May 31 is National Dam Safety Awareness Day, an opportunity to reflect on the essential role dams play in our lives and emphasize the importance of keeping these structures safe and well-maintained.
There are more than 90,000 dams across the United States with one or more of the following responsibilities:
- Providing clean drinking water
- Supporting agriculture through irrigation systems
- Protecting communities by managing flood risks
- Generating renewable hydropower
- Enhancing recreation and tourism through lakes and reservoirs
The average age of U.S. dams is over 57 years, and as the nation’s dams age and populations or industries expand downstream, the potential for impactful dam failures increases. The challenges presented by aging dams, growing urbanization downstream, evolving safety standards, and more frequent severe weather events underscore the need for continuous maintenance, regular evaluations, and heightened attention to dam inspections, rehabilitation, upgrades, and public education.
National Dam Safety Awareness Day also honors the memory of the tragic 1889 South Fork Dam failure in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, which claimed over 2,200 lives. This historic disaster serves as a powerful reminder: dam safety is not optional, but essential.
