Climate Change Is Increasing Stress On Thousands Of Aging Dams Across The U.S.

Water flows around the Rapidan Dam near Mankato, Minn., on June 24, 2024, after heavy rains in the Upper Midwest.Every four years, the American Society of Civil Engineers produces a report card for the nation’s infrastructure that assigns grades based on the condition of structures like roads, bridges, and dams, and the investments that they need. Heavy rainfall. in the Upper Midwest in late June 2024, putting at least one aging dam at risk.

The consequences depend on several factors, such as the purpose of the dam, its size and its location. If a dam is designed for flood protection and is surrounded by homes, businesses, or critical infrastructure, a large uncontrolled release of water could be catastrophic. Dams that are small and located in rural areas may cause less damage if they are overtopped or fail.across the U.S., in all 50 states, with diverse designs and purposes.

For example, one recent study on predicting coastal flooding found that in New England, a 100-year flood – that’s an event of a magnitude that now has a 1 percent chance of occurring in any given year – Designing new dams and upgrading existing infrastructure will need to be based on updated design procedures that take into account future climate projections, not just historical hazardous events. While older dams aren’t necessarily unsafe, they were constructed following outdated design standards and construction procedures and for different environmental conditions. That influences the likelihood and consequences of their failure during disasters.

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