Description
Operate and monitor dams, spillways, gates, valves, and related equipment to regulate reservoir levels, river flows, and hydroelectric generation while ensuring public and facility safety. May supervise dam operations and emergency response.
- • Operate gates, spillways, valves, and turbines to control reservoir levels, releases, and generation.
- • Use SCADA and local controls to start, stop, and adjust equipment and alarms.
- • Monitor and record reservoir elevation, inflow/outflow, tailwater, pressures, seepage, and temperatures.
- • Log water levels, gate positions, flows, power output, weather, and operational events.
- • Inspect dam structures, spillways, intakes, penstocks, and equipment; report defects.
- • Clean, lubricate, and perform minor repairs and adjustments on mechanical and electrical gear.
- • Remove debris and ice from trash racks and intakes to maintain flow.
- • Coordinate releases with downstream agencies and grid dispatch via radio, phone, or telemetry.
- • Activate warning sirens, lights, and signage before and during flow changes.
- • Implement flood operations and emergency action plans; prepare incident and accident reports.
- • Adjust releases to meet environmental, water supply, irrigation, and navigation requirements.
- • Patrol dam crest, abutments, galleries, and access points; control public access to restricted areas.
- • Write and submit work orders and maintenance requisitions.
- • Perform housekeeping and groundskeeping to keep facilities clean and in order.
- • Test and calibrate sensors, alarms, backup power, and communication systems.
- • Review weather forecasts and hydrologic data to plan operations.
- • Check and maintain fish ladders, bypass systems, and minimum-flow devices.
- • Maintain compliance records and daily reports for regulators and company policies.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
