Nation’s Dams Graded ‘D’ on 2005 ASCE Report Card for America’s Infrastructure.

Citing the lack of funding for dam maintenance and rehabilitation, the increase in the number of high-hazard-potential dams, and inadequately funded and staffed state dam safety programs, the American Society of Civil Engineers has given a grade of ‘D’ to the nation’s dams.
The Association of State Dam Safety Officials endorses the grade for dams, one of three infrastructure categories showing no improvement since the 2001 ASCE Report Card.
While dams provide many benefits, they are inherently hazardous structures that deteriorate with age. ASDSO President Meg Galloway comments, “The aging of our nation’s dams calls for increasingly stringent attention to their safety. Deteriorating dams pose a threat not only to human life, but also to communities who rely on them for various needs, such as domestic water supply, hydroelectricity, irrigation, recreation, and more.”
Despite the risks posed by dam failures, many state dam safety programs are inadequately funded and staffed, and one state—Alabama—has no dam safety program whatsoever.
Dam safety programs are relatively low-cost, high-benefit programs. The costs of a single dam failure can easily exceed the annual budget for a state dam safety program. Referring to a 2003 dam failure in Michigan that caused an estimated $100 million in damages, Galloway notes, “Dam failures may be relatively rare, but the Silver Lake dam failure demonstrates the economic devastation that can result.”
Specific recommendations supported by ASCE and ASDSO include the establishment of comprehensive and fully funded dam safety programs in all 50 states, a funding program in each state to assist with loans and matching grants for dam repair and rehabilitation, and reauthorization of the National Dam Safety Program Act in 2006.
Galloway supports these recommendations and comments, “Hopefully, the ASCE Report Card will serve as a wake-up call to state and federal lawmakers and the public that we cannot continue to ignore this important piece of our nation’s infrastructure.”
The ASCE Report Card for America’s Infrastructure can be seen at thew link below.