http://www.teachengineering.org/view_lesson.php?url=collection/cub_/lessons/cub_dams/cub_dams_lesson08.xmllessontext/xmlIntegrated Teaching and Learning Program and Laboratory, damdam failuredam removalfailurelifespanmaintenanceremovalriverwaterwater supplyengineerlifespanmaintenance

Students learn that dams do not last forever. Similar to other human-made structures, such as roads and bridges, dams require regular maintenance and have a finite lifespan. Many dams built during the 1930-70s, an era of intensive dam construction, have an expected life of 50-100 years. Due to inadequate maintenance and/or for environmental reasons, some of these dams will fail or be removed in the next 50 years. The engineers with Splash Engineering have an ethical obligation to remind Thirsty County of the maintenance and lifespan concerns associated with its dam.

Engineers are concerned with the long-term reliability and maintenance of structures, especially dams. While proper initial engineering design of dams is important, safe operation and maintenance is critical to sustaining the benefits of dams and avoiding potential disaster. To prevent failure, engineers inspect these large structures to analyze the condition of their materials, determine maintenance, and sometimes recommend removal. As the US infrastructure of dams ages and as environmental issues become better understood, more dams are being removed so that rivers flow freely. Discuss why dams do not last forever.Name some of the forces acting on dams that cause them to deteriorate.Name at least one US dam.10TeachEngineering.orgJeff LyngKristin FieldDenali LanderDenise W. Carlsonhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/dam/index.htmlhttp://www.fema.gov/hazard/damfailure/index.shtmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dam_failure&oldid=319455970http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/restoring-rivers/dams/background/faqs.htmlhttp://www.damsafety.org/news/?p=d42cd061-cae2-4039-8fc6-313975f97c36http://www.nrcm.org/issue_edwardsdam.aspKagen, S. Cooperative Learning. San Juan Capistrano, CA: Kagan Cooperative Learning, 1994. (Source for Think-Pair-Share small group assessment tool.)http://www.good.is/post/dam-it-all/http://www.sej.org/publications/tipsheet/nearly-800-dams-already-removed-across-ushttp://www.waterwatch.org/programs/freeing-the-rogue-river/savage-rapids-dam-removalhttp://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1890/1540-9295(2003)001%5B0015:TOTEEO%5D2.0.CO%3B2S1141722International_Technology_Education_Association-ITEA_STL_StandardsTechnologyC. Individual, family, community, and economic concerns may expand or limit the development of technologies.35S11417A8International_Technology_Education_Association-ITEA_STL_StandardsTechnologyD. Structures need to be maintained. 35S11425A1ColoradoSciencea. Analyze and interpret data identifying ways Earth's surface is constantly changing through a variety of processes and forces such as plate tectonics, erosion, deposition, solar influences, climate, and human activity 55United StatesCopyright 2012 - Integrated Teaching and Learning Program and