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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion - Public safety crisis: Budget cuts may cause US dams to fail
Across the nation, dams are deteriorating while the storms pounding against them grow stronger and more frequent. The result: A growing number of disasters and an unacceptable level of flood risk for downstream communities. Lives, homes and livelihoods hang in the balance, even as dam safety oversight and funding are being eliminated in the current Congress. May 31 is National Dam Safety Awareness Day — a moment to remember the people who have died in dam failures and to urge action to ensure no more lives are lost in unnecessary and avoidable catastrophes. It should also be a wake-up call. The threat is not theoretical, it is reality. And the harsh reality is, it is getting worse and our elected leaders have yet to respond. There are more than half a million dams obstructing rivers and streams in all 50 states and in almost every community. Ownership and associated liability in the event of dam-breaks spans private owners, localities, states and the federal government, which controls some of the largest and most dangerous dams. Dams are infrastructure, and infrastructure fails. When dams fail, a wall of water surges downstream, destroying everything in its path. In the U.S. alone, thousands have died from dam failures. Even low head dams — smaller dams that typically have water continuously flowing over the dam crest — can be deadly, having entrapped and drowned 1,400 people in their hydraulic churn over the years. Dam failures are not tragedies of the distant past. Nearly 80 percent of emergency incidents and dam failures have occurred in the last 20 years. In 2019, for example, the Spencer Dam in Nebraska failed during a winter storm and drowned a man. Just last year the Rapidan Dam in Minnesota failed during a flood, swallowing a riverside home. The dam was known to be in a state of disrepair, and the dam owner had been weighing the decision to repair or remove the structure. Hurricane Helene, which dumped an unprecedented amount of rainfall onto the Southeast, pushed dams beyond their limit. Dozens of state-regulated dams failed or were severely damaged in record-breaking flooding. Many others were further degraded — leaving them compromised as the 2025 hurricane season begins. The majority of our nation's dams are beyond their design lifespan. With the average age across the nation surpassing six decades, it should be unsurprising that they were not built to withstand the storm and flood intensities that we are seeing now. Many are accidents just waiting to happen, especially as the funding and staff that maintain or upgrade these antiquated structures are being cut. The U.S. has put far too little investment into fixing this underappreciated public safety crisis, leading the American Society of Civil Engineers to give our dams a grade of D+. And a failing grade may well be around the corner. In the last two years, Congress has made major cuts to dam safety programs at dam-owning agencies and massive cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency National Dam Safety Program funding. This program provides critical support to state dam safety offices and for dam owners voluntarily seeking to repair or remove dams with high hazard potential. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 provided an influx of funds, but more than half of those dedicated funds were subsequently cut in the 2024 and 2025 spending bills. Restoring and sustaining sufficient funding and staffing to the FEMA National Dam Safety Program is crucial to addressing the dam safety crisis. Lack of funding will leave communities, regardless of who they voted for, having to pay the price when dams break. At the state level, dam safety offices need the staffing, funding and programmatic infrastructure to hold dam owners responsible for the safety of their dams. Loopholes that allow some dam owners — even those owning high-hazard dams — to avoid safety regulation, must be closed. Unsafe dams that are not serving a critical purpose should be removed, and funding should be made available to support those removals. It is currently estimated that it would cost $165 billion to rehabilitate all non-federal dams. The longer dams are allowed to deteriorate, the higher that price tag grows. However, as the adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. More than half of dams on the landscape are obsolete, no longer serving the purpose they were built to provide. An investment to remove them instead of patching them up for another day may be a cost-efficient way of eliminating safety risks and expediently restoring water quality, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities. Our nation's outdated 20th Century dams are buckling under 21st century weather extremes. They are quickly becoming ticking time bombs without the budget to diffuse them. This is not just an infrastructure issue — it is a public safety emergency. And Congress is on the verge of failing its most basic responsibility: to protect the American people. Members of Congress need to put public safety first and approve dedicated funding for the regular upkeep, rehabilitation and removal of dams. Tom Kiernan is president and CEO of American Rivers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Public safety crisis: Budget cuts may cause US dams to fail
