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 specific land regions.

The Low-Head Dam Inventory includes more than 10,000 low-head dams in the U.S. You must agree to the following terms to continue to the site. You are accessing a U.S. Government (USG)...

Oct 2, 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 use in industrial …

Jun 21, 2024 · 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.

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

Dams provide a life-sustaining resource to people in all regions of the United States. They are an extremely important part of this nation’s infrastructure—equal in importance to bridges, roads, …

Dams support critical infrastructure across sectors, from agriculture to energy production. They provide reliable water supplies, protect against flooding, and produce renewable energy, forming the …

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.

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 …

Oct 17, 2025 · Reservoir levels and historical data for Burchard Lake Dam, along with water storage capacities and weather forecast.