


The point of contact between objects or parts that are adjacent or next to each other. That part of the valley side against which the dam is constructed. The left and right abutments of dams are defined with the observer viewing the dam looking in the downstream direction.

The amount of water that would cover one acre of land one foot deep. One acre-foot equals 325,900 gallons, 43,560 cubic feet, or 1,233 cubic meters.

Active storage
The volume of the reservoir that is available for some use such as power generation, irrigation, flood control, water supply, etc. The bottom elevation is the minimum operating level.


Adverse consequences
Negative impacts that may result from the failure of a dam. The primary concerns are loss of human life, economic loss (including property damage), lifeline disruption, and environmental impact.

A storage reservoir downstream of a power plant or large reservoir. It is used to regulate stream flow, provide a storage buffer, or control tailwater depths.

Afterbay dam
See regulating dam.

Sediment deposited by flowing water, such as in a riverbed.

Ambursen dam

Appurtenant structure
Supplementary or ancillary features of a dam such as outlets, spillways, powerplants, tunnels, etc.

A conduit (such as a pipeline) or artificial channel (such as a concrete-lined canal) for transporting water.

An underground layer of rock, sediment, or soil that is filled or saturated with water.

Arch dam
A concrete, masonry, or timber dam with the alignment curved upstream so as to transmit the major part of the water load to the abutments.

Augmentation (of stream flow)
Increasing steam flow under normal conditions, by releasing storage water from reservoirs.

Axis of dam
The vertical plane or curved surface, chosen by a designer, appearing as a line, in plan or in cross-section, to which the horizontal dimensions of the dam are referenced.



Backwater curve
The longitudinal profile of the water surface in an open channel where the depth of flow has been increased by an obstruction, an increase in channel roughness, a decrease in channel width, or a flattening of the bed slope.

Baffle block

Bascule gate
See flap gate.

Base flow
The sustained portion of stream discharge that is drawn from natural storage sources, and not effected by human activity or regulation.

Base thickness of dam
Also referred to as base width. The maximum thickness or width of the dam measured horizontally between upstream and downstream faces and normal to the axis of the dam, but excluding projections for outlets or other appurtenant structures.

Any sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic material represented as a unit in geology; being a sound and solid mass, layer, or ledge of mineral matter; and with shear wave threshold velocities greater than 2500 feet/second.

Beneficial use (of water)
The use of water for any beneficial purpose often defined by statute or court decisions. Such uses include domestic use, irrigation, fish and wildlife, fire protection, navigation, power, industrial use, etc.

A nearly horizontal step in the sloping profile of an embankment dam. Also a step in a rock or earth cut.

Body wave
Waves propagated in the interior of the earth, i.e., the compression (P) and shear (S) waves of an earthquake.

Borehole extensometers
(single-point or multi-point) An instrument designed to measure axial displacement of a fixed point or points along its length. Extensometers can be a rod-type, or a wire-type and are usually grouted into an uncased borehole. They can be installed horizontally, vertically, or at any angle.

Borrow area
The area from which natural materials, such as rock, gravel or soil, used for construction purposes is excavated.

An opening through a dam that allows the uncontrolled draining of a reservoir. A controlled breach is a constructed opening. An uncontrolled breach is an unintentional opening caused by discharge from the reservoir. A breach is generally associated with the partial or total failure of the dam.

A partition or structure separating compartments or to hold back water.

Bulkhead gate
A gate used either for temporary closure of a channel or conduit before dewatering it for inspection or maintenance or for closure against flowing water when the head difference is small, e.g., for diversion tunnel closure.

Buttress dam
A dam consisting of a watertight part supported at intervals on the downstream side by a series of buttresses. Buttress dam can take many forms, such as a flat slab or massive head buttress.

Bypass system


A watertight chamber or hollow floating box used in construction work under water.

A constructed open channel for transporting water.

Carry-over storage
Storage of precipitation held over in a water storage reservoir from surplus years to supply deficiencies of flow during dry years.

A course, such as a trench or aqueduct, through which water is moved or directed; the bed of a river or stream.

A steep-sloped conduit conveying water at high velocities to a lower level. Usually of an open channel box-shape and constructed of reinforced concrete; conveys water such as spillway flows over the crest of a dam or between major changes in open channel elevation.

A temporary structure enclosing all or part of the construction area that construction can proceed in the dry. A diversion cofferdam diverts a stream into a pipe, channel, tunnel, or other watercourse.

Mechanical action that increases the density by reducing the voids in a material.

