Funding for Non-Federal Dams is Available

From Shawn L. Penman, PhD, CFM, New Mexico Floodplain Managers Association:

FEMA announced $12 million in funding for non-federal dams is available to help rehabilitate non-federal dams so they can continue to reduce dam risk, increase community preparedness and provide flood protection.

The annual funding is part of the Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dam grant program for Fiscal Year 2021. The application period is open from May 21-June 25, 2021.

The funding, through FEMA’s Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dam grant program, provides technical, planning, design and pre-construction activities grants for the rehabilitation of eligible high hazard potential dams.  High hazard dams are critical because their failure or mis-operation may cause loss of human life and significant property destruction.

Local governments and nonprofit organizations are encouraged to review the Notice of Funding Opportunity announcement on Grants.gov.

For Fiscal Year 2021, FEMA received an increase from $10 million to $12 million for this grant cycle. To be eligible, dams must be:

• Located in a state or territory with a dam safety program.
• Classified as ‘high hazard potential’ by the dam safety agency in the state or territory where the dam is located.
• With a current, approved emergency action plan by the state or territorial dam safety agency or with current emergency action plan that is in conformance with state law and pending approval by the state or territorial dam safety agency.
• Located in a jurisdiction with a FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan that includes dam risk.
• Located in a state or territory in which determines the dam fails to meet minimum dam safety standards of the state or territory.
• In a state or territory with an enacted dam safety program, the state administrative agency, or an equivalent state agency, is eligible to apply for the grant. Each eligible state may submit only one grant application.

In a state or territory with an enacted dam safety program, the state administrative agency, or an equivalent state agency, is eligible to apply for the grant.  Each eligible state may submit only one grant application. Eligible subrecipients, including local governments and nonprofit organizations, are encouraged to review the Notice of Funding Opportunity announcement on Grants.gov.

Questions regarding the Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams grant program can be sent to FEMA-NDSP-HHPDGrants@fema.dhs.gov.