You are invited to join the upcoming ICOLD Young Professionals Forum (ICOLD-YPF) Webinar: Discover the Applications of FEA/FEM for Dam Structures - Case Studies from Europe and Africa

Date: 7 October 2026
Time: 10:00 CEST / SAST (11:00 EEST)

The webinar will feature two distinguished speakers presenting practical applications of finite element analysis and modelling for dam engineering:

• Daniel Andrei Gaftoi, PhD
  Civil Engineer and Lecturer, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest
  “Modelling Vidraru Dam: A Practical FEM Workflow from Geometry to Calibration”
• Ryan Cassells, Pr Eng
  Senior Dam Engineer, ARQ
  “Structural Evaluation FEA Studies of Katse Dam”

The session will be moderated by:

• Mateja Klun, PhD
  University of Ljubljana
• Janice Zhang, Pr Eng
  Principal Engineer, Knight Piésold Consulting

This webinar is organised by the ICOLD Young Professionals Forum (ICOLD-YPF) with the support of the Romanian and South African National Committees.

The event is open to all professionals, researchers, students, and practitioners interested in dam engineering, dam safety, and the application of advanced numerical methods in engineering practice.

We hope you will be able to join us and participate in the discussion.

Registration

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The 11th World Water Forum will take place from 21 to 25 March 2027 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Co-organised by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the World Water Council, the Forum will bring together governments, international organisations, local authorities, academia, civil society, youth and the private sector.

Under the theme “Action for a Better Tomorrow”, its political, thematic and regional processes will seek to turn commitments into practical solutions to global water challenges.

Dates : 21–25 March 2027
Location : Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

View the official website

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The Swiss Committee on Dams is happy to invite you to the 12th ICOLD European Club Symposium, which will be held from the 5th to the 8th of September 2023 in Interlaken.

Joining us will be a great opportunity to participate in the festivities around the 75th anniversary of the Swiss Committee on Dams, founded in 1948.Today, new and unexpected challenges arise for Europe’s large array of existing dams, and fresh perspectives on the development of new projects for supporting Europe’s energy transition have emerged.

These new challenges are at the core of the themes proposed for development during the Symposium.

The 75th anniversary of the Swiss Committee on Dams will give an excellent opportunity to not only draw from the retrospective of Switzerland’s extensive history of dam development, but to also reveal perspectives on the new role of dams for a safer energy transition. This will be particularly commemorated in the Swiss Day sessions.

A series of workshops in various domains of dam design and safety will be proposed prior to the Symposium.A field visit to the construction site of the new Spitallamm double curvature arch dam will give a flavour of the challenges related to the construction of a new structure at the foot of an existing one.We are eager to meet you in Interlaken in 2023!

More info by clicking here to see the flyer.

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13th ICOLD European Club Symposium FACING CURRENT CHALLENGES FOR DAMS Polish Committee on Large Dams (POLCOLD) is happy to invite You to the 13th ICOLD European Club Symposium, which will be held from the 21st to the 25th of September 2026 in Bydgoszcz, Poland. During this meeting we will celebrate CFBR/French-COLD 100th anniversary, founded in 1926.

The seminar will focus particularly on water management conditions, the most common operational problems, maintenance, failures and other events, including extreme weather phenomena. It will be a great opportunity to exchange European experience and knowledge of dam engineering and levees.

One of the afternoon sessions will be devoted to CFBR/French-COLD history and achievements. Together we will celebrate the anniversary with our French friends.

A visit to significant dams in the surrounding area of Bydgoszcz is planned for all participants. It will be a pleasure to present to you some examples of dams constructed in 1930’s as a part of a development program realized after regaining independence.

Important deadlines

• Registration opening: 15th, January 2026

• Abstract submission: 15th, February 2026

• Abstract acceptance: 15th, March 2026

• Full paper submission: 30th, April 2026

• Full paper acceptance: 30th, May 2026

Subjects and topics

Dams and reservoir safety management for people

- dam safety assessment, inspection and monitoring

- water management for people, drought and flood control

- risk assessment due to climate and social changes

- legal conditions and technical requirements for safe dams

- tourism, irrigation and other benefits of dams and reservoirs

- warning systems for dam surrounding

- failures - lessons learnt

Dams and Energy

- pump storage plants – construction and exploitation

- new technologies and solutions in waterpower

- exploitation of dams for waterpower

Dam Engineering and Construction

- dam aging problems and solutions applied – case studies

- construction repair technologies and materials

- reconstructions, expansions and development of old dams

- development of design methods

Levees and tailing dams

- levees and tailing dams monitoring and safety evaluation

- design methods development for levees

- tailing dam seismic resilience monitoring

- slurry and water management

Flyer

Website

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WELCOME

On behalf of the Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD) Executive and the Local Organising Committee, it is my pleasure to invite you to the 2022 ANCOLD NZSOLD Conference in Sydney, New South Wales.

