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ExpectMore.govExpectMore.gov home pageEXPECT FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO PERFORM WELL, AND BETTER EVERY YEAR.
Program Assessment

Program

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Bureau of Reclamation - Safety of Dams Program

The program aims to ensure that Reclamation water storage facilities do not present unreasonable safety risks to the public, public safety, property, and/or the environment. The program monitors and evaluates its facilities, assesses potential impacts from dam failure, and takes necessary actions to reduce the risk.

Rating

What This Rating Means

PERFORMING
Effective

This is the highest rating a program can achieve. Programs rated Effective set ambitious goals, achieve results, are well-managed and improve efficiency.
  • The program is forward-thinking, well-managed, and is a leader in risk-based dam safety. Most program activities should be captured by new and innovative performance measures that can help track achievement of program goals.
  • The program has a well-developed review process, relying on both internal and external peer reviews, to ensure that shortcomings are addressed and identified in a timely manner.
  • The program has had some recent problems with cost overruns. There are some concerns about exceessive Federal cost-share and the economic justification of projects, but none of these issues impacts the program's ability to address dam safety issues.

Improvement Plan

About Improvement Plans

We are taking the following actions to improve the performance of the program:

  • Collecting data to establish baselines and track program performance.
  • Evaluating how high-performing dam safety programs can help other Federal dam safety programs.
  • Integrating more detailed program performance into Reclamation's budget request for its dam safety program.

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