Across the nation, dams are deteriorating while the storms pounding against them grow stronger and more frequent. The result: A growing number of disasters and an unacceptable level of flood risk for downstream communities. Lives, homes and livelihoods hang in the balance, even as dam safety oversight and funding are being eliminated in the current Congress. May 31 is National Dam Safety Awareness Day — a moment to remember the people who have died in dam failures and to urge action to ensure no more lives are lost in unnecessary and avoidable catastrophes. It should also be a wake-up call. The threat is not theoretical, it is reality. And the harsh reality is, it is getting worse and our elected leaders have yet to respond. There are more than half a million dams obstructing rivers and streams in all 50 states and in almost every community. Ownership and associated liability in the event of dam-breaks spans private owners, localities, states and the federal government, which controls some of the largest and most dangerous dams. Dams are infrastructure, and infrastructure fails. When dams fail, a wall of water surges downstream, destroying everything in its path. In the U.S. alone, thousands have died from dam failures. Even low head dams — smaller dams that typically have water continuously flowing over the dam crest — can be deadly, having entrapped and drowned 1,400 people in their hydraulic churn over the years. Dam failures are not tragedies of the distant past. Nearly 80 percent of emergency incidents and dam failures have occurred in the last 20 years. In 2019, for example, the Spencer Dam in Nebraska failed during a winter storm and drowned a man. Just last year the Rapidan Dam in Minnesota failed during a flood, swallowing a riverside home. The dam was known to be in a state of disrepair, and the dam owner had been weighing the decision to repair or remove the structure. Hurricane Helene, which dumped an unprecedented amount of rainfall onto the Southeast, pushed dams beyond their limit. Dozens of state-regulated dams failed or were severely damaged in record-breaking flooding. Many others were further degraded — leaving them compromised as the 2025 hurricane season begins. The majority of our nation's dams are beyond their design lifespan. With the average age across the nation surpassing six decades, it should be unsurprising that they were not built to withstand the storm and flood intensities that we are seeing now. Many are accidents just waiting to happen, especially as the funding and staff that maintain or upgrade these antiquated structures are being cut. The U.S. has put far too little investment into fixing this underappreciated public safety crisis, leading the American Society of Civil Engineers to give our dams a grade of D+. And a failing grade may well be around the corner. In the last two years, Congress has made major cuts to dam safety programs at dam-owning agencies and massive cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency National Dam Safety Program funding. This program provides critical support to state dam safety offices and for dam owners voluntarily seeking to repair or remove dams with high hazard potential. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 provided an influx of funds, but more than half of those dedicated funds were subsequently cut in the 2024 and 2025 spending bills. Restoring and sustaining sufficient funding and staffing to the FEMA National Dam Safety Program is crucial to addressing the dam safety crisis. Lack of funding will leave communities, regardless of who they voted for, having to pay the price when dams break. At the state level, dam safety offices need the staffing, funding and programmatic infrastructure to hold dam owners responsible for the safety of their dams. Loopholes that allow some dam owners — even those owning high-hazard dams — to avoid safety regulation, must be closed. Unsafe dams that are not serving a critical purpose should be removed, and funding should be made available to support those removals. It is currently estimated that it would cost $165 billion to rehabilitate all non-federal dams. The longer dams are allowed to deteriorate, the higher that price tag grows. However, as the adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. More than half of dams on the landscape are obsolete, no longer serving the purpose they were built to provide. An investment to remove them instead of patching them up for another day may be a cost-efficient way of eliminating safety risks and expediently restoring water quality, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities. Our nation's outdated 20th Century dams are buckling under 21st century weather extremes. They are quickly becoming ticking time bombs without the budget to diffuse them. This is not just an infrastructure issue — it is a public safety emergency. And Congress is on the verge of failing its most basic responsibility: to protect the American people. Members of Congress need to put public safety first and approve dedicated funding for the regular upkeep, rehabilitation and removal of dams. Tom Kiernan is president and CEO of American Rivers.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Engineers give Utah infrastructure a high grade, but say levees and canals need improvement
A canal flows through south-central Utah. (Getty Images) Utah has some of the best infrastructure in the country when compared to other states, although its canals and levees are in need of repair. That's according to the American Society of Civil Engineers' report card, released Thursday, which gives the Beehive State an overall C+ grade. That's tied with Georgia and Wisconsin for the highest score of all U.S. states and territories. 'A C+ means our infrastructure is meeting the needs of Utahns, but there's still room for improvement,' said Craig Friant, a civil engineer who worked on the report. 'This is a sign that we're doing things well here in Utah.' While the state has one of the highest grades, the rest of the country is not far behind. The national grade is C, and most states and territories received a C or C- grade — South Carolina and Louisiana each received a D+, West Virginia received a D and Puerto Rico received a D-, the lowest grade. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, or ASCE, an A grade is defined as exceptional and fit for the future; B is good and adequate for now; C is mediocre, requiring attention; D is poor and at risk; and F is failing, requiring critical attention and unfit for purpose. The report lists 12 separate areas of infrastructure for each state. Consider Utah's report: Aviation: C+ Bridges: B Canals: D+ Dams: C+ Drinking water: B- Hazardous waste: C+ Levees: D- Roads: B+ Solid waste: B- Stormwater: C Transportation: B- Wastewater: C The majority of the state's levees and canals are old, according to the report — most levees are more than 60 years old, and many of the state's canals were built in the 19th century for irrigation purposes. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The report also noted that data isn't readily available for levees and canals, which poses another risk. 'These are systems that protect households and businesses from flooding, yet we don't know their condition in many cases, which is a major public safety hazard,' said Friant, who pointed to outdated levees in Salt Lake County that protect residential areas from flooding during runoff or storms. These levees don't currently meet the Army Corps of Engineers standards, putting them at risk of being delisted — if that happens, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, could eventually reclassify the land surrounding the Salt Lake City International and Provo City airports as flood plains, according to the report. That could 'drastically' alter how the land is assessed and insured, engineers say. What can the state do to boost its grade? The report gives several recommendations, including more analysis and better funding when it comes to infrastructure. 'Specifically, detailed written plans are critical for the areas of water resources, canals, transportation, transit, and waste management,' the report reads. 'The state should be providing consistent financial support for project improvements, maintenance, resiliency, and risk reduction through reliable funding streams year after year that facilitate this planning.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Prioritizing funding for bridges is another recommendation. Even though Utah received a B, engineers say many of the state's bridges are nearing the end of their 'service lives.' The state should also increase funding for its Dam Safety Program. Utah currently has hundreds of dams considered 'high hazard,' which means if they fail, it would cause severe damage and loss of life. That includes the Panguitch Lake Dam, which showed signs of seepage last year after cracks appeared near the top, likely the result of ice pushing up against the concrete. The roughly 1,700 residents of Panguitch were put on notice to prepare for evacuation, but crews were able to break the ice away and stabilize the dam. Utah has a big, expensive and potentially dangerous dam problem To avoid a repeat scenario, the report recommends the state dump at least $10 million each year into the Dam Safety Program and try to rehabilitate all dams within 50 years. 'An increase to $20 million per year would allow faster repairs but could still require 25 years for all required repairs,' the report reads. Bolstering 'multi-modal' transportation options — like expanding bus or train networks —is another recommendation as the state deals with rapid population growth. And lastly, Utah should make sure the Great Salt Lake reaches and remains at healthy levels — replacing canals with pipelines will help reduce evaporation, and could ultimately result in more water flowing to the lake, according to the report.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Good roads cost less:' Utah infrastructure receives ‘C+' grade from engineers, above national average
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4) — The Utah section of the American Society of Civil Engineers released its 2025 Report Card for Utah's Infrastructure on Thursday, with grades released for 12 different categories that were measured. A spokesperson with the shared his thoughts on the report card. Overall, Utah earned a 'C+' grade, one of three states to receive this grade, along with Georgia and Wisconsin. The grade is also the highest the ASCE has given to any state and is just above the national average of 'C' in the , which was released in March. Police ramp up education for 100 Deadliest Days The state's aviation infrastructure was the only category to see a grade increase, while three categories saw decreases: bridges, stormwater and transit. All other categories remained the same from 2020. Here are the grades for each category measured: B+ — Roads B — Bridges B- — Drinking Water, Solid Waste, Transit C+ — Aviation, Dams, Hazardous Waste C — Stormwater, Wastewater D+ — Canals D- — Levees Craig Friant, Chair of the Report Card, said that state leaders have taken steps to ensure the reliability of infrastructure systems as more people move to the state, but he added that will also create problems with water supply. 'A growing population and more frequent droughts also mean our water supply faces ongoing threats,' Friant said in the report. 'While Utahns have drastically reduced their water usage, there are ongoing challenges, and leaders need to be proactive with their solutions.' The report cited that the investment in infrastructure from Utah leaders helped the state earn high grades for roads and bridges. It also cited state lawmakers' approval of $14 billion in funding for transportation in 2023, spread over six years, as another factor in the grade increase for roads. John Gleason, the public relations director with UDOT, shared his thoughts on the grades for roads and bridges, most of which are managed by the department. 'We put a lot of focus into maintaining our roads, keeping them in good shape. We have a saying that 'good roads cost less,' and what that means is if we can do these maintenance projects and keep them in shape… then that staves off the big capacity projects,' Gleason told ABC4. UDOT's bridge management program is very 'robust,' Gleason shared. He said that UDOT has a great understanding of the life cycle of bridges and what maintenance needs to be done to make them last. He said that funding for these projects is what helped roads and bridges receive these higher grades. 'We've had a lot of big capacity projects in the last few decades, you know, it was a different story before the Winter Olympics 2002, but over the years we've had a major commitment by our state leaders,' Gleason stated. 'They understand the importance of a good transportation system and what that means for the economy.' Gleason said that UDOT has been innovating with its construction of bridges. He stressed that this innovation helps them be wise with the taxpayer money that goes into these projects. 'We've been leaders in the way that we build bridges and the way that we maintain bridges for a long time,' he said. 