The U.S. of Breaking and Broken Dams

New analysis of high-hazard dams reveals the ubiquity, and risks, of the infrastructure challenges facing the United States.

1 minute read

November 12, 2019, 8:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Niobrara River

What's Left of the Spencer Dam on the Niobrara River in Nebraska. | Shutterstock

David A Lieb, Michael Casey, and Michelle Minkoff share news of new analysis by the Associated Press about the state of repair of dams in the United States.

According to the analysis, 1,688 dams at high risk of breaking can be found in 44 states in the nation, as well as Puerto Rico. Many of these dams are located in positions that risks lives in downstream populations if they should fail. The article includes harrowing footage of dams breaking and an interactive map of neglected dams to drive home the point that the risk presented by out-of-repair dams is far from hypothetical.

Sunday, November 10, 2019 in AP News

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