Jan. 13, 2025
Water is one of our most precious resources; our lives depend on it. Throughout human history, dams have been built to maximize the use of this vital resource.
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Dams provide essential resources to people across the United States. They are crucial components of the nation's infrastructure, equally important as bridges, roads, airports, and other major infrastructure elements. Dams serve multiple functions such as water supply for domestic, agricultural, industrial, and community use; flood control; recreation; and clean, renewable energy through hydropower.
As the population grows and people settle in arid or flood-prone areas, the demand for dams has risen.
Renewable, clean energy: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, hydropower accounted for over 7% of U.S. electricity generation and nearly 37% of U.S. renewable electricity generation.
Flood control: Dams constructed with assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service provide around $1.7 billion annually in benefits through reduced flooding, erosion damage, recreation, water supplies, and wildlife habitat. Dams operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority produce electricity and prevent an average of about $280 million in flood damage each year.
Water storage: Dams create reservoirs that supply water for fire control, irrigation, recreation, drinking, and industrial uses.
Irrigation: Ten percent of American cropland is irrigated with water stored behind dams.
Navigation: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers navigation projects maintain 12,000 miles of channels serving 41 states and carrying 15% of U.S. freight along inland waterways.
Recreation: Dams provide recreational facilities for about ten percent of the U.S. population, who visit at least one U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facility each year.
The primary function of a dam is to impound (store) water, wastewater, or other liquid materials. This storage can serve various purposes including flood control, human water supply, irrigation, energy generation, and recreation. Many dams fulfill multiple functions.
Manmade dams can be classified based on their construction materials, methods, shapes, and how they resist water pressure. The materials used in dam construction can include earth, rock, tailings, concrete, masonry, steel, and a combination of these.
Embankment Dams: These are the most common type of dam. They are usually made from natural soil or rock and can be categorized as earthfill or rockfill dams based on their composition. Their resistance to water pressure primarily comes from their mass and the materials used.
Concrete Dams: These dams are designed to resist water pressure using various designs. Three common types of concrete dams are gravity, buttress, and arch.
Gravity: Gravity dams rely on their mass to resist water pressure. They are usually made of vertical concrete blocks with flexible seals.
Buttress: This type of dam reduces the mass of concrete and transmits forces to the dam foundation through vertical or sloping buttresses.
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Arch: Arch dams have a thin cross-section and distribute water forces laterally to the abutments. They often consist of thin vertical blocks and may include variations such as multi-arch dams.
Effective water retention is crucial for a dam. Water can move from the reservoir to the downstream side through various means:
Overtopping is undesirable as it can erode embankment materials. Generally, water should pass through spillways, with controlled seepage to prevent erosion and instability. Proper construction and monitoring are key to ensuring dam integrity.
Water releases are typically through outlet works and spillways. Dams often have a mechanical spillway and may be equipped with auxiliary spillways for flood management.
Outlet Works: These facilities allow for continuous or as-needed water drawdown from the reservoir. They can connect to downstream rivers, power generators, or irrigation systems.
Spillways: Commonly, spillways are ungated concrete chutes placed over the dam or through its abutment to manage water overflow during high levels.
The National Inventory of Dams (NID) includes over 90,000 dams in the U.S., categorized by their hazard classification. High-hazard potential dams could lead to loss of life, whereas significant-hazard potential dams might result in economic losses but not necessarily fatalities.
Safety is critical for dam effectiveness. Failures can cause substantial damage to property and loss of life. The cost of failures can reach billions, affecting multiple states and large populations.
In recognition of rising concerns about dam safety due to engineering and maintenance failures, state and federal regulations have gradually emerged. California was one of the first states to establish safety programs in the early 20th century, followed by other states after significant failures raised awareness.
As of now, every state except Alabama has a regulatory program for dam safety. State agencies oversee about 70% of the dams listed in the National Inventory of Dams, performing safety evaluations, reviewing construction plans, and conducting inspections.
Several federal agencies are involved in dam safety, maintaining about 5% of the dams in the country. These agencies, including FEMA, operate programs to assist states in ensuring safety and compliance.
Federal agencies representing approximately 16% of ASDSO membership regulate around 14% of dams in the U.S.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages the National Dam Safety Program, coordinating all federal efforts in dam safety and assisting state programs in improving regulations.
Several federal agencies are involved in dam safety, including:
These agencies form the Interagency Committee on Dam Safety (ICODS), supervised by FEMA.
Other federal entities involved with dam safety include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Geological Survey.
At Brennan, we specialize in dam construction and repairs on navigational, hydroelectric, diversion, storage, detention, and earthen structures of all sizes. We handle every aspect of the dam, both above and below the waterline. Brennan crews are equipped with the experience and tools necessary to work in various conditions, including confined spaces and underwater construction. While many firms treat dam work as a secondary focus, we have made it our primary commitment with dedicated crews, specialized equipment, and a robust safety program.
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