At the Forefront of Dam Safety | HDR Staff Standing on Diablo Dam

At the Forefront of Dam Safety

Delivering Industry-Leading Solutions in Safe, Sustainable Ways

At HDR, we believe safety is vital to efficient dam operations and maintenance, and we’re continuing to pioneer new processes and technologies to improve the safety of our dams. From rope access inspections to uses of digital twin modeling and simulations, our experts perform analyses and risk-informed evaluations so that dam owners can make the right decisions for their facilities each and every day.

Join Our Global Team!

Emergency Response Decision-Making

Following a failure at the Oroville Dam, our experts provided around the clock, 24/7 services to provide structure data and information to the California Department of Water Resources so that the client could make a well-informed emergency response decision.

oroville dam response 

Oroville Dam Main Spillway Failure

Powerhouse Modernization and Dam Safety Inspections

In partnership with our hydropower program and Seattle City Light, we provided generator upgrades at Diablo Powerhouse and Boundary Powerhouse, and conducted dam safety inspections at Diablo Dam, Ross Dam and Gorge Dam.

Diablo Dam Safety Inspections

Aerial view of Diablo Dam

Flood Control Management and Ecosystem Restoration

We provided engineering services to help bring the Southport Levee into compliance with federal and state design criteria as well as unlock more than 300 acres of land for ecosystem restoration and public recreation in the West Sacramento metro area.

Southport Levee Improvements 

Aerial view of the Southport Levee Improvement Project in West Sacramento

Dam Feasibility Design and Risk-Informed Assessments

Since 2010, we have worked with Clean Water Services and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to identify cost-effective solutions for addressing dam safety deficiencies and to increase storage capacity needed for additional water supplies for the future needs of the Tualatin Basin in Oregon.

scoggins dam risk assessment

View of Scoggins Dam

Community Flood Control

Our experts delivered design services along the San Francisquito Creek watershed to help combat major flooding events and protect thousands of homes, businesses and vital infrastructure in the Palo Alto and East Palo Alto, California, communities.

san francisquito creek flood protection

View of the San Francisquito Creek in Palo Alto, California

Meet Our Dam Safety Experts

Bob Beduhn
Dams, Levees and Civil Works Director
Kenny Dosanjh
Hydraulic Structures Lead
Keith Ferguson
Senior Technical Advisor
Alex Grenoble
Hydropower Dam Safety Lead
Lee Mauney
Dams Levees and Civil Works Project Manager
Dan Osmun
Dam Safety and Risk Technical Advisor
Kevin Snyder | Dam Safety and Geotechnical Engineer
Dam Safety and Geotechnical Engineer
Elena Sossenkina
Dams and Levees Technical Advisor