Dam Grants Program

High Hazard Potiential Dams Grant Program

In 2016, the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act was signed into law. This act provides funding for improvements to the rivers and harbors and conservation and development of water and related resources. As part of this act, the Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dam Grant Program was created. The first grant through this program became available in FY2019 and will only be available for a limited amount of time.

To participate in this program, the dam must meet the following criteria:

• Must be regulated by Indiana’s dam safety program
• Be classified as high hazard dam
• Cannot be federally owned
• Cannot be a licensed hydroelectric dam
• Cannot have been built under the federal authority of the Secretary of Agriculture. The dams built under the Secretary of Agriculture are also known as PL 566 dams. These dams are excluded even if they are no longer owned or operated by the Secretary of Agriculture.

Eligible projects include:

• Administrative actions associated with grants management
• Dam risk and consequence assessments
• Preliminary engineering studies
• Alternatives analysis
• Engineering design
• Mapping, engineering survey, and inundation modeling
• Development of specifications
• Development of floodplain management plans
• Development of operations and maintenance plans

The grant can cover up to 65% of the project costs. The dam owner is responsible for the remaining portion. The other funding must come from non-federal sources.

Grant project proposals must be submitted to Indiana DNR. Projects take time to develop. If you are interested in applying for the grant, contact Indiana DNR as soon as possible.

Information on the grant can be found on FEMA’s website.

This is a new program. More details and options will be available soon.

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