Comprehensive EAP exercise
An in depth exercise of an EAP that involves the interaction of the dam owner with the state and local emergency management agencies in a stressful environment with time constraints. Functional and full-scale EAP exercises are considered comprehensive EAP exercises.

Concrete lift
The vertical distance between successive horizontal construction joints.

Concurrent floods

The process by which water vapor turns into fine water droplets to form cloud. Condensation occurs when the air becomes completely saturated and is unable to hold any more water vapor. It is the opposite of evaporation.


Conjunctive use
A water management strategy that combines the use of surface and groundwater resources.

Potential loss of life or property damage downstream of a dam caused by floodwaters released at the dam or by waters released by partial or complete failure of dam. Also effects of landslides upstream of the dam on property located around the reservoir.

Conservation storage
That portion of water, stored in a reservoir, which is impounded for later use.

Construction joint
The interface between two successive placements or pours of concrete where bond, and not permanent separation, is intended.

Consumptive use
Quantify of water lost to evaporation, plant and industrial process loss.

Contact grouting
Filling, with cement grout, any voids existing at the contact of two zones of different materials, i.e., between a concrete tunnel lining and the surrounding rock.

Conveyance facilities
Facilities, such as aqueducts and channels, used to transport or carry water from one location to another.

A zone of low permeability material in an embankment dam. The core is sometimes referred to as central core, inclined core, puddle clay core, rolled clay core, or impervious zone.

Core wall
A wall built of relatively impervious material, usually of concrete or asphaltic concrete in the body of an embankment dam to prevent seepage.

Crack monitors
(Whittemore gauges, dial gauges, depth micrometers, and Avongard crack monitors). Measure movements transverse and along a joint or crack.

Crest gate (spillway gate)

Crest length
The measured length of the dam along the crest or top of dam.

Crest of dam
A line running between abutments describing the upper limit of a dam. (see top of dam)

Crib dam
A gravity dam built up of boxes, crossed timbers or gabions, filled with earth or rock.

Critical damping
The minimum amount of damping that prevents free oscillatory vibration.

Cross section

Cubic feet per second (cfs)
A unit of measurement describing the flow of water. A cubic foot is the amount of water needed to fill a cube that is one foot on all sides, about 7.5 gallons.

Curtain grouting

Cutoff trench
A foundation excavation later to be filled with impervious material so as to limit seepage beneath a dam.

Cutoff wall
A wall of impervious material usually of concrete, asphaltic concrete, or steel sheet piling constructed in the foundation and abutments to reduce seepage beneath and adjacent to the dam.


An artificial barrier that has the ability to impound water, wastewater, or any liquid-borne material, for the purpose of storage or control of water.

Dam failure
Catastrophic type of failure characterized by the sudden, rapid, and uncontrolled release of impounded water or the likelihood of such an uncontrolled release It is recognized that there are lesser degrees of failure and that any malfunction or abnormality outside the design assumptions and parameters that adversely affect a dam’s primary function of impounding water is properly considered a failure. These lesser degrees of failure can progressively lead to or heighten the risk of a catastrophic failure. They are, however, normally amenable to corrective action.

Dam safety

Dam safety program purposes

Dead storage
The storage that lies below the invert of the lowest outlet and that, therefore, cannot readily be withdrawn from the reservoir.

Dead storage (dead capacity)
The reservoir capacity from which stored water cannot be evacuated by gravity; inactive storage.

Demand (electrical)
The load that the terminals of an installation or system averaged over a specified interval of time. Demand is expressed in kilowatts, kilovolt amperes, or other suitable units.

Demand (water)
The amount of water necessary to satisfy reasonable local requirements of a given community or agricultural area.

Design head
The head at which a hydroelectric facility is designed to operate at maximum efficiency. Also refers to the water pressure or water elevation a facility may be designed to withstand, measured from the free surface level to the free discharge point.

Design water level
The maximum water elevation, including the flood surcharge, that a dam is designed to withstand.

Design wind
The most severe wind that is reasonably possible at a particular reservoir for generating wind setup and run-up. The determination will generally include the results of meteorologic studies that combine wind velocity, duration, direction and seasonal distribution characteristics in realistic manner.

Deterministic methodology
A method in which the chance of occurrence of the variable involved is ignored and the method or model used is considered to follow a definite law of certainty, and not probability.

Dewpoint temperature
The temperature at which dew begins to form or vapor begins to condense into a liquid.

Diaphragm wall (membrane)
A sheet, thin zone, or facing made of an impervious material such as concrete, steel, wood, plastic, etc. Also see core wall.


Rate of flow or volume per unit time of liquid flowing along a channel or through a pipe at a given instant.

