DAM DESIGN AND COMPLETION REPORT:

19.5 Dam Design Report

19.5.1 Introduction

The Dam Design Report is one of the requirements to accompany the water permit application.
The outline provided below complies with the Water Resource Management Rules (2007)
Section 64.

The dam design report should be complemented by the Environmental and Social Impact
Assessment Report and the Hydrological Assessment Report as annexes to the design report.
However, the main findings and results of the ESIA and HAR should be included in the Dam
Design Report.

The dam design report presented below is customised to the case of a small earth embankment
dam. The same report outline should be followed for other structures (mass gravity dams, pans,
rock catchments, sand dams, sub-surface dams) but should be customised appropriately for the
specific type of structure.

19.5.2 Dam Design Report Outline

A. Executive Summary

o Table of salient features

B. Introduction

o Dam name;

o Physical location (grid reference);

o Administrative location (county, sub-county,….sub-location);

o Land reference number;

o Drainage area;

o Name of river or water body;

o Class of dam and hazard assessment;

o Owner of the land and structure;

o Designer / engineer;
 o Dates: design completed, planned construction.

C. Purpose

Brief description of the purpose of the project and the expected benefits.

D. Reference Drawings

List of Reference Drawings, listing their subjects (titles) and reference numbers.

E. Hydrological Assessment

This information should be consistent with and drawn from the Hydrological Assessment
Report.

o Climatic conditions

 Mean and monthly annual rainfall (mm);

 Mean and monthly annual evaporation (mm).

o Catchment features

 Catchment area (km22)

 Longest path (length of river) in the catchment area (km)

 Maximum altitude (m)

 Altitude at the dam site (m)

 Catchment conditions (land use, vegetation cover, slopes, soils)

o Hydrological analysis

 Description and quality of data used for analysis

 Existing upstream and downstream abstractions

 Hydrological characteristics (annual, monthly, extreme events, flow

duration or probability of events occurring)

 Reserve or environment flow requirements

 Inflow design flows for specified return periods

F. Assessment of Environmental and Social Impacts

Brief description of the principal findings of the environmental and social impact assessment,
covering both the short term (construction period) and long term (operational phase).

G. Details of the Reservoir

o Impounded area (ha);

o Storage capacity (m33), dead storage volume (m33), net storage volume (m33);

o Expected annual evaporation losses (m33);

o Fetch (m);

o Maximum depth (m);

o Height-volume-area (HVA) curves.

H. Details of Embankment

o Height above lowest foundation (m);

o Gross freeboard (m), minimum freeboard (m);

o Dam crest: width (m), length (m), allowance for settlement;

o Embankment slopes (h:v): upstream slope, downstream slope;

o Core slopes;

o Total Fill Volume (m33);

o Details of embankment fill: volumes and type of material of core fill (m33), shell
fill (m33) filter material (sand, gravel) (m33), rock-fill (m33), rip-rap (m33);

o Foundation excavation volume (m33);

o Upstream, downstream and crest protection measures.

I. Details of Spillway

o Inflow design flood (m33/s) and return period;

o Number of spillways;

o Width(s) (m) and Lengths (m);

 o Number of sills, material and location;

o Slope(s);

o Excavation Volumes: Total excavation (m33), rock excavation (m33 ), common

soil excavation (m33);

o Spillway protection measures.

J. Details of Draw-off System

o Brief description of the draw-off system and its principal components;

o Diameter of draw-off pipe (mm);

o Length of draw-off pipe (m) and anti-seepage arrangements;

o Ground level and details of intake structure;

o Outlet level at valve.

K. Details of Scour or Compensation Flow Arrangement

o Brief description of the scour or compensation flow arrangements and its

principal components;

o Diameter of pipe (mm);

o Length of pipe (m) and anti-seepage arrangements;

o Ground level and details of intake structure;

o Outlet level at valve.

L. Details of Ancillary Structures

o Water level gauges;

o Fencing;

o Pump houses;

o Valve chambers;

o Consumer points (cattle troughs, water kiosks, etc).

 M. Catchment Protection Works

o Brief description of the principal catchment protection works.

N. Cost Estimate

o Estimated construction cost (KES).

O. Construction Schedule

o Details of diversion works, if any;

o Construction schedule.

Figure 19-1 shows an elaborate example of a bar chart construction schedule for the
construction of a new dam.

Figure 19-1: Construction Schedule for Small Earth Dam

P. Operational Rules

o Description of operating rules;

 o Regime of environmental flow releases.

Q. Procedures to notify and protect downstream inhabitants, infrastructure and

environments

This material should be consistent with and drawn from the Dam Safety Plan (EAP).

o Hazard risk analysis;

o Notification procedures and details.

R. Schedule of Inspection and Maintenance

o Inspection schedule and details;

o Maintenance schedule and details.

19.6 Dam Completion Report

19.6.1 Introduction

Section 66 of the WRM Rules (2007) requires the submission of a Dam Completion Report to
WRMA. The report should be provided to the dam owner and users in addition to WRMA. The
Report should be prepared by the engineer or technical staff involved in the project.

The outline of the Dam Completion Report, presented below, also meets the requirements of
the Dam Operation Report as anticipated in Section 66 of the WRM Rules (2007). It is possible
to submit one report that comprehensively addresses the as-constructed conditions and the
operational aspects.

19.6.2 Dam Completion Report Outline

A. General Information

o Details of owner and dam users;

o Location.

B. As-Constructed Details

o Technical design details, revised for as-constructed conditions

o Changes between the original design and as-constructed conditions with an

explanation for the changes;
 o The final as-constructed details should be clearly specified. Particular attention
should be paid to aspects of the project that are buried and would be difficult to
ascertain without proper documentation. Final HVA curves should be presented.

C. As-Constructed Drawings

o A complete set of as-constructed drawings should b included in the Dam

Completion Report with particular attention to site bench marks, level
monitoring pegs on the embankment (if any), water level gauges, and spillway
crest levels, all of which are relevant to future monitoring of settlement of the
embankment or changes to the as-constructed conditions over time.

D. Operation and Maintenance Issues

o Release rules, including releases for environmental flows;

o Schedule of operation and maintenance tasks and responsibilities around dam,

reservoir and catchment area;

o Stocks needed to perform the maintenance tasks;

o Schedule of monitoring tasks, including relevant forms and data management

systems;

o Schedule of inspection, including relevant forms, and remedial measures if

needed;

o Catchment protection.

E. Emergency Procedures

o Notification Flow chart drawn from the Emergency Action Plan;

F. Recommendations

o General recommendations on catchment conservation which may cover issues of

overgrazing and soil conservation activities and

o Means to control pollution of the dam.

o Measures to minimise and manage water use conflicts, should they arise;

REFERENCE:
1. Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation-Kenya.
http://smalldamsguidelines.water.go.ke/technical_reports/