Page - 1443 - in Book of Full Papers - Symposium Hydro Engineering

It should be noted here that design of such small dams has been performed with relatively high probability of exceedance of the design loads and impacts according to the code requirements. Thus, it is possible that such damages occur during their operational life. This only emphasizes the importance of proper regular maintenance and carrying out of all necessary repair works on time. 3.4. POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS After the summarizing presentation of the main operation and maintenance problems of the small dams in Bulgaria above, the following recommendations can be formulated:  The necessary administrative work has to be done for overcoming of the separation in the operational management of the small dams between the dam with its structures and the water reservoir. Careful and justified distribution of the activities and responsibilities, respectively, has to be carried out.  The performance of the facilities under so-called overload conditions for the particular class of importance has to be regulated.  The property issues related to the small dams need urgent solution.  Highest priority has to be assigned to the repair of dams with structural damages of the dam body and to works for restoring the operational ability of the safety-related appurtenant structures.  The requirements are good but it is a matter of state policy that dam owners have a chance to obtain the resources needed for proper maintenance of the facilities by means of appropriate mechanisms. 4. CONCLUSIONS From the performed short analysis of the status of the small dams in Bulgaria, the following conclusions can be drawn. First of all, these facilities are essential component of the national water resources management infrastructure at lowest structural level. Hence, their operation and technical maintenance should be subject to strategic national policy in this field. There is a set of serious problems in several fields related to the operation and maintenance of small dams, as shortly discussed above. The nature of the required solutions is very complex and requires interdisciplinary approach by broader teams of experts. It is quite clear, however, that the process of developing and implementing such solutions is complicated and requires besides expert knowledge high-level skills in the management of sometimes contradictive interests. Moreover, these solutions need considerable resources. One more thing is clear, too. If the state does not set properly its priorities for further development in this field, at least two things will happen. As a result of the 1443