Discharge capacity
The entire discharging capacity of a power plant’s turbines or pumps; the maximum amount of water that can safely be released from a given waterway. .

A long narrow trench or furrow dug in the ground, as for irrigation or drainage.

The transfer of water from a stream, lake, aquifer, or other source of water by a canal, pipe, well, or other conduit to another watercourse or to the land, as in the case of an irrigation system

Diversion channel, canal, or tunnel
A waterway used to divert water from its natural course. The term is generally applied to a temporary arrangement, e.g., to bypass water around a dam site during construction. “Channel” is normally used instead of “canal” when the waterway is short.

Diversion dam

Double curvature arch dam
An arch dam that is curved both vertically and horizontally.

Drain, blanket
A layer of pervious material placed to facilitate drainage of the foundation and/or embankment.

Drain, chimney

Drain, toe

Drainage area
The area that drains to a particular point on a river or stream.

Drainage curtain

Drainage wells or relief wells
Vertical wells downstream of or in the downstream shell of an embankment dam to collect and control seepage through and under the dam. A line of such wells forms a drainage curtain.

The difference between a water level and a lower water level in a reservoir within a particular time. Used as a verb, it is the lowering of the water surface.

Digging up and removing material from wetlands or waterways, usually to make them deeper or wider.


Drum gate
A type of spillway gate consisting of a long hollow drum. The drum may be held in its raised position by the water pressure in a flotation chamber beneath the drum.

Dynamic routing
Hydraulic flow routing based on the solution of the St. Venant Equation(s) to compute the changes of discharge and stage with respect to time at various locations along a stream.


Earth dam
An embankment dam in which more than 50% of the total volume is formed of compacted earth layers are generally smaller than 3-inch size.


Earthquake, Maximum Credible (MCE)
The earthquake(s) associated with specific seismotectonic structures, source areas, or provinces that would cause the most severe vibratory ground motion or foundation dislocation capable of being produced at the site under the currently known tectonic framework. It is determined by judgment based on all known regional and local geological and seismological data.

Embankment dam
Any dam constructed of excavated natural materials, such as both earthfill and rockfill dams, or of industrial waste materials, such as a tailings dam.


Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

Emergency Alert System

Emergency gate
A standby or reserve gate used only when the normal means of water control is not available for use.

Emergency gate
A standby or auxiliary gate used when the normal means of water control is not available. Sometimes referred to as guard gate.

Emergency Management Agency

Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

Emergency spillway
A spillway that provides for additional safety should emergencies not contemplated by normal design assumptions be encountered, i.e. unanticipated amounts of flood flows. The crest is usually set at maximum design water surface.

Energy dissipater

Environmental impacts
factors that affect organisms and the surroundings of organisms.

Ephemeral Streams
Streams which flow only in direct response to precipitation, or for limited time periods during snowmelt runoff, and whose channel is at all times above the water table.

The point on the earth’s surface located vertically above the point where the first rupture and the first earthquake motion occur.

The wearing away of a surface (bank, streambed, embankment, or other surface) by floods, waves, wind, or any other natural process.

The process of water vapor transfer from vegetated land surfaces into the atmosphere; an essential part of the global hydrologic cycle. Evapotranspiration includes evaporation (the change of liquid water, from bodies of water and wet soil, into water vapor) and transpiration (in which which water is drawn from the soil into plant roots, transported through the plant, and then evaporated from leaves and other plant surfaces into the air)


See Dam, Failure.

Failure mode
A potential failure mode is a physically plausible process for dam failure resulting from an existing inadequacy or defect related to a natural foundation condition, the dam or appurtenant structures design, the construction, the materials incorporated, the operations and maintenance, or aging process, which can lead to an uncontrolled release of the reservoir.

A fracture or fracture zone in the earth along which there has been displacement of the two sides relative to one another and which is parallel to the fracture.

Fault, active

The-straight-line distance across a body of water subject to wind forces. The fetch is one of the factors used in calculating wave heights in a reservoir.

Manmade deposits of natural soils or the process of the depositing; an earth or broken rock structure or embankment.

Filter (filter zone)
One or more layers of granular material graded (either naturally or by selection) so as to allow seepage through or within the layers while preventing the migration of material from adjacent zones.

Fish hatchery
A facility where salmon and other fish are artificially spawned and raised to be released in lakes, rivers, or estuaries.

Fish ladder

Fixed wheel gate (fixed roller gate) (fixed axle gate)

Flap gate
A gate hinged along one edge, usually either the top or bottom edge. Examples of bottom-hinged flap gates are tilting gates and fish belly gates so called from their shape in cross section.

