We are pleased to announce that we have scheduled our next Seismic Working Group call for Tuesday, March 11th at 1pmET. Please see the call agenda below.Seismic March 2025 Agenda:Project #2059 “Characterization of Seismic Hazard and Ground Motions for Analysis of Concrete Dams” updateMember presentation "Seismicity & Performance-Based Testing, How Can Ambient Vibration Tests Be Considered” – presented by Hydro-QuebecPotential future topics for discussion/member presentationsAdditional items

We are pleased to announce a webinar on “Penstock Air Inlet Design and Potential Deficiency Investigation” scheduled for Tuesday, March 11th at 1:00 PM ET, presented by Faheem Sadeque from BC Hydro.About the Presentation:Emergency closure of an intake operating gate (INOG) or penstock inlet valve (PIV) can lead to rapid dewatering of the penstock, making adequate air admission crucial for system safety. Insufficient air intake can result in sub-atmospheric pressures, potentially leading to conduit collapse under external atmospheric pressure and surcharge loading.Traditionally, air inlets were designed based on rule-of-thumb methods or simplified calculations, with limited field measurements to validate performance. However, recent full-flow closure tests at hydropower facilities have revealed potential deficiencies in existing designs, prompting further investigation.This presentation will explore recent hydraulic model testing of air vents and valves, examining the governing parameters that influence air admission. Insights from a large-scale physical model study will highlight key considerations for improving future designs and assessing the adequacy of existing installations.Join us to gain valuable knowledge on enhancing penstock protection strategies and ensuring the reliability of critical hydropower infrastructure.

We are pleased to announce that we have scheduled a webinar regarding “Securing Operational Visibility & Digital Twins in Existing Hydropower Facilities to Optimize Asset Management & Cyber Physical Security” on Tuesday, March 18th at 1pmET, presented by Christian Hager of Fend Tech. This webinar is part of our HOP-DS-IPS Cyber Security Workshop and will set the stage for our breakout groups discussions during the HOP Spring 2025 General Meeting & DS Spring 2025 General Meeting.About the Presentation:Of the 90,000+ of dams in the US, of which approximately 2,300 produce power, the average age is 60+ years.Reliance on hydropower & dams grows, however we are faced with a dam infrastructure that is rapidly aging. This calls for a modernization of Industrial Control Systems(ICS) that increasingly relies on remote connectivity to optimize operational visibility, efficiency, and reliability. Operators are turning to real-time digital twins/ historian solutions to utilize ICS data for predictive maintenance, advanced modeling, alert monitoring, etc. However, this modernization and digital convergence of the hydropower infrastructure can open up new threat vectors for cyberattacks and malware.Issues: In the face of such challenges, several traditional approaches will be discussed, but each has serious drawbacks: deploying and relying on porous, software-based defenses or intrusion-detection systems that only alert you AFTER the system has been breached.However, key operational mantras remain:Connect nothing directly to the internetSecure & harden the critical operational networkDo not trust a software-only solution or any files coming into the facilityUse secure side-channel communications instead of insecure two-way commsMaintain continuity of operationsSolutions: next-generation small-form factor data diodes, peripheral media kiosks, asset mapping and file scanning tools all offer a secure and lower cost-of-ownership alternative to technology currently in use by many hydroelectric and power operators.NREL’s Hydropower Cybersecurity Value-at-Risk Framework Feb 2023 assists with control identification and the CISA Dams Sector Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model v2 already calls out patching, upgrading, network segmentation, asset management and asset hardening as mitigation practices.Drawing from a recently conducted study by the presenter for the DOE’s EERE Water Power Technology Office (WPTO), attendees will learn from multiple case studies how power generation operations have increased real-time operational monitoring visibility and reduced cost-of-ownership without exposing the mission critical infrastructure to threat actors and internal vulnerabilities.The session will also impart the power of secure digital twins with real-time operational visibility from areas that were previously “air gapped” or too-remote-to-connect.Several case studies will highlight the ability of safely pulling operational data from secure facilities or networks with standard communication systems (e.g. with cellular or satellite/ Starlink networks).Presenter Contact Information:Christian Hager – chager@fend.tech

Registration for our Dam Safety Spring 2025 General Meeting and the Annual Hydropower Conference is now open!Please note that you only need to register if you are planning to attend in-person. The virtual dial-in link will be provided closer to the date.Please note that there is no limit as to how many members from a utility can attend the working groups & general meetings.