Abstract
From the early stages of operation Horcajo Dam, the overall safety of the dam has been jeopardized by the fact of being partially founded on a non-sufficiently characterized, neither monitored, alluvium foundation, being this issue constantly referenced in every dam safety document written since then (safety reviews, emergency action plan and operating rules mainly). The current risk baseline has been estimated and, in addition to those actions already taken, other complementary actions have been identified and evaluated in terms of several risk indicators. Such additional actions are, namely, the full implementation of an updated emergency action plan, reconstruction of the upstream impervious concrete monolith to reduce uplift, and a partial demolishing of the spillway to lower it to a set of different levels (alternatives). The outcomes of the risk informed process are presented in this paper, showing how robust and transparent information has been developed to support decision-making in Hervás Dam safety upgrading, becoming a milestone in a journey to risk informed governance.