Structural members of timber, concrete, or steel placed in channels or on the crest of a spillway to raise the reservoir water level but intended to be quickly removed, tripped, or fail in the event of a flood.

Flip bucket

A temporary rise in water surface elevation resulting in inundation of areas not normally covered by water. Hypothetical floods may be expressed in terms of average probability of exceedance per year such as one-percent-chance-flood, or expressed as a fraction of the probable maximum flood or other reference flood.

Flood gate
A gate to control flood release from a reservoir.

Flood plain
An area adjoining a body of water or natural stream that may be covered by floodwater. Also, the downstream area that would be inundated or otherwise affected by the failure of a dam or by large flood flows. The area of the flood plain is generally delineated by a frequency (or size) of flood.

Flood routing

Flood storage

Flood surcharge
The storage volume between the top of the active storage and the design water level.

Flood, Flash
A sudden flood of great volume, usually caused by a heavy rain. Also, a flood that crests in a short length of time and is often characterized by high velocity flows. It is often the result of heavy rainfall in a localized area.

Flood, Inflow Design (IDF)
The flood flow above which the incremental increase in downstream water surface elevation due to failure of a dam or other water impounding structure is no longer considered to present an unacceptable threat to downstream life or property. The flood hydrograph used in the design of a dam and its appurtenant works particularly for sizing the spillway and outlet works and for determining maximum storage, height of dam, and freeboard requirements.

Flood, Probable Maximum (PMF)
The flood that may be expected from the most severe combination of critical meteorologic and hydrologic conditions that are reasonably possible in the drainage basin under study.

Refers to the movement of water through an open or closed channel or conduit, usually measured in cubic feet per second.

Flow measurement devices
(flowmeters, weirs, and calibrated bucket and stopwatch). Instruments that measure leakage quantities.

The variation in water level, up or down, as a result of project operation.

An open channel constructed with masonry, concrete or steel of rectangular or U shaped cross section and designed for medium or high velocity flow. Also, a channel in which water is accelerated for purposes of measurement.

Refers to streams and stream processes.

The finely divided residue resulting from the combustion of ground or powdered coal and which is transported from the firebox through the boiler by flue gases; known in the United Kingdom as pulverized fuel ash (pfa).

A storage reservoir upstream from a generating or pumping plant.

The portion of the valley floor that underlies and supports the dam structure.

Vertical distance between a specified stillwater (or other) reservoir surface elevation and the top of the dam, without camber.


A passageway in the body of a dam used for inspection, foundation grouting, and/or drainage.

Gantry crane
A fixed or traveling bent-supported crane for handling heavy equipment.

A movable water barrier for the control of water.

Gate chamber (valve chamber)

Gauge (gauging station)
Specific locations on a stream where systematic observations of hydrologic data are obtained through mechanical or electrical means.

A machine powered by a steam or water turbine which produces electric current.

Any fabric or textile (natural or synthetic) when used as an engineering material in conjunction with soil, foundations, or rock. Geotextiles have the following uses: drainage, filtration, separation of materials, reinforcement, moisture barriers, and erosion protection.

Vertical drop per unit of horizontal distance.

Gravity dam
A dam constructed of concrete and/or masonry, which relies on its weight and internal strength for stability.


Water held in pores and crevices of the subsoil, mainly derived from rain or other water source that percolates (drains or seeps) from the surface.

A fluidized material that is injected into soil, rock, concrete, or other construction material to seal openings and to lower the permeability and/or provide additional structural strength. There are four major types of grouting materials: chemical; cement; clay; and bitumen.

Grout blanket

Grout cap
A concrete filled trench or pad encompassing all grout lines constructed to impede surface leakage and to provide anchorage for grout connections.

Grout curtain
One or more zones, usually thin, in the foundation into which grout is injected to reduce seepage under or around a dam.


The natural environment of a plant or animal; a place that is natural for the life and growth of an organism.


Hazard potential

Hazard potential classification

Head, static
The vertical distance between two points in a fluid.

Head, velocity

The gate that controls water flow into irrigation canals and ditches. A watermaster regulates the headgates during water distribution and posts headgate notices declaring official regulations.


The junction of the upstream face of a gravity or arch dam with the ground surface. For an embankment dam, the junction is referred to as the upstream toe of the dam.

Height, above ground
The maximum height from natural ground surface to the top of a dam.

Height, hydraulic
The vertical difference between the maximum design water level and the lowest point in the original streambed.

Height, structural
The vertical distance between the lowest point of the excavated foundation to the top of the dam.