The conference will be held at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Australia’s first fully integrated harbourside convention, exhibition, and entertainment venue.  The ICC is situated in a spectacular location on the Darling Harbour waterfront.

The conference theme, “Sustainable Dams in a Climate of Change” is timely given the significant changes to the operating landscape that is impacting the dams industry. The conference will provide an invaluable opportunity to consider the landscape we occupy as an industry, by exploring the challenges and opportunities of dam ownership against a backdrop of increasing expectations from the community and other stakeholders. This will be a great forum to share industry good practice about: the safety management of ageing dams; sustainable practices and considerations for building new dams; climate change reflections and implications on dam engineering; innovation and adoption of new technologies in dam operation and maintenance; application of risk-based systems in design and assessment of dams.

It is almost 3 years since the last in-person NZSOLD/ANCOLD conference in Auckland and four years on home soil for ANCOLD, hence the Sydney conference will provide a good opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, expand professional networks, engage directly with speakers, and gain new insights from the exhibitor displays.

We welcome and value the ongoing support from past sponsors of the ANCOLD NZSOLD conferences and encourage new sponsors to take up the opportunities and brand exposure that this conference can offer.

We look forward to seeing you all in Sydney in October, for what promises to be an enlightening, rewarding and memorable event.

Sam Banzi
ANCOLD NZSOLD 2022 Conference Convenor

View the website

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INVITATION

On behalf of the Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD) Board and Local Organising Committee, I warmly invite you to the 2026 ANCOLD Conference in Nipaluna Hobart, Lutruwita Tasmania, between 26-28 October.

The conference will be held at the iconic Hotel Grand Chancellor on the Nipaluna Hobart waterfront, overlooking Constitution Dock. The conference theme is “Resilient Dams, Smart Futures”. This theme is intended to challenge participants to reflect on dams engineering and management from an holistic perspective, not just traditional engineering. Increasingly, dam and tailings storage facility ownership must adapt and evolve to blend traditional engineering and risk management, with meaningful approaches on sustainability and climate change, and understand the impacts and opportunities of new technologies such as artificial intelligence.

We expect over 500 delegates from around Australia and internationally, spanning all dams related industries, including irrigation and urban water, hydropower, mining, regulatory and consulting. Subject matter expert Keynote speakers are being sought on topics such as AI impacts on the engineering profession and infrastructure ownership, and there will be a full day workshop followed by two days of technical sessions providing opportunities to share your experiences and to learn from each other and industry specialists. The conference will be supported by a unique social program and conference tours to some of Lutruwita Tasmania’s most spectacular dams, ensuring it is the dam industry’s premier event of 2026.

Chris Topham
2026 ANCOLD Conference Convenor

View the website of the event

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The 2026 Annual Dam Safety Conference will take place from 21 to 23 October 2026 at Malaika Beach Resort in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Organised by Tanzania’s Ministry of Water, the Tanzania Chamber of Mines and City Engineering Co. Ltd, the conference theme is “Managing Critical Infrastructures for Dam Safety”.

The programme will cover the full life cycle of water and tailings dams, from design to decommissioning, with particular attention to structural integrity, environmental protection and water-resource management.

Dates : 21–23 October 2026
Location : Malaika Beach Resort, Mwanza, Tanzania

View the official website

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The 2026 United Nations Water Conference will take place from 8 to 10 December 2026 at the ADNEC Exhibition Centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal, it aims to accelerate implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6: ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

The conference will focus on practical outcomes, including knowledge sharing, partnerships, investment, political commitments and technical solutions.

Dates : 8–10 December 2026
Location : ADNEC Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

View the official website

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The 2027 World Hydropower Congress will take place from 6 to 8 April 2027 in Sydney, Australia.

Organised by the International Hydropower Association, the flagship gathering will bring together leaders from government, finance, industry and civil society to advance policy and solutions for sustainable hydropower and the transition to net zero.

The Sydney edition will highlight Australian innovation, pumped storage and the transformation of the energy system.

Dates : 6–8 April 2027
Location : Sydney, Australia

View the official website

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The 26th ICID International Congress and the 77th International Executive Council Meeting will take place from 12 to 17 October 2026 in Marseille, France.

Under the theme “Water and agricultural resilience in the face of climate change”, the congress will bring together researchers, engineers, institutions, public decision-makers, non-governmental organisations and representatives of civil society.

