%A"Bourassa, H [Centre d'expertise hydrique du Quebec, Quebec, PQ (Canada)]" %D2009 %ICanadian Dam Association, Edmonton, AB (Canada); Canadian Dam Association, Edmonton, AB (Canada) %2 %J[] %K13 HYDRO ENERGY, 29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY, HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS, FLOOD CONTROL, DAMS, SAFETY, INLAND WATERWAYS, SPILLWAYS, ACCIDENTS, SAFETY CULTURE, QUEBEC %PMedium: X; Size: page(s) 1-21 %TPublic safety around dams %XFourty public dams are managed on a real-time basis by the Centre d'expertise hydrique du Quebec (CEHQ). This presentation described the public dams owned by the CEHQ and discussed the public safety measures at the dams. The dams serve various purposes, including protection against floods; industrial or drinking water supply; resort or recreational activities; hydroelectric development; and wildlife conservation. Trigger events were also discussed, such as the complaint at Rapides-des-Cedres dam and deaths that occurred in 2004 when water from a dam was released without warning. Several photographs were presented to illustrate that people were unaware of the danger. Initiatives aimed at raising awareness and studying public safety issues were discussed. A pilot project was launched and a permanent committee was created to evaluate all aspects of public safety at the dams owned by CEHQ. The first tasks of the committee were to establish requirements for waterway safety barriers, both upstream and downstream, for all public dams; to establish requirements for safety signage for all public dams; and to develop criteria to decide on safety signage at each dam. figs. %0Conference %N;TRN: CA0905179 %1 %CCanada %Rhttps://doi.org/ TRN: CA0905179 CANM %GEnglish