Hollow gravity dam

Hollow jet valve
A device for regulating high-pressure outlets. Essentially, it is half a needle valve in which the needle closure member moves upstream toward the inlet end of the valve to shut off flow. As there is no convergence at the outlet end, the flow emerges in the form of an annular cylinder, segmented by several splitter ribs for admitting air into the jet interior to prevent jet instability.

Hydraulic fill
Fill material that is transported and deposited using water.

Hydraulic fill dam
An earth dam constructed of materials, often dredged, which are conveyed and placed by suspension in flowing water.

Hydroelectric power
the electric current produced by water power.

Hydrograph, breach or dam failure
A flood hydrograph resulting from a dam breach.

Hydrograph, flood

Hydrograph, unit

Hydrologic cycle
Also known as the water cycle; the complete cycle of water passing (evaporation) from the oceans, through the atmosphere to the land (precipitation) and back to the ocean

One of the earth sciences that encompasses the natural occurrence, distribution, movement, and properties of the waters of the earth and their environmental relationships.

The study of the atmospheric and land surface phases of the hydrologic cycle with emphasis on the interrelationships involved.

The location where the slip responsible for an earthquake originates; the focus of an earthquake.


Rotating wheel of a turbine; also known as a rotor.

Having a texture that does not permit water to pass through.

See impermeable

A body of water formed by a dam, dike, floodgate, or other barrier for future use.

Inactive storage
The storage volume of a reservoir between the crest of the invert of the lowest outlet and the minimum operating level.Live storage

An instrument, usually consisting of a metal or plastic casing inserted in a drill hole and a sensitive monitor either lowered into the casing or fixed within the casing. This measures at different points the casing’s inclination to the vertical. The system may be used to measure settlement.

Industrial waste dam

Infiltration (soil)
The downward movement of water through the soil surface into the soil.

Inflow Design Flood (IDF)
See Flood.

Inlet structure (channel)
Concrete-lined portion of the spillway between the approach channel and gate or crest structure.

An arrangement of devices installed into or near dams that provide for measurements that can be used to evaluate the structural behavior and performance parameters of the structure.

Placed at the beginning of an outlet-works waterway (power conduit, water supply conduit), the intake establishes the ultimate drawdown level of the reservoir by the position and size of its opening(s) to the outlet works. The intake may be vertical or inclined towers, drop inlets, or submerged, box-shaped structures. Intake elevations are determined by the head needed for discharge capacity, storage reservation to allow for siltation, the required amount and rate of withdrawal, and the desired extreme drawdown level.

Intensity, seismic
A numerical index describing the effects of an earthquake on man, manmade structures, or other features of the earth’s surface.

Inundation map
A map showing areas that would be affected by flooding from releases from a dam’s reservoir. The flooding may be from either controlled or uncontrolled releases or as a result of a dam failure. A series of maps for a dam could show the incremental areas flooded by larger flood releases.


Joint meters
(Carlson type and vibrating-wire). An embedded instrument that uses electrical principles to measure movement across a joint or crack.


Kilovolt (kV)
One thousand volts.

Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
A unit of energy equal to 1,000 watt-hours. The corresponding SI term is megajoule (MJ). 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ


The unplanned descent (movement) of a mass of earth or rock down a slope.

Uncontrolled loss of water by flow through a hole or crack.

Length of dam

A natural or manmade earthen barrier along the edge of a stream, river, or lake to prevent the flow of water out of its channel.

With reference to a canal, tunnel, shaft, or reservoir, a coating of asphaltic concrete, reinforced or unreinforced concrete, shotcrete, rubber or plastic to provide watertightness, prevent erosion, reduce friction, or support the periphery of the outlet pipe conduit.

A condition whereby soil undergoes continued deformation at a constant low residual stress or with low residual resistance, due to the buildup and maintenance of high pore water pressures, which reduces the effective confining pressure to a very low value. Pore pressure buildup leading to liquefaction may be due either to static or cyclic stress appli¬cations and the possibility of its occurrence will depend on the void ratio or relative density of a cohesionless soil and the confining pressure.

Live storage
All water storage above dead storage; active storage.

A chain of logs, drums, or pontoons secured end-to-end and floating on the surface of a reservoir so as to divert floating debris, trash, and logs.

Low level outlet (bottom outlet)


Magnitude, Richter or Local (ML)
The magnitude of an earthquake measured as a common logarithm of the displacement amplitude, in microns, of a standard Wood-Anderson seismograph located on firm ground 100 km from the epicenter and having a magnification of 2800, a natural period 0.8 second, and a damping coefficient of 80 percent.

