Dam Risk Management -- A Discussion Paper on the Principles

Despite a great deal of interest in risk management of dams and water resource facilities during the latter part of the 20 th century, few opportunities to apply these emerging concepts arose in practice. This paper examines the fundamental principles of risk assessment and decisions concerning their management can not be carried out in the traditional way decisions concerning the safety of dams were made in the past. A framework for managing the risks posed by dams is presented as is a proposed approach to determining when risk assessment is appropriate, and the professional and societal structures and institutions that are required to permit implementation of risk assessment in dam risk management.