Dam Report Card Methodology

The county report-card score is a public-records triage metric. It is designed to identify counties where federal dam records have more high-consequence infrastructure and more follow-up flags.

Score formula

• High-hazard dams: 3 points each
• Significant-hazard dams: 1 point each
• Poor or unsatisfactory condition records: 5 points each
• High-hazard dams with no recorded Emergency Action Plan: 4 points each
• High-hazard dams with blank or older inspection dates: 2 points each

Grades are relative labels for readability: A (<20), B (20-49), C (50-99), D (100-199), F (200+). They are not official grades and should not be treated as official safety determinations.

Limitations

Missing data can mean many things: not reported, not public, not applicable, or not recently synced. Hazard potential describes consequences of failure, not likelihood of failure.

Download the CSV or return to Report Cards.