Evaluation and Monitoring of Seepage and Internal Erosion

Internal erosion occurring at Federal (and non-Federal) embankment dams and levees poses a threat of failure and potential risk to public safety. This document presents a summary of current Federal practices for monitoring and measuring seepage, identifying potential failure modes (PFMs) related to internal erosion, assessing risk related to internal erosion, and remediating internal erosion. While research continues into these processes, this document attempts to present the best understanding based on current Federal agency practice. Hence, very recent or new, unproven technologies are not discussed.