Virginia Department of Conservation and RecreationAn official website of the Commonwealth of Virginia Here's how you knowAn official websiteHere's how you know
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Governor Glenn Youngkin has recognized this week as Engineers Week in Virginia. Engineers with DCR’s Dam Safety Division work to ensure that the over 2,500 dams in the state are properly and safely designed, built, operated and maintained. Learn more from DCR's Region 1 Dam Safety Engineer Andrea Henry, PE about how DCR’s engineers work to keep the public safe:
Andrea Henry, PE
Andrea's education: BS, Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, MS, Civil Engineering, University of Texas - Austin
Description of a Dam Safety Engineer's job duties: We support dam owners and their engineers in achieving compliance with the Virginia Dam Safety Act and Impounding Structure Regulations to protect downstream lives and property. This includes ensuring that dams are properly and safely designed, built, operated and maintained.
Who inspired you to become an engineer? My public school teachers who gave me a solid education foundation and the confidence to pursue a college degree in a math and science-focused field.
A favorite project or favorite memory in the field? In 2010, Tropical Storm Hermine resulted in damage to a high hazard dam in Austin, TX. At this time, the dam safety program at the City of Austin was new and this was my first opportunity to work towards short-term stability and long-term remediation measures for a dam. I learned so much during this project, both in the field and office, and developed an interest in dam safety engineering that still exists today.
Any notable projects you have worked on in Virginia? I wouldn’t say I’ve had an incredibly exciting event since beginning my role as a regional engineer in June 2023. When you work in dam safety, this is usually a good thing!
I did get the opportunity to see a dam through its early construction phase to completion. The dam was built for a commercial development in Prince William County and included wetland cells upstream of a type 2 wetland [which are temporary wetlands that hold water for a short time in the spring]. Although I work in dam safety now, my professional background is more generally water resources engineering and I love seeing creative water quality control designs come to life! The dam consists of an earthen embankment with a concrete spillway wall and outlets to control the 1-year storm event [see our Dams 101 page to learn about these parts of dams]. It was exciting to see the reservoir gradually fill with each rain event and the dam hold up and function as designed. The only issue was some sediment buildup at the low-level drain. Really, this is the best outcome you can hope for. This dam, with proper operation and maintenance, should function well and protect people and property downstream for a long time to come.
What advice would you like to offer to those interested in becoming engineers? Engineering is creative! If you like problem-solving and life-long learning, this is a great field to pursue.
We are hiring engineers! Find listings on our jobs page.
DCR regulates more than 2,500 dams in Virginia. To find out if you’re in a dam inundation zone and determine your flood risk, visit the Virginia Flood Risk Information System (VFRIS). You can learn more about dams in your area by viewing our Open Data Hub or exploring the Army Corps of Engineers’ National Inventory of Dams.
Concerns about a dam? Contact DCR's Dam Safety Program staff at (804) 371-6095 or email dam@dcr.virginia.gov.
Categories
Dam Safety | Dam Safety and Floodplains
Tags
dams | flood control | flood resilience
