Dam Safety

Alabama is the only state in the US without dam safety laws.

ARA's issues reflect the four key areas of our Water Agenda that Alabama can improve in order to ensure the health of our waterways for generations to come. Click the image to view the Alabama Water Agenda.

ARA’s issues reflect the four key areas of our Water Agenda that Alabama can improve in order to ensure the health of our waterways for generations to come. Click the image to view the Alabama Water Agenda.

According to the US Army Corps of Engineers there are over 2200 dams in Alabama. Alabama is the only state that does not have a regulatory program to ensure that these dams are safely constructed and maintained to ensure that downstream water users and upstream property owners are protected.

null

Alabama dams according to the 2013 National Inventory

How the Alabama Rivers Alliance is working to help:

The Alabama Rivers Alliance supports ongoing efforts by the American Society of Civil Engineers, Association of Dam Safety Officials, and their partners to develop necessary standards for dams in Alabama that will help protect Alabama’s rivers from the threat of dam failure.

Additional Resources

Preventing the Duck River Dam
Beyond Dams: Options and Alternatives

Alabama Dam Safety in the News:


  • Adopt the recommendations of the Association of State Dam Safety Officials and the American Society of Civil Engineers
  • Develop a dam inspection program to ensure that all dams are safe and properly maintained
  • Ensure all dam owners and operators have an emergency action plan and that emergency information is readily available to downstream users and land owners.

All Alabama citizens, partners and friends are important partners for this issue.