Discussions will address the agroecological transition, agricultural water-use efficiency, management and remote-sensing technologies, and non-conventional water resources. The opening day is 12 October.

Dates : 12–17 October 2026
Location : Palais des Congrès et des Expositions, Marseille, France

View the official website

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The 2nd International Conference on Dam Safety Management and Engineering (ICDSME2023), organised by Malaysia National Committee on Large Dams (MYCOLD) returns on 16-17 March 2023 at the Shangri-la Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. ICDSME2023 is brought to you by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC), Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), Department of Irrigation & Drainage Malaysia (DID), Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), Yayasan Canselor UNITEN, National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), Aqua~Media International Ltd and The Institute of Engineers, Malaysia.

ICDSME2023 OBJECTIVES

1. To gather professionals and experts in dam-related fields to discuss and share the latest information and technology to further enhance knowledge in the field of dam safety
2. To increase understanding among professionals, experts, researchers, engineers, stakeholders, and the public in the field of dam safety.
3. To build new connections and grow the network of dam safety experts and professionals.

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The 2nd MENA Dams Conference will take place on 7–8 April 2027 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The regional event will bring together government ministries, water and power utilities, dam owners and operators, contractors, engineering consultants, research institutions and technology providers.

Discussions will cover dams and reservoirs, water security, flood management, hydropower, pumped storage, dam safety, smart monitoring and climate resilience.

Dates : 7–8 April 2027
Location : Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

View the official website

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The 42nd IAHR World Congress will take place from 28 June to 2 July 2027 in Bari, Italy.

Under the theme “Drive the Change: Management in the Era of Digital Water & Transitions”, it will bring together researchers, practitioners, engineers, policymakers and students to address major challenges in hydro-environment engineering.

The programme will cover climate-change adaptation, resilience to water-related hazards, the energy transition, food security, nature and digital transformation. The main scientific sessions will be held at The Nicolaus Hotel, with the opening ceremony at Teatro Petruzzelli.

Dates : 28 June–2 July 2027
Location : Bari, Italy

View the official website

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The 95th Annual Meeting of ICOLD will be held May 21–28, 2027, at the Daejeon Convention Center in the Republic of Korea. The week will bring together national committees, technical committees, young professionals, and international experts in dams, levees, hydraulic structures, and water infrastructure.

The international symposium will focus on the theme “Water, Energy, and Society: The Evolving Role of Dams in a Changing World.” The program will also include technical sessions, site visits, and professional activities.

Dates : Du 21 au 28 mai 2027
Location: Daejeon Convention Center, Daejeon, Republic of Korea

Visit the official website

Initial Bulletin

Programme:

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WATER STORAGE AND HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT FOR AFRICA

will take place at the Speke Resort Munyonyo Conference Centre,
Lake Victoria, Uganda
29 November - 1 December 2022

New dates : 10 - 12 July 2023

The objective of the regional conferences for AFRICA, co-hosted by Aqua~Media International and ICOLD, in collaboration with the governments of the host countries, is to bring together a group of experts from all parts of the world to focus on issues of specific interest for Africa, in the field of water storage and hydropower development.

Typically, participants include high-level representatives of ministries and utilities, private development groups, consulting practices, international and regional development banks, contractors, and equipment suppliers.

Themes begin with project identification and planning, progress through to financing, design, environmental protection, social aspects, and then construction, operation, maintenance and refurbishment.

Cross-border collaboration for transboundary schemes, challenging sites and climate resilience, as well as capacity building and training, are topics which always feature high on the agenda.

AFRICA 2022 will be the fourth conference and exhibition in this series. The first took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2013, under the auspices of the African Union, with a keynote address from the Commissioner for Energy and Industry. The second was held in Marrakech, Morocco in 2017, under the High Patronage of HE King Mohammed VI.

AFRICA 2019 moved south to Windhoek, Namibia, and had strong participation from NamPower, the Global Water Partnership - Southern Africa, and the Southern African Power Pool. The World Bank, African Development Bank, and the African Union, have all contributed much to the programmes.

Uganda is an enthusiastic local partner for AFRICA 2022. International delegates and accompanying persons will meet in beautiful surroundings, for three days of sessions, preceded by workshops and training seminars, and followed by tours to hydro schemes. There will be plenty of additional networking opportunities, and cultural excursions.

View the website here

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ASIA 2023

Water Resources and Renewable Development in Asia

14-16 March 2023

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

MISSION OF ASIA 2023

As with the previous conferences in this series, which took place in Bangkok, Danang, Kuching, Chiang Mai, Colombo, Vientiane and Danang (again), the emphasis will be on helping to turn renewable energy and water resources development policies into practice. By bringing together a multidisciplinary group of international experts, to focus on issues of specific relevance to Asia, we aim to stimulate new partnerships, and produce concrete outcomes from the sessions and workshops. All those engaged in promoting, planning, financing, developing, constructing, supplying or studying water resources and renewable energy schemes in Asia should attend.