A branch pipe arrangement connecting and gathering the discharge from several pumps to a common discharge line or for connecting a penstock to several generating units.

Masonry dam
Any dam constructed mainly of stone, brick, or concrete blocks pointed with mortar. A dam having only a masonry facing should not be referred to as a masonry dam.

Maximum flood control level
The highest elevation of the flood control storage.

Maximum wind
The most severe wind for generating waves that is reasonably possible at a particular reservoir. The determination will generally include results of meteorologic studies that combine wind velocity, duration, direction, fetch, and seasonal distribution characteristics in a realistic manner.

The science that deals with the atmosphere and atmospheric phenomena, the study of weather, particularly storms and the rainfall they produce.

Mine tailings dam

Minimum operating level
The lowest level to which the reservoir is drawn down under normal operating conditions. The lower limit of active storage.

When used in the context of an environmental assessment, it refers to an action designed to lessen or reduce adverse impacts due to a project’s implementation.

Multiple arch dam
A buttress dam comprised of a series of arches for the upstream face.

Multipurpose project
A project designed for irrigation, power, flood control, municipal and industrial, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits, in any combinations of two or more. Contrasted to single-purpose projects serving only one need.


Non-overflow dam (section)
A dam or section of dam that is not designed to be overtopped.

Nonconsumptive water uses
Water uses that do not substantially deplete water supplies, including swimming, boating, waterskiing, fishing, maintenance of streamrelated fish and wildlife habitat, and hydropower generation.

Normal reservoir level
For a reservoir with a fixed overflow sill the lowest crest level of that sill. For a reservoir whose outflow is controlled wholly or partly by moveable gates, siphons or other means, it is the maximum level to which water may rise under normal operating conditions, exclusive of any provision for flood surcharge.



Observation well
A hole used to observe the groundwater surface at atmospheric pressure within soil or rock.

A double curve shaped like an elongated S, usually associated with a spillway configuration designed with optimal overflow characteristics.

Physical geography that pertains to mountains and to features directly connected with mountains and their general effect on storm path and generation of rainfall.


Outlet gate
A gate controlling the flow of water through a reservoir outlet.

Outlet works
A dam appurtenance that provides release of water (generally controlled) from a reservoir.

Overflow dam
A dam designed to be overtopped.

Overflow dam (section)
A section or portion of a dam designed to be overtopped.


Parapet wall
A solid wall built along the top of a dam (upstream or downstream edge) used for ornamentation, for safety of vehicles and pedestrians, or to prevent overtopping caused by wave runup.

Peak flow
The maximum instantaneous discharge that occurs during a flood. It is coincident with the peak of a flood hydrograph.

A pressurized pipeline or shaft between the reservoir and hydraulic machinery.

Perennial streams
Streams which flow continuously.

Pervious zone

Phreatic surface

An instrument used for measure water levels or pore water pressures in embankments, foundations, abutments, soil, rock, or concrete. (See instrumentation.)

An instrument designed to measure water levels or pore water pressures in embankments, foundations, abutments, soil, rock, or concrete. Open system porus-tube, and slotted-pipe piezmoters, or observation wells. Closed,system

The progressive development of internal erosion by seepage.

Measures the movement of a concrete dam due to applied reservoir water pressures and temperature changes. Installations consist of a formed shaft, suspension assembly, wire, plumb bob, dash pot and reading stations.

Plunge pool
A natural or artificially created pool that dissipates the energy of free falling water.

Potable water
Drinkable water.

Power plant
An installation that contains turbines and generators for the production of electrical power. Also known as a powerhouse.

A deposit on the earth of hail, rain, mist, sleet, or snow. It is the common process by which atmospheric water becomes surface or subsurface water.

Predominant period
The period(s) at which maximum spectral amplitudes are shown on response spectra. Normally, acceleration response spectra are used to determine the predominant period(s) of the earthquake ground motion.

Pressure cell
(Gloetzl cell. Carlson Load cell, vibrating-wire gauges, flat jacks and total pressure cell) An instrument for measuring pressure within a mass of soil, rock, or concrete or at an interface between one and the other.

Pressure relief pipes
Pipes used to relieve uplift or pore water pressure in a dam foundation or in the dam structure.

The likelihood of an event occurring.

Likely to occur; reasonably expected; realistic.

Probable Maximum Flood (PMF)
See Flood.

Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP)
Theoretically, the greatest depth of precipitation for a given duration that is physically possible over a given size storm area at a particular geographical location during a certain time of the year.

A machine used to raise or impel liquids through a pipe.

