| Spotlight
provided by Congress in 2021. But much is needed to continue this progress, and recent actions to defund federal programs for dam safety will affect success.” This lack of funding is further compounded by a shortage of personnel overseeing dam safety programs. On average, a single state dam safety official is responsible for overseeing 190 existing dams and the construction of new dams. With such an overwhelming workload, many crucial inspections and maintenance activities are delayed, increasing the risk of catastrophic failure.
The cost of neglected infrastructure Failing dams pose serious risks to public safety and
economic stability. The ASCE report points to recent dam failures as warning signs. In 2020, Michigan’s Edenville Dam collapsed after heavy rainfall, forcing thousands to evacuate. More recently, in 2024, the Rapidan Dam in Minnesota failed under similar circumstances. Such incidents highlight the growing need for proactive maintenance and emergency preparedness. The economic consequences of dam failures
extend beyond immediate damage. Flooding from a dam collapse can compromise roadways, bridges, and drinking water supplies, straining interconnected infrastructure systems and placing excessive burdens on local and state governments. According to FEMA estimates, the total cost of dam failures and associated damages in the past two decades has exceeded $20 billion. Beyond direct financial losses, these disasters erode public trust in infrastructure resilience. Communities living downstream from high hazard-potential dams face constant uncertainty about their safety, which can impact property values and local economic development.
Policy and innovation To address the growing challenges in dam safety, the
ASCE recommends several key policy initiatives: Strengthening Federal programs: Fully funding the National Dam Safety Program and the High Hazard Potential Dam Rehabilitation Grant Program to ensure state dam safety programs have the necessary resources. Emergency Action Plans (EAPs): Ensuring that all high hazard-potential dams have an up-to-date emergency action plan by 2030. Innovative engineering and data utilization: Modernising methods for predicting extreme weather events and improving data collection on dam conditions. Strategic dam removal: Assessing the environmental and safety trade-offs of removing obsolete or unsafe dams. Improved land use planning: Enhancing communication and coordination at the local level to account for dam-related risks in urban and rural development.
The role of technology Advancements in technology and engineering
solutions provide opportunities to improve dam safety. The integration of smart sensors and real- time monitoring systems can help detect structural weaknesses before they become critical. Predictive
analytics using artificial intelligence (AI) can analyze weather patterns and assess potential failure risks with greater accuracy. Several pilot programs in states such as California and Colorado have successfully used AI-driven dam monitoring systems, leading to early interventions that prevented potential failures. Expanding these initiatives nationwide could significantly enhance dam safety and reduce long-term repair costs.
What’s next? Despite the incremental improvements in the 2025
report card, ASCE experts emphasize that the current progress is not enough to ensure long-term sustainability. The continued rise in high hazard- potential dams, coupled with insufficient funding and outdated infrastructure, puts millions of Americans at risk.
As federal and state governments grapple with competing budget priorities, industry professionals and advocacy groups urge policymakers to maintain momentum in infrastructure investment. Without a sustained commitment, the recent gains seen in the 2025 report could be easily reversed. As the nation looks toward 2030, the challenge will be not just maintaining infrastructure but modernizing it to meet the needs of a rapidly changing climate and population landscape. Whether policymakers can rise to the occasion remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of investment.
www.waterpowermagazine.com | April 2025 | 11
Above: The Rapidan dam on June 25, 2024, showing the Dam Store at the edge of the precipice before its collapse
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