High Hazard Dams With Overdue Inspections

High hazard dams — those where failure would probably cause loss of human life — typically require regular inspections to identify safety deficiencies before they become emergencies. Most states mandate inspections every 1-5 years for high hazard dams.

Currently, 7,777 high hazard dams in the National Inventory of Dams show a last inspection date more than 5 years ago. While some of these may reflect data reporting delays rather than missed inspections, the gap between the recorded inspection date and today raises questions about ongoing monitoring.

This data comes from the NID and may not reflect inspections conducted but not yet reported to federal databases. For the most current inspection status, contact your state dam safety program.