Refers to an operation in which a pumping-generating plant generates electricity for peak load, but, at off peak, water is pumped from the tailwater pool to the headwater pool for future use.


No Words.


Radial gate (Tainter gate)

Regulating dam

Regulating gate (regulating valve)

Regulating sleeve valve
A valve for regulating high pressure outlets and ensuring energy dissipation. Inside the valve there is a fixed-cone, pointed upstream, which ensures dispersion of the jet. Outside the valve, a cylindrical sleeve moves downstream to shut off flow by sealing on the periphery of the cone.

Water freed from storage for specified purposes such as delivery, water quality improvement, or fish and wildlife enhancement.


Reservoir capacity
Total storage space in a reservoir, below a designated elevation.

Reservoir capacity
The sum of the dead and live storage of the reservoir.

Reservoir rim
The boundary of the reservoir including all areas along the valley sides above and below the water surface elevation associated with the routing of the IDF.

Reservoir surface area

Response spectrum
A plot of the maximum values of acceleration, velocity, and/or displacement response of an infinite series of single degree of freedom systems subjected to a time history of earthquake ground motion. The maximum response values are expressed as a function of natural period for a given damping.


A layer of large uncoursed stone, precast blocks, bags of cement, or other suitable material, generally placed on the slope of an embankment or along a watercourse as protection against wave action, erosion, or scour. Riprap is usually placed by dumping or other mechanical methods, and in some cases is hand placed. It consists of pieces of relatively large size, as distinguished from a gravel blanket.


Risk analysis

Risk assessment

River basin
The drainage area for a river above a particular point.

Rock anchor

Rock bolt
A tensioned reinforcement element consisting of a steel rod, a mechanical or grouted anchorage, and a plate and nut for tensioning or for retaining tension applied by direct pull or by torquing.

Rock reinforcement
The placement of rock bolts, untensioned rock dowels, prestressed rock anchors, or wire tendons in a rock mass to reinforce and mobilize the rock’s natural competency to support itself.

Rock-fill dam
An embankment dam in which more than 50% of the total volume is comprised of compacted or dumped cobbles, boulders, rock fragments, or quarried rock generally larger than 3-inch size.

Roller compacted concrete dam

Roller drum gate
See drum gate.

Roller gate (stoney gate)

Rubble dam

Water that drains or flows off, such as rain water flowing off from the land or water from snow draining from a mountain range.


Saddle dam

Saddle dam (or dike)

Erosion of a river bed or bank or of a sea coast by action of flowing water and waves.

The internal movement of water that may take place through the dam, the foundation or the abutments.

An oscillating wave in a reservoir caused by a landslide into the reservoir or earthquake-induced ground accelerations or fault offset or meteorological event.

Seismotectonic province
A geologic area characterized by similarity of geologic structure and tectonic and seismic history.

Sensitivity analysis
An analysis in which the relative importance of one or more of the variables thought to have an influence on the phenomenon under consideration is determined.

The vertical downward movement of a structure or its foundation.

Settlement sensors
(pneumatic and vibrating-wire) Monitors the difference in elevation between the sensor unit and its reservoir.

Significant wave height
Average height of the one third highest individual waves. May be estimated from wind speed, fetch length, and wind duration

Horizontal overflow line of a measuring notch or spillway. Also a horizontal member on which a gate rests when closed.

An inverted enclosed pipeline structure to convey the water under roads, drainage channels, rivers, etc.

Skimmer gate

Slide gate

Slide gate (sluice gate)

Inclination from the horizontal. Sometimes referred to as batter when measured from vertical.

Slope protection
The protection of a slope against wave action or erosion. See Riprap.

An opening for releasing water from below the static head elevation.

The annual accumulation of snow in mountain areas.

A structure over or through which flow is discharged from a reservoir. If the rate of flow is controlled by mechanical means, such as gates, it is considered a controlled spillway. If the geometry of the spillway is the only control, it is considered an uncontrolled spillway.

Spillway capacity
The maximum spillway outflow that a dam can safely pass with the reservoir at its maximum level.

Spillway channel
An open channel or closed conduit conveying water from the spillway inlet downstream.

Spillway chute

Spillway crest
The lowest level at which water can flow over or through the spillway.

Spillway Design Flood (SDP)
See Flood, Inflow Design.

Spillway, auxiliary
Any secondary spillway that is designed to be operated infrequently, possibly in anticipation of some degree of structural damage or erosion to the spillway that would occur during operation.

Spillway, emergency
See Spillway, auxiliary.

