HR: 1340h
AN: IN23A-0950    [Abstracts]
TI: A Vulnerability Assessment Approach for Dams of Mississippi
AU: * Kuszmaul, J S
EM: kuszmaul@olemiss.edu
AF: University of Mississippi, Department of Geology and Geologcal Engineering, University, MS 38677, United States
AU: Gunter, B
EM: bjgunter@olemiss.edu
AF: University of Mississippi, Department of Geology and Geologcal Engineering, University, MS 38677, United States
AU: McGregor, G
EM: Gaylan_McGregor@deq.state.ms.us
AF: Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Land and Water Resources P.O. Box 10631, Jackson, MS 39289-0631, United States
AU: Holt, R M
EM: rmholt@olemiss.edu
AF: University of Mississippi, Department of Geology and Geologcal Engineering, University, MS 38677, United States
AU: Pickens, J
EM: jpickens@intera.com
AF: INTERA, Inc., 1812 Centre Creek Dr., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78754, United States
AU: Holtz, T
EM: tholtz@intera.com
AF: INTERA, Inc., 1812 Centre Creek Dr., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78754, United States
AU: Jones, T
EM: tjones@intera.com
AF: INTERA, Inc., 1812 Centre Creek Dr., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78754, United States
AU: Phillips, P
EM: Pat_Pillips@deq.state.ms.us
AF: INTERA, Inc., 1812 Centre Creek Dr., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78754, United States
AB: As part of a state-wide effort to characterize the vulnerability of Mississippi's dams, we are developing a new set of vulnerability assessment tools. Our vulnerability assessment methods will consider earlier attempts to develop risk indexing methods for dams, but will be designed to be applied to Mississippi's entire database of over 3,700 dams. Unlike earlier efforts to dams, which emphasized hazards posed by the dams, our methods will be designed to consider intrinsic and extrinsic vulnerability, and consider consequences as well. Intrinsic sources of vulnerability consider such factors as the potential for unstable slopes, piping, and spillway inadequacy. Extrinsic sources of vulnerability will include features such as the potential for intentional or unintentional human acts. Other factors that will be included will be the potential for neglect of maintenance of the dam and susceptibility to interference from wildlife. Consequences will be assessed by considering the downstream population and economic resources that may be at risk due to an uncontrolled release of the reservoir. The analysis of these vulnerabilities and consequences is being calculated using a GIS-based database of all of Mississippi's dams along with population distribution, terrain, and economic resources across the state. Conventional methods of analysis of a dam breach or other uncontrolled release will still be necessary, but the extent to which downstream features and population are affected can be more readily identified. This approach facilitates assessment and decision making on a large dam inventory to permit resources within the state to be directed efficiently to dams that merit attention.
DE: 0468 Natural hazards
DE: 1819 Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
DE: 1880 Water management (6334)
DE: 6334 Regional planning (1880)
DE: 6344 System operation and management
SC: Earth and Space Science Informatics [IN]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting