Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees (also known as dikes) are used to manage or prevent water flow into …

Dec 12, 2025 · dam, structure built across a stream, a river, or an estuary to retain water. Dams are built to provide water for human consumption, for irrigating arid and semiarid lands, or for …

A dam is a structure built across a stream or river to hold water back. Dams can be used to store water, control flooding, and generate electricity.

Oct 22, 2025 · The National Inventory of Dams (NID) documents all known dams in the United States and its territories that meet certain criteria.

Double curvature arch dam. An arch dam, which is curved vertically as well as horizontally. A dam consisting of a watertight part supported at intervals on the downstream side by a series of …

In the U.S., more than 16,700 dams are classified as high hazard potential as of August 2024, which means that if one of these dams should fail, the likely result would be loss of life and …

Water is one of our most precious resources; our lives depend on it. Throughout the history of humankind, people have built dams to maximize use of this vital resource. Dams provide a life …

May 30, 2025 · Dams are some of the most important and fascinating structures innovated by human civilization. They help us control water, generate energy, grow food, and protect lives.

Dams can help protect communities from floods, provide water to irrigate farmland, enable safe passage for boats and barges, create places to play on the river and provide the Northwest …

By storing and managing water flow, dams have helped improve agriculture, urban water supply, and power generation, making them critical for economic growth and disaster prevention. …