{"id":27489,"date":"2025-07-22T18:39:37","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T18:39:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=27489"},"modified":"2025-07-22T18:41:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T18:41:29","slug":"new-research-identifies-us-dams-at-highest-risk-of-overtopping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/new-research-identifies-us-dams-at-highest-risk-of-overtopping\/","title":{"rendered":"New Research Identifies US Dams at Highest Risk of Overtopping"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">A new study from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering has discovered a rising number of U.S. dams at risk of overtopping, emphasizing the need for urgent infrastructure upgrades to protect downstream communities.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The growing risk of overtopping in U.S. dams poses a serious threat to structural integrity and downstream communities, according to recent research from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a comprehensive study <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-025-59536-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in Nature Communications, the research team analyzed data from 33 dams over a span of 50 years, revealing an alarming trend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The research indicates that the number of dams with critical overtopping probabilities \u2014 categorized as low, moderate or high \u2014 has increased since 1973, while those with non-critical probabilities have decreased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDecades ago, dam builders used the best available technology knowledge, but things have been changing, so aging infrastructure is something that is a concern,\u201d co-author Ebrahim Ahmadisharaf, an assistant professor in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, said in a news release. \u201cIn this study, we showed where hazards from overtopping are greatest, both because of risk of occurrence and possible consequences. It is a guide to where infrastructure spending could have the greatest impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Study<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The United States is home to over 90,000 dams, varying significantly in size and purpose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the study, the researchers focused on a subset of 130 sites with at least 50 years of water level data. From this group, they analyzed 33 dams after excluding those influenced by upstream regulation or with data lacking statistical independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The researchers examined water level data relative to the height of the dam crest across multiple 30-year periods within the larger dataset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among these dams, 30 were classified as large, exceeding 15 meters in height, and 31 were deemed &#8220;high hazard&#8221; by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), meaning their failure could result in loss of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Significantly, the dams with the highest probability of overtopping and proximity to downstream cities were identified in Texas, Kansas and California. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Canyon Dam: New Braunfels, Texas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kanopolis Dam: Marquette, Kansas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Milford Dam: Junction, Kansas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Somerville Dam: Somerville, Texas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whiskeytown Dam: Anderson, California<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whitney Dam: Waco, Texas<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe have to plan upfront for this potential risk,\u201d Ahmadisharaf added. \u201cThis information can help dam managers to consider whether they need to revisit their emergency action plans and strategy for operating dams.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Significance of the Findings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overtopping occurs when stored water surpasses the capacity of a reservoir and flows over the top of the dam. Although this doesn&#8217;t necessarily cause immediate failure, it can significantly weaken the structure over time, raising the risk of catastrophic outcomes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, 34% of all U.S. dam failures result from overtopping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many dams in the U.S. were constructed nearly a century ago, which coupled with changing environmental conditions, creates an urgent need for reassessment. Reflecting this urgency, the American Society of Civil Engineers assigned U.S. dams a D+ rating in its 2025 infrastructure report card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This particular study concentrated on water levels and dam height, excluding other crucial factors such as spillway capacity and sedimentation buildup due to data limitations. Future studies incorporating these elements would provide a more holistic view of overtopping risks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis study represents the first step toward a comprehensive assessment of dam overtopping probabilities in the U.S. Understanding this potential risk is crucial for protecting communities and prioritizing dam rehabilitation before catastrophic failures occur,\u201d added co-author Eunsaem Cho, a former postdoctoral researcher at FSU and now a research associate at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The findings underscore the pressing need for infrastructure investment and strategic planning, reinforcing the critical role of ongoing research in safeguarding communities and upgrading aging dam structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:13px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/news.fsu.edu\/news\/science-technology\/2025\/07\/21\/famu-fsu-research-identifies-u-s-dams-at-greatest-risk-of-overtopping\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Florida State University<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The growing risk of overtopping in U.S. dams poses a serious threat to structural integrity and downstream communities, according to recent research from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. In a comprehensive study published in Nature Communications, the research team analyzed data from 33 dams over a span of 50 years, revealing an alarming trend. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[427],"class_list":["post-27489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-science","tag-florida-state-university"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The growing risk of overtopping in U.S. dams poses a serious threat to structural integrity and downstream communities, according to recent research from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. In a comprehensive study published in Nature Communications, the research team analyzed data from 33 dams over a span of 50 years, revealing an alarming trend. The&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27489"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27489\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30269,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27489\/revisions\/30269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}