Spillway, fuse plug

Spillway, service
A spillway that is designed to provide continuous or frequent regulated or unregulated releases from a reservoir, without significant damage to either the dam or its appurtenant structures. This is also referred to as principal spillway.

Spillway, shaft


Stilling basin
A basin constructed to dissipate the energy of rapidly flowing water, e.g., from a spillway or outlet, and to protect the riverbed from erosion.

Stillwater level
The elevation that a water surface would assume if all wave actions were absent.

Large logs, timbers, or steel beams placed on top of each other with their ends held in guides on each side of a channel or conduit so as to provide a cheaper or more easily handled means of temporary closure than a bulkhead gate.

The retention of water or delay of runoff either by planned operation, as in a reservoir, or by temporary filling of overflow areas, as in the progression of a flood wave through a natural stream channel. Definitions of specific types of storage in reservoirs are:

Strain meters
(Carlson type and vibrating-wire) An instrument that uses electrical principles to measure the strain at the location of the strain meter.


Stream gaging
A process of determining the rate of flow, or the discharge, of streams.

Structural height
When referred to dam sites, it is the distance between the lowest point in the excavated foundation and the top of the dam.

The volume or space in a reservoir between the controlled retention water level and the maximum water level. Flood surcharge cannot be retained in the reservoir but will flow out of the reservoir until the controlled retention water level is reached.

Surface waves
Waves that travel along or near the surface and include Rayleigh (Sv) and Love (SH) Waves of an earthquake.

(Triangulation, trilateration, Global Positioning System (GPS), photogrammetric, nd collimation) Measure external vertical and horizontal movement on the surface.


Tailings dam
See mine tailings dam.

The channel into which water is discharged after passing through the outlet works or turbines.

The water immediately downstream from a dam. The water surface elevation varies due to fluctuations in the outflow from the structures of a dam and due to downstream influences of other dams or structures. Tailwater monitoring is an important consideration because a failure of a dam will cause a rapid rise in the level of the tailwater.

Test pit
Put dug for geologic investigation or inspection and testing of earthwork placement.

(resistance temperature devices, thermistors, and thermocouples) Measures temperature using electrical principles of changing resistance in a copper wire as temperature changes, a semiconductor material that changes its resistance very markedly with temperature, or when two dissimilar metal wires are joined together, a change in temperature produces a change in voltage.

Thrust block

An instrument that monitors the horizontal or vertical tilt of structures and rock masses.

Toe of the dam
The junction of the downstream slope or face of a dam with the ground surface; also referred to as the downstream toe. The junction of the upstream slope with ground surface is called the heel or the upstream toe.

Top thickness (top width)

Topographic map
A detailed graphic delineation (representation) of natural and man made features of a region with particular emphasis on relative position and elevation.

Physical shape of the ground surface.

Transition zone (semipervious zone)

A device located at an intake to prevent floating or submerged debris from entering the intake.

A stream that flows into a larger stream or body of water


A device which produces power by diverting water through blades of a rotating wheel which turns a shaft to drive generators.

A branch in the canal for diverting water to a specific destination; where water is diverted to users.


Unit Hydrograph
See Hydrograph, unit.

Upstream blanket

Upstream face



Volume of dam
The total space occupied by the materials forming the dam structure computed between abutments and from top to bottom of dam. No deduction is made for small openings such as galleries, adits, tunnels, and operating chambers within the dam structure. Portions of powerplants, locks, spillway, etc., should be included only if they are necessary for the structural stability of the dam.



Water hammer
Any rapid increase of pressure in a pipeline caused by stopping the flow suddenly. Surge tanks are used to counter water hammers.

Water quality
A term used to describe the chemical, physical, and biologic characteristics of water with respect to its suitability for a particular use.

Water right
A legally protected right, granted by law, to take possession of water occurring in a water supply and to divert the water and put it to beneficial uses.

Water table
The surface of underground, gravity-controlled water.


Watershed divide

Wave protection
Riprap, concrete, or other armoring on the upstream face of an embankment dam to protect against scouring or erosion due to wave action.

Wave runup
Vertical height above the stillwater level to which water from a specific wave will run up the face of a structure or embankment.

A notch of regular form through which water flows.

Weir, broad-crested

Weir, measuring
A device for measuring the rate of flow of water. It generally consists of a rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, or other shaped notch, located in a vertical, thin plate over which water flows. The height of water above the weir crest is used to determine the rate of flow.

Weir, ogee
A reverse curve, shaped like an elongated letter “S.” The downstream faces of overflow spillways are often made to this shape.


Wind setup
The vertical rise in the stillwater level at the face of a structure or embankment caused by wind stresses on the surface of the water.


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