'We don't say 'this is the way it's always been done in the past,' we always look for new innovative ways that are going to save time and money.' Double-tracking the frontrunner is a big project for UDOT, Gleason shared. He said that they have committed not only to moving vehicles, but moving people. UDOT is also working on improvements to walking and biking trails as well as connections to transit. 'It really speaks to the quality of life that we have here in Utah…' Gleason said. 'We want to make sure that we can maintain that and even make things better here in the future.' The full report is . Latest Headlines: Utah's House to elect new leadership. Here's who's running 'Good roads cost less:' Utah infrastructure receives 'C+' grade from engineers, above national average Salt Lake woman dies in crash after allegedly stealing a car, fleeing from police Syracuse police release photo of assault suspect, provide update Intermountain Health breaks ground on new St. George clinic Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time Business News
7 days ago
- Health
- Time Business News
Water Outage Crisis: How America's Failing System Affects You
Picture this scenario: you turn the tap and nothing comes out. No water for drinking, cooking, or basic hygiene. This nightmare becomes reality for millions of Americans each year as our nation faces a growing water outage crisis. We're living through an unprecedented challenge with our water infrastructure. Every two minutes, somewhere in America, a water main breaks. That adds up to approximately 250,000 water main breaks annually across the United States, according to the American Water Works Association. Our water systems fail for several interconnected reasons. Most of our pipes were installed decades ago, with some dating back to the 19th century. These aging systems weren't designed to handle today's demands or extreme weather events. Climate change makes everything worse. Intense storms flood treatment plants while prolonged droughts strain water supplies. Power outages knock out pumping stations, leaving entire communities without service for days. Aging infrastructure – Pipes reaching 75-100 year lifespans – Pipes reaching 75-100 year lifespans Power failures affecting pumping stations affecting pumping stations Extreme weather events overwhelming systems overwhelming systems Equipment malfunctions at treatment facilities at treatment facilities Water main breaks from pressure changes When water service stops, the financial consequences ripple through communities. Households spend an average of $1,400 dealing with disruptions – buying bottled water, eating out more, and taking time off work. Businesses suffer even greater losses. Restaurants must close. Hotels can't accommodate guests. Manufacturing plants shut down production lines. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that water infrastructure failures cost US households $2 billion in 2019 alone. By 2039, these costs could reach $14 billion annually if we don't act. We face serious health threats when clean water becomes unavailable. Boil water advisories affect thousands of communities yearly, with the EPA issuing hundreds of warnings about contaminated supplies. During outages, people resort to unsafe water sources. Dehydration becomes a real concern, especially for vulnerable populations like children and elderly residents. Emergency rooms report increased visits for waterborne illnesses during extended disruptions. The situation hits low-income communities hardest. These areas often have the oldest infrastructure and least resources for emergency supplies. Smart preparation protects your family when service fails. Start building your emergency water reserve today. Store adequate supplies. Keep one gallon per person per day for at least three days. A family of four needs 12 gallons minimum. Choose proper containers. Use food-grade plastic bottles or commercially bottled water. Avoid milk jugs – they break down quickly. Rotate your stock. Replace stored water every six months to maintain freshness. Know alternative sources. Identify nearby wells, springs, or community distribution points. Conserve whatever water remains in your home. Water heaters typically hold 30-50 gallons. Toilet tanks contain several gallons each (but avoid toilet bowl water). Boil all questionable water for one full minute before drinking, cooking, or brushing teeth. Fixing America's water crisis requires massive investment. The EPA estimates we need $625 billion over 20 years to achieve a state of good repair. That's $150 billion more than their previous assessment just five years ago. Smart sensors now detect leaks before major breaks occur. Advanced materials resist corrosion better than century-old pipes. Trenchless replacement methods reduce disruption to neighborhoods. Success stories inspire optimism. Cities implementing comprehensive asset management see 30% fewer emergency repairs. Utilities using predictive analytics extend pipe lifespans significantly. Government action at every level drives meaningful progress. Federal funding through programs like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides crucial support, but more investment is essential. State regulations requiring asset management plans help utilities plan proactively rather than react to emergencies. Local governments must prioritize water infrastructure in budget discussions. Citizens play a vital part in addressing this crisis. Support local bond measures funding infrastructure improvements. Contact elected representatives about prioritizing water investment. Stay informed about your local system. Attend utility meetings. Ask about emergency procedures. Understand where your water comes from and how it's treated. America's water infrastructure crisis won't disappear overnight. However, combining increased investment, advanced technology, and community engagement creates pathways toward reliable service. We must act before small problems become catastrophic failures. Every community deserves access to safe, reliable water service. The time for addressing our infrastructure deficit is now. Your preparation today protects your family tomorrow. Start building your emergency water supply and advocating for infrastructure investment in your community TIME BUSINESS NEWS
