical bulletin
Roles and expectations of the dam owner and review engineer
How a safety statement can be made and supported

Attendees work through exercises to better understand how to scope a DSR, what information is required to assess the safety of a dam, how to approach the hazard-failure mode-control aspect of a safety analysis, and how to present the findings in a manner that supports decision-making by the dam owner.

Exercises are completed in small groups, allowing for significant discussion and peer learning among workshop participants.

D. Chad LePoudre is the President and Principal Geotechnical Engineer with LGG (LePoudre GeoEnvironmental Group Inc.), and is an internationally recognized tailings management expert, with Technical, Management, and Business Development Expertise focused on Tailings and Mine Waste Management, GISTM Conformance, Dam Safety, Risk Assessment, Corporate Governance and Standards and Guidance. Mr. LePoudre was the Global Practice Lead for tailings with BHP from 2019 to 2024. Prior to joining BHP, Chad was the Vice President of GeoSciences and Materials testing for SNC-Lavalin. He came to SNC-Lavalin in 2011 through acquisition of MDH Engineered Solutions of Saskatoon, SK where he was Vice President of Geotechnical Services and part owner of the company. His career has mostly been focused on provision of engineering services related to tailings storage and dam safety. Chad is also a past president of the Canadian Dam Association and past chair of the CDA Mining Dams Committee. Chad completed his Civil Engineering Degree and graduate course work at the University of Saskatchewan. Chad and his family reside near Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Terry Oswell is a Principal Engineer in BC Hydro’s Dam Safety Program with 30 years’ experience in dam safety, hydro-electric civil, and geotechnical engineering. Terry has managed and evolved the BC Hydro dam safety review program since 2007 for the portfolio of 42 dam sites. She is also responsible for the program of updating OMS Manuals, interpreting the BC Dam Safety Regulation, and overseeing dam safety processes within BC Hydro. Prior to her current role, she worked and studied in New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia. Her prior experience includes dam inspection, surveillance and reporting; geotechnical investigations for mining; and geotechnical mapping for dam foundation, powerhouse foundation and power tunnels. Terry has led the working group on Dam Safety Reviews for the Canadian Dam Association (CDA) since its inception in 2011, including the production of a technical bulletin on the subject. CDA’s Technical Bulletin: Dam Safety Reviews was published in September 2016, and resulting workshops have been delivered in Canada, the United States, Australia, Chile, Peru, Brazil, and Mexico. In addition, Terry is a Past President of the Canadian Dam Association’s Board of Directors and her current CDA involvement includes the Professional Development Committee, the newly formed Dam Safety Program Working Group, and the Guideline Revision Project.