WELCOME TO MALAYSIA

The Aqua~Media International team, with the support of the Malaysian Government, the Malaysian Committee on Large Dams, and the State Power utilities, welcomes the global water and energy community to the vibrant, multicultural city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Peninsular Malaysia, as well as Sarawak and Sabah, have broad experience of large and small hydropower development and multipurpose dams. Study tours will visit some of the large cascade developments in Peninsular Malaysia. Hydropower supplies about 20 per cent of Malaysia’s approximately 34 GW of installed generating capacity, with hydro supplying more than 20 TWh/year. The Government of Malaysia is strongly committed to increasing the share of renewable energy in the country’s generation mix, with a target to add 4 GW of renewables across the thirteen states by 2030. The country has about 104 large dams. The most recently completed in Peninsular Malaysia are the Puah dam for the 250 MW Hulu Terengganu hydro plant (completed in 2015), and Susu RCC dam for the 372 MW Ulu Jelai hydro plant (commissioned in 2016) The latest large scheme going ahead in Sarawak is the 188 m-high Baleh CFRD, following the completion of Bakun and Murum. Some of the most important schemes in Peninsular will be visited during post-Conference study tours.

KUALA LUMPUR

The host city is easily accessible from all parts of the world: Kuala Lumpur International Airport is one of the leading aviation hubs of Asia, with direct flights operating there by more than 70 airlines. While being surrounded by lush rain forests not too far away, Kuala Lumpur, the capital city and cultural, financial and economic centre of Malaysia, is one of the fastest growing metropolitan regions of Southeast Asia. The city skyline is dominated by the gleaming Petronas twin towers, and numerous state-of-the-art office blocks and hotels. But some traditional Malay buildings and colonial-style architecture can also be found, as well as the colourful markets in the Bukit Bintang and Chinatown areas. The Shangri-La hotel, in the heart of the city, will provide a comfortable and elegant setting for the conference.

?? View the brochure here

?? View the dedicated website here

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4th Asia-Pacific Group Symposium & 9th East Asian Area Dam Conference

Date: September 25th~30th, 2016
Place: The Royton Sapporo, Japan
Main Theme: Innovative Technologies for Dams and Reservoirs Toward the Future Generations

EADC and APG Joint Symposium served as a catalyst to strengthen international cooperation on the advancement of dam engineering and business society in Asia-Pacific Area.

Records

Minute_of_APG_Board_Meeting_2016

Minute_of_APG_Roundtable_Meeting_2016_Sapporo

President Kyung-Taek Yum [APG]

kwfyum@gmail.com

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COP31 will take place from 9 to 20 November 2026 at the Antalya EXPO Center in Türkiye.

The conference will bring together Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, observer States, international organisations and civil society. It will include the formal negotiations, the World Climate Action Summit, national pavilions and a wide range of side events.

The outgoing COP30 Presidency and incoming COP31 Presidency are working together to support an open, transparent and inclusive preparatory process.

Dates : 9–20 November 2026
Location : Antalya EXPO Center, Antalya, Türkiye

View the official website

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“Dam Day - Reservoirs for Europe” will be celebrated for the first time this May 29th, 2024, aiming to recognize the contribution and spread knowledge on the beneficial role of dams and their reservoirs in an economic, social and environmental context for local communities and countries within Europe. 

The annual celebration of “Dam Day” was declared in March 2024 by EurCOLD (European Club of the International Commission on Large Dams – ICOLD) to raise public awareness of the contribution of dams and reservoirs to the sustainable social development and prosperity of European countries. The establishment of the “Dam Day” followed a proposal by the Italian Committee on Large Dams in June 2023. 

Dam Day is celebrated around Europe with a variety of events taking place a short period before and after the 29th of May. Interested parties (Dam owners, Authorities, Associations, Universities, etc.) are encouraged to conduct events and activities such as technical visits to dams and excursions, debates, seminars, etc. and engage dam sector professionals, Young Professionals, students, stakeholders, and the population at large. 

ICOLD European National Committees participate in the celebrations promoting activities around their countries. These events are also supported by an online campaign on social media. 

To learn more about participation and events in your country and around Europe, contact your National Committee (https://www.icold-cigb.org/GB/icold/member_countries.asp). 

Dams and reservoir’s role is even more important than before around Europe, considering climate change and energy transition challenges and we encourage the public to identify their benefits and support their sustainable development for the generations ahead. 

