Type of Earthen Dam

Soil-saving Dams

Also known as a sediment storage dam, this artificial BMP is designed to intercept and trap waterborne sediments. The dam usually has a principal spillway that allows water to slowly flow through, allowing the sediment to settle out. This spillway may be in the form of a notch or box inlet with sufficient freeboard so water will never overtop the dam.

Grade-stabilization Dams

Most flood control dams serve two main purposes: flood control and grade stabilization. They also trap sediment but this is not a major objective. Flood control dams are built with the capacity to store the runoff from a ten- to fifty- year storm. This flood water passes from the storage pool by means of a principal spillway, usually a pipe thru the dam, over a period of several days. Runoff in excess of that from the designed storm passes immediately over an emergency spillway- usually a grassd waterway. Some flood control dams in dry and windy areas rarely contain any water but must have large capacities to control flash floods.

Flood Control Dams

Most flood control dams serve two main purposes: flood control and grade stabilization. They also trap sediment but this is not a major objective. Flood control dams are built with the capacity to store the runoff from a ten- to fifty- year storm. This flood water passes from the storage pool by means of a principal spillway, usually a pipe thru the dam, over a period of several days. Runoff in excess of that from the designed storm passes immediately over an emergency spillway- usually a grassd waterway. Some flood control dams in dry and windy areas rarely contain any water but must have large capacities to control flash floods.

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