Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Insurance question

I can't really find a better place for this question, if there is a more appropriate forum, I can delete and move.

Has anyone insured a pond or dam structure against breaching or failure? erosion / flooding, that sort of thing?

I recently replaced most of a dam on property we bought. the dam spillway was a poor design and had failed a few years back. the pond was almost 12 acres. we hired a contracting company to come in with all new drainage system and about 60+ loads of clay and re-made the dam. it drains fairly well, and I am hopeful it is now more structurally sound.

However, the rebuilding was somewhat pricey. Has anyone had experience with insurance for something like this? the "major" insurance companies I call don't even want to discuss it. I was thinking it can't be that strange of a request.

I've never heard of such a type of insurance, but let's see what others have to say.

If Tina Turner can insure her legs...

Lloyds of London

Sorry, but I have never heard of that type of insurance.

Huge liability issues would be one potential problem. One scenario is that your dam breaks in a storm and someone is killed downstream during the flood. There could be a lawsuit against you and your dam for contributing to the death.

People on the jury would probably not hold the landowner and his small pond responsible. However, a rich, large insurance company might be a different story.

*** I KNOW my comment is stupid. However, the risk analysis performed by insurance companies has to contemplate a lot of stupid crap these days.

I get it. It has already broken one time however, and when it broke that time the pond was larger than I have allowed it to be currently (it was almost 14 acres back then). from my place it's a fairly straight shot about a mile to the Alabama river. it crosses a road and a railroad but the mile is almost completely uninhabited.

Hi Strike and welcome to the forum.

When I added my farm to home insurance umbrella I asked if I could ensure fish [I run a very minor hatchery], well, dams, etc. No dice - at least not with Progressive insurance.

How would they identify the risk?

I would imagine without extensive engineering drawings & calcs AND data during the construction to ensure that it was made to specs they wouldn't touch it with a 20 foot pole.