The Ticking Clock: An Urgency of the Approaching Dam Failure Crisis

Kathy Hoverman, PE
RES
Richmond VA

Over 70% of the 560,000+ dams in the United States have officially outlived their 50-year design life. Built before modern rainfall data, earthquake mapping, or advanced concrete testing, these aging structures are failing under the weight of a changing climate. Extreme precipitation has already surged up to 60% across the country, leaving thousands of underfunded, unmaintained, and obsolete dams built for a climate reality that no longer exists at risk of failure. This is not a future risk—it is an active, nationwide threat to community safety.

Dam removal is the only definitive solution to eliminate this hazard. Yet, local communities often lack the funding, regulatory leverage, or technical knowledge to act. This presentation delivers a fast-paced overview of the compounding structural and climatic dangers of our legacy dam infrastructure. Attendees will gain actionable communication frameworks, policy tools, and community-advocacy strategies designed to start conversations and accelerate the removal of hazardous dams while unlocking vital ecological and safety co-benefits.

About Kathy Hoverman, PE

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