The nation’s dams are on average more than a half-century old and many weren’t designed to handle the amount of water resulting from changing climate. Yet almost no information has been publicly available about the condition of these dams. The Associated Press has created an exclusive dataset that found at least 1,688 high hazard dams that are in poor or unsatisfactory condition, and in places where failure is likely to kill at least one person.
The AP’s analysis is based on data obtained through dozens of state open-records requests, which allowed the AP to compile a dataset that contains both hazard levels and condition ratings for dams in 45 states and Puerto Rico. Five states – Alabama, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and Texas – did not fully comply with the records request for reasons described in the methodology and caveats sections below. (Iowa provided all requested documents but had no dams listed as both high hazard and in poor or unsatisfactory condition).
| Heapery Attribution License | Heapery-Private |
| Category | Other |
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| Support Contact Email Address | support@heapery.com |
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| Language | English |
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| Last Updated Date | 8/11/2020 |
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