The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and American Rivers invite you to a briefing to learn about the state of dam infrastructure in the United States. Rivers across the United States are dotted with dams built for various purposes, from powering factories to irrigating croplands. In fact, there are more than 500,000 dams across the country. Of the dams in the National Inventory, 85 percent have outlived their expected lifespan and many are no longer serving a purpose. This presents a critical challenge for dam owners, municipalities, states, and the federal government as they seek to ensure community safety.

This briefing will discuss the options dam owners have to manage this infrastructure challenge, including dam removal, which is a common approach to dam safety and river restoration. Dam owners frequently seek help with removing their obsolete and unsafe structures, and dam removals are only completed with dam owner consent. To date, dam owners have worked with federal agencies and nonprofits to remove 2,119 dams, the majority of them in the last 25 years.

Panelists will discuss the need to pay attention to dams as key infrastructure that has an impact in districts across the country. Bringing together perspectives from federal agencies and local leaders, the briefing will highlight funding, programs, and projects that advance public safety through dam removal as well as river restoration.