CSA S910.1:25

Description

Preface This is the first edition of CSA S910.1, Climate change vulnerability assessment for dams in Canada . This Standard was prepared by the following Subcommittees on Climate: • Oversight Committee on Climate Change Adaptation of Dams; • Subcommittee on Climate Change and Hydrotechnical; • Subcommittee on Dam System Components and Functions; and • Subcommittee on Vulnerability Framework and Adaptive Strategies, under the jurisdiction of the Technical Committee on Climate Change Adaptation of Dams and the Strategic Steering Committee on Construction and Civil Infrastructure, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee. This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group. Scope 1.1 Scope and application of Standard The existing guidelines, practices, and directives pertaining to dam safety and operations of dams (water dams, mining dams, and flood protection levees) in various jurisdictions in Canada do not specifically address the process of assessing the vulnerability of dams due to climate change. This Standard builds on the literature that exists for assessing climate change impacts for infrastructure in Canada and internationally. This Standard works in harmony with the Canadian Dam Association (CDA) guidelines and does not substitute any legal requirement concerning dam safety; however, it may provide more specific direction for assessing the vulnerability of dams to climate change. This Standard establishes a framework for conducting climate change vulnerability assessments for dams in Canada. The Standard includes dam components and operations in the evaluation for climate change impacts. It guides strategic asset management and supports climate change adaptation planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation specific to the dam system. 1.2 Exclusions This Standard does not apply to a) the physical impacts or interactions of the dam system on the surrounding environment (i.e., erosion, downstream flooding, fisheries, water quality, etc.); b) emission from the reservoir; and c) transitional risks which do not directly affect the operations or functions of the dam. 1.3 Terminology In this Standard, “shall” is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; “should” is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and “may” is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard. Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application. 1.4 Units of measurement The values given in SI units are the units of record for the purposes of this Standard. The values given in parentheses are for information and comparison only.