Events & Meetings

May Section PDH Event

Maryland's Dam Safety Program: An Introduction and Look Forward

Despite renewed attention in the media following the Oroville Dam crisis in early 2017, dams remain a largely hidden and poorly understood piece of our nation’s infrastructure. Many Marylanders aren’t aware of the small ponds in their neighborhoods, let alone the 550+ dams throughout the State.

This presentation will present an introduction to the Maryland Dam Safety Program, including a summary of the dam inventory in Maryland. It will also provide a look forward as the program undertakes a number of reforms and initiatives to ensure the public can benefit from dams without unnecessary risk. It will touch on recent and upcoming regulatory changes, revised design criteria, climate resilience, environmental justice, and opportunities presented by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

About the Speaker

John Roche, P.E.

John Roche, P.E. joined Maryland Dam Safety in early 2015 and serves as the Chief of the Dam Safety Permits Division and the primary point of contact for geotechnical engineering related matters. John also has experience with facilitating dam removal projects, emergency response and preparedness activities, policy development, and process improvement. Prior to joining the Dam Safety Division, John spent nearly 10 years as a geotechnical engineering consultant in the Mid-Atlantic and New England states serving as a project manager for a wide array of geotechnical, environmental, and geothermal projects. John is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, where he earned both his bachelor's and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering with a focus on geotechnical engineering and site characterization. He maintains active professional registration in three states and active in the Association of State Dam Safety Officials where he serves on the board and multiple committees and task groups. John lives in Catonsville, Maryland with his wife Kate and two children.

Registration Deadline & Cancellation Policy

Registrations are open until 12 PM, the Friday prior to the event. At that time all reservations are considered firm and billed. You will not be able to receive a refund after that time. Additionally, you will be invoiced, via email, for payment in the event you cancel, after this deadline or do not attend the event. You will not have to pay if you cancel your registration prior to this deadline.

Important Information

1. Registration is always required regardless of payment method by Monday at 5 PM prior to the event. If you need to register multiple attendees please fill out one form for each attendee.

2. If you choose not to pay via credit card (through paypal) additional payment options are available. Details are available during checkout.

3. If you are an administrator paying for multiple employees, a single payment may be made. Please register each attendee using the form and then add each attendee to the shopping cart, after selecting their membership status/pay rate and adding their name. Then complete the checkout process.

4. To cancel your reservation or if you have any questions please email reservations@ascemd.org.