Additional information on Dam Day is available at EurCOLD’s webpage and LinkedIn page, respectively: 

https://cnpgb.apambiente.pt/IcoldClub/index.htm

https://www.linkedin.com/company/icold-european-club-eurcold 

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Message from the President

In 2026, Damsweek will be held in the city of Belém, in the state of Pará, located in the heart of the Amazon region, immediately after COP30 – the Conference of the Parties organized by the United Nations (UN). The event addressed and guided key themes of the global environmental agenda, including sustainable industrial development and water resources management, which are matters of particular relevance to dam engineering. 

The state of Pará is home to major water and tailings storage structures, including the Tucuruí and Belo Monte hydropower plants, as well as tailings disposal facilities operated by large mining companies. This context inspired CBDB to promote an event that brings these two fields of engineering closer together. 

With this vision, DAMSWEEK 2026 aims to provide a favorable environment for the exchange of ideas and for fostering the development of national engineering in support of safe and environmentally sustainable dams and tailings disposal structures. 

Damsweek 2026 will exceptionally host, within its program, INCA meeting (ICOLD National Committees of the Americas), which is the Regional Club of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) for the Americas—an organization dedicated to advancing in best scientific and technical practices related to the study, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of dams across the American continent. The international presence at the event will undoubtedly contribute to valuable knowledge to be exchanged among participants and will promote promising networking opportunities, supporting the integration of professionals and companies from the various participating countries.

To know more, visit the website

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The Euro-Mediterranean Water Forum will take place from 29 September to 2 October 2026 at La Nuvola in Rome, Italy.

The Forum will bring together policymakers, international organisations, civil society, researchers and businesses to address water security in the Mediterranean. It will combine high-level panels, talks, workshops, special sessions and an exhibition showcasing innovation in the water sector.

Its programme is structured around eleven thematic sessions and aims to strengthen cooperation among Mediterranean countries, the European Union, the Balkans and the Middle East.

Dates : 29 September–2 October 2026
Location : La Nuvola Convention and Exhibition Centre, Rome, Italy

View the official website

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Adapting to change - Embracing opportunities

Aqua-Media International is pleased to welcome the global hydropower and dams community to the elegant city of Bologna, Italy, on 14 - 16 October 2026, for three days of sessions, preceded by training workshops, and followed by technical tours.

Hydro 2026 Call for papers

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The HYDROPOWER EUROPE conference that took place online on the 23^rd February 2022 was the final event of the HYDROPOWER EUROPE Project – a project that was created under the European Union call: “H2020-LC-SC3-2018-2019-2020 (BUILDING A LOW-CARBON, CLIMATE RESILIENT FUTURE: SECURE, CLEAN AND EFFICIENT ENERGY)” and which has been running since November 2018. 

The objective of this event was to present the results of the HYDROPOWER EUROPE Project, namely the conclusions drawn from the consultation with sector stakeholders that led to the creation of the Research and Innovation Agenda (RIA) and the Strategic Industry Roadmap (SIR) (See key publications at https://hydropower-europe.eu and see our dissemination video at:  https://youtu.be/Kwccf0ZESxo )

Anton Schleiss, Honorary President of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) and Professor Emeritus of EPFL, opened the conference by providing an introduction to the status of hydropower in Europe and suggesting that this source of energy could provide increased  contributions in the coming years, recognising that only two third of the economically feasible potential had been tapped so far. In fact, in the field of energy production, hydroelectricity remains an excellent and safe supply tool to support the energy transition and the fight against global warming. He revealed that in more than half of the countries in Europe, hydropower still provides a significant share (>25%) of electricity generation, which is important for the success of the energy transition in ensuring safe electricity supply. Worldwide, hydropower alone produces three quarters of all renewable electricity.

Ms Hélène Chraye, Head of Unit for the Clean Energy Transition and Deputy Director of Clean Planet at DG R&I, followed the opening with an overview of the “Goals of European Hydropower R&I Funding” and the overall EU strategy to meet the targets set by the European Green Deal.  

The webinar focused next on the main outcomes of the HYDROPOWER EUROPE project. Anton Schleiss and Jean-Jacques Fry had the task of presenting highlights from our main documents: the RIA and the SIR, which were created after three years of extensive consultation involving more than 600 stakeholders. The final reports (~140 pages each) present 18 research themes with 80 topics (RIA) and 11 strategic directions which include 40 detailed actions (SIR). Two illustrated summary brochures of ~20 pages each have been produced by the forum which give an overview of the high to very high priority outcomes. 

From the European Commission, Thomas Schleker, Policy Officer at DG R&I, and Sébastien Mortier, Research Projects Portfolio Manager at CINEA, shared with the audience some impressions about the work of HYDROPOWER EUROPE. They thanked the team for the good coordination and the excellent outputs. 

Finally, Mark Morris, a team member from SAMUI France, closed the round of presentations. He reminded the audience about the importance of the role of hydropower for the energy transition and thus, the need to have a permanent and common voice in Europe for the hydropower sector to support both research and innovation as well as to increase public awareness by promoting strategic actions. 

As seen during the roundtable discussions which involved some 130 participants online, hydropower in Europe faces a large number of challenges. The outcomes of HYDROPOWER EUROPE details the agenda and roadmap to help meet these environmental, societal, technological and commercial challenges. As Jean-Jacques Fry advised during the final statements: “Communication on hydro as a catalyst for the energy transition is key for the future. It is clear that hydropower has been providing a great service for more than 150 years, but now it is time to speak to civil society and policymakers about its future development potential”.

Anton Schleiss concluded the event by highlighting again that the outcomes of the HYDROPOWER EUROPE forum confirm hydropower as a key partner and catalyst for the clean energy transition not only in Europe, but also worldwide. He thanked all consortium members of the HYDROPOWER EUROPE project, the Consultation Expert Panel as well as the more than 600 stakeholders participating through the HYDROPOWER EUROPE Forum for the efficient and fruitful collaboration during the 40 month project period. His gratitude for the funding also went to the European Commission represented by the participating officers who gave valuable input during the project.  The Forum was able to gather a large family of experts and stakeholders, and with its continued support, public awareness on the important role of hydropower can be further increased in the future.   

Presentations from the speakers:

•  Introduction (Anton J. Schleiss, Hydropower Europe) - LINK 
• Goals of European Hydropower R&I Funding (Hélène Chraye, European Commission) - LINK
• Key results of the Research and Innovation Agenda (RIA) (Anton Schleiss, Hydropower Europe) - LINK
• key Results of the Strategic Industry Roadmap (SIR) (Jean-Jacques FRY, Hydropower Europe) - LINK
• The future of the HYDROPOWER EUROPE Forum as a common and permanent voice in Europe (Mark Morris, Hydropower Europe) - LINK

Full recording of the event can be seen by clicking here

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HYDROVISION International® is the premier gathering of global hydro, marine energy, and dams/civil market professionals. As the largest industry event worldwide, it brings together over 2,500 hydro visionaries from power producers, utilities, consultants, large-scale hydro energy users, and engineering, procurement & construction firms from 40+ countries to connect, learn, and discover new solutions. Our conference & exhibition offers unparalleled education and sourcing opportunities that cater to all aspects of hydropower, including Operations, Maintenance, Civil Works, Dam Safety, Policies, Regulations, Equipment, Technology, Market Trends, and Asset Strategies. Sessions are led by industry experts, thought leaders, and innovators. But that's not all. We offer peer-to-peer networking events that foster professional development and cultivate innovation, to help keep the market momentum flowing.

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Engineering is one of the key elements of sustainable development. It underpins and impacts almost every aspect of our policy, financial, physical, social and environmental solutions. As the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are implemented, water infrastructures, technologies and innovations at all levels will be critical. It is estimated that over the period 2015-2030, most countries will need to allocate 1-2% of their GDP to water infrastructure.

In addressing today’s challenges, water engineering is truly blue-green, i.e. it addresses water problems in a holistic way and is a multidisciplinary endeavor, understanding and responding to environmental and societal needs, with deference for human rights, leverages critical grey infrastructure , sustains economic growth, includes nature-based solutions and makes the most of ecosystem services.

Blue-green water engineering is a significant component of the five SDG6 accelerators that are required to bring nations back on track by i) bringing innovation to reality, ii) generating and using information and data for positive water outcomes; iii) increasing capacity development; iv) mobilizing and utilizing financing for the most effective multi-purpose outcomes; and v) providing options and adhering to good governance.

The purpose of this virtual event is to mobilize relevant stakeholders and catalyze contributions to the Action Agenda by exploring ways to facilitate and expand the communication and collaboration between engineers and others working on water issues, but also those beyond the water sector, such as, the food, energy, human health and social services sectors, and also those who are actively working to defend and promote human rights and environmental justice. The side-event seeks to explore opportunities to synergize and utilize knowledge across agencies, foundations, industry, academia and NGOs - building on models that are demonstrating success. 

Recognizing that water connects sectors and people and issues, the proposed virtual event is intended to bring together a panel of high-level leaders and experts from different sectors, including engineering, to build an ongoing dialog on ways to bridge the gap across knowledge and governance silos in order to build a stronger approach to future decision making. 

Areas of special interest for discussion include dealing with water scarcity, flood risk management in view of climate change, coastal resilience addressing vulnerability to sea level rise and increasingly more intense cyclones/typhoons, and ecological restoration of sensitive areas, such as wetlands. 

This event, as a celebration of the World Water Day 2023, is organised also as a side event for the UN 2023 Water Conference.

Programme

Opening remarks (5 mins)

• Joseph H.W. Lee | President, IAHR; President, Macau University of Science and Technology, China

Overall introduction (10 mins)

• Angelos N. Findikakis | Bechtel Corporation, USA

• Tom Soo | Executive Director, IAHR

Invited talks (10 mins each)

• David Wegner | National Academy of Sciences, Water Science Technology Board; Woolpert Engineering, USA

• Jing Peng | Vice President, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, China

• Conchita Marcuello | Directorate General of Water, Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Spain

• Yuanyuan Li | President, International Water Resources Association (IWRA)

• Aude Farnault | Water Policy Analyst, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

• Michel de Vivo | Secretary General, International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD)

• Stefan Szylkarski | Executive Vice President for Water Resources, DHI Group, Denmark

Discussion (20 mins)

More information

• How to participate: No application to be installed. Simply go to the LIVE Page to watch, comment and ask questions.

• Registration: You don't need to register to attend the webinar but, by registering, you will keep updated and reminded. 

• Certificate of participation: A link will be clickable on the LIVE page during the webinar (click here to know how). Anyone requesting a certificate, issued by IAHR, will need to be an IAHR member or have a free IAHR account.

• Playback: Not able to watch live? Don't worry. The playback video will be available soon after the webinar.

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27^th Congress - 90^th ICOLD Annual Meeting

Marseille, France

27 May - 3 June 2022

Dear friends, dear members of our global dam family,

At the end of December 2021, we sent you the final Bulletin of the 27^th ICOLD Congress and the 90^th ICOLD Annual Meeting, which will be held from May 27 to June 3, 2022 in Marseille. This Bulletin contains all the information concerning the program of the event and the organization of your coming to France.

The ICOLD Board of Directors, the French Committee for Dams and Reservoirs and the ICOLD 2022 Congress Organizing Committee assure you of their full confidence in the holding of this event in the best conditions, despite the pandemic context that the world is still facing.

The health situation is improving in France and in Europe and the French authorities have just relaxed the restrictive measures in force until now, for public meetings and congresses.

Many national committees have expressed their wish to meet again, to share and to live pleasant moments together. This congress will be a reunion, which we hope will be memorable.

Come and join us!

Early bird rates extented until 15th April

The event will take place at the end of spring, a favorable tourist period for travel, especially in the south of France. Many international events take place in Marseille at the same time as our congress.

Revolugo, our hotel reservation partner, has already pre-booked many rooms. However, we advise you to register without delay and to book your accommodation as soon as possible in order to benefit from the advantageous rates reserved for ICOLD/CIGB delegates via the Revolugo platform accessible from the congress website https://cigb-icold2022.fr/fr/visitor/hotels/

If however you were afraid of possible difficulties of refunding in case of postponement and cancellation (which we exclude today!), know that:

• the conditions for refunding registrations for the event are provided and specified in the registration form,
• the cancellation without fees at D-30 is possible in most of the hotels accessible via the Revolugo platform and some hotels propose cancellations without fees until the day of arrival, according to their availability at the date of your reservation.

An early reservation is therefore highly recommended.

We look forward to seeing you!

(Photo : © Valentin Pacaut - The Explorers.jpg)

Marseille and the South Region

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Candidacy:

• Open for single authors or teams

Award:

• Diploma
• 1500 Euros
• Free access to the Congress

Innovations:

Different kind of innovations are accepted, both scientific and technical contributions as:

• New solutions
• New methods for construction
• New materials
• New environmental friendly approaches

Evaluation Committee:

• L. LIA  President ICOLD Innovation Award
• A. CHRAIBI   Vice President Africa
• M. ROGERS  Vice President America
• M. LINO   Vice President Europe
• Z. JIANPING  Vice President Asia-Pacific

Procedure:

Submission

• Reports must be submitted by the candidates to Central Office
• before 15 Oct 2017
• by email to contact@icold-cigb.org
• by mail to ICOLD Central Office, 61 avenue Kléber 75116 Paris France
• The name and address of author(s) must be clearly indicated
• The title of the report must start by "ICOLD Innovation Award 2018"
• A guideline for the preparation of the report is available here

Evaluation

• before 31 Jan 2018

Presentation

• At Vienna Congress in July 2018

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Environmental Sustainability of Dams & Reservoirs

ICOLD WEBINAR #4
November 25, 2026
1pm - 3pm (CET)
Free event

In 2023, the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) launched the Dams and Sustainability (D&S) initiative, which brings together the efforts of several technical committees. The main objective of the D&S initiative is to raise awareness among dam professionals about the need to improve the sustainability and life cycle thinking of existing and new dams. It also seeks to investigate appropriate tools and methodologies for assessing the social, economic and environmental sustainability of dams and reservoirs.

To date, the ICOLD D&S group has organised three Webinars. The first, which took place in May 2024, presented the main sustainability goals and objectives of this new ICOLD initiative. The second Webinar, held in May 2025, introduced Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) methods. The third Webinar focused on climate change and the estimation of GHG emissions. Full videos of all three webinars are available here.

This Webinar #4 will focus on the environmental aspects of the sustainability of dams and reservoirs beyond GHG emissions. This webinar will explore the interaction between dams and reservoirs and river ecosystems, and its impact on biodiversity. Topics covered will include water quality, sediment management and environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of these infrastructures. Finally, it will present design and operational strategies aimed at minimising ecological disruption and enhancing sustainability. ICOLD has invited a distinguished group of speakers to present this important topic.

To pre-register, please send an email with your name, country and affiliation to dams.sustainability@icold-cigb.org. (a ZOOM registration link will be sent to your email address prior to the event)

View the flyer

Program

• Introduction
  Devendra Sharma (President of ICOLD)
• Webinar presentation
  Francisco Ortega (ICOLD TC-DS)
• ICOLD and the environmental aspects of the sustainability of dams and reservoirs
  Peter Amos & Tracey Williamson (ICOLD TC-G)
• Improving outcomes: dams and freshwater ecosystems
  Jian-hua Meng (WWF)
• Biodiversity footprint tools for hydropower and dams
  Leah Beche (ICOLD TC-G)
• World Bank’s approach to biodiversity
  Nicholas Zmijewski (World Bank)
• Downstream flow and sustainability of dams and river systems – Indicators & tools
  Liza Bensasson (ICOLD TC-U)
• Recovery of river connectivity and restoration of sediment transport environment
  Tetsuya Sumi (ICOLD TC-J)
• Use of biodiversity offsets to improve sustainability outcomes
  Kogi Naidoo & Joseph Mülders (ICOLD TC-G)
• Assessment of water quality throughout the operational life cycle of dams and reservoirs
  Patrick Rouquet (ISL)
• Q&A Session
  Moderation by Steve Usher (HP&D)

Technical support from the Spanish National Committee on Large Dams

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ICOLD Annual Meeting 2023

[ Update Dec. 2022 : Registration is now open here ]

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 Press Release

Dam Failure in Laos

The International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) is following the situation very closely as information is just coming out about the collapse of the saddle dam at the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy Hydroelectric Dam, in Laos.

ICOLD newly elected President Michael Rogers made the following statement:

“Our deepest condolences go out to the people of Laos impacted by this tragedy, especially those families who have lost loved ones and/or their homes.

Dams are critical pieces of not only physical, but also socio-economic infrastructure that supply renewable power, storage for agricultural, industrial, municipal and community water supply. Like other large infrastructure in our societies, dams provide critical service, but also pose high risks that must be addressed during the planning, design and construction phases.   The precautionary principle of dams to prevent and/or mitigate adverse downstream safety consequences informs and is at the heart of the ICOLD Mission.

ICOLD has been working for 90 years to promote the safe and sustainable design and construction of dams.  As an organization of 100 nations committed to the safety of all dams around the world, ICOLD stands ready to assist and support the project owner and the national dam safety organization in Laos to assess the situation and work towards recovery.  Moving forward, it will be important to understand the full cause of this apparent failure so that important lessons may be shared with other nations and dam owners. This is the heart of ICOLD mission and the main reason why it was founded.  For example, during its recent Congress in Vienna (July 1-7 2018), ICOLD organized an important open workshop on the lessons learned from the Oroville Spillway Incident (USA, 2017).

Again, our heartfelt condolences go out to the thousands of persons downstream of this dam that have been impacted by this tragedy and ICOLD stands ready to support Laos in any way possible.”

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Publishing is one of the main activities of ICOLD. On this page, you can buy our many different publications.

A tool developed by the French Committee on Dams and Reservoirs (CFBR) allows to find the references of a Congress or Symposium article, a publication, a bulletin from keywords, author name, dam... This tool is available in an Excel file (archive, to download, file from Sept. 2025). To obtain a particular reference, please contact your National Committee or ICOLD.

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Link to register

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