Repairs |


The costs of repair


The costs to repair non-federal dams in the US could be as much as $157.5 billion, a new report from the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) has suggested


Above: Spillway failure at Oroville Dam In California in February 2017 led to the emergency evacuation of more than 188,000 people. (Photo courtesy of California Department of Water Resources). Events such as this highlights the need for comprehensive engineering reviews and more frequent, detailed inspections of dams across the country


DAMS ARE A VITAL part of the infrastructure in the US, providing essential services such as flood control, water supply, and hydropower generation. However, many of these dams are aging and require regular maintenance and repairs to continue functioning effectively. The Association of State Dam Safety Officials


(ASDSO) recently published a report titled “The Cost of Rehabilitating Dams in the U.S.: A Methodology and Estimate” that estimates the cost to rehabilitate non- federal dams in the US is $157.5 billion, with the cost to rehabilitate just the most critical dams estimated at $34.1 billion.


42 | May 2023 | www.waterpowermagazine.com These estimates were based on actual dam


rehabilitation costs for non-federal dam repairs over the past ten years and estimated costs for known upcoming projects. It included nationwide cost data for more than 500 projects, including dam removals. Project costs ran from $10,000 for small projects to more than $500 million for large complex projects. The objective of this report is to facilitate national and state-level policy decisions, while also offering the general public and the media an overview of the estimated costs involved in national dam rehabilitation. It is important to note that the report’s findings and methodologies are not intended for the purpose of


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53