SOD oversees the Reservation’s 15 high-hazard dams with regular instrumentation data collection, inspections and performance evaluations to identify and implement maintenance activities as well as address necessary improvements leading to rehabilitation and betterment projects associated with the CSKT Water Compact.

In addition, SOD oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) National Monitoring Center (NMC) provides early detection and notification of unsafe conditions at 141 BIA High-Hazard dams.  Early detection is conducted by monitoring individual dam Early Warning System (EWS) data that are transmitted to the BIA NMC located in Ronan, Montana.  Data from EWS’s are then checked against predetermined criteria to determine if dam conditions pose a serious threat to residents downstream of the dams.  If predetermined criteria are exceeded, notification either by computers or NMC personnel is made to proper authorities that can initiate actions described in the appropriate Emergency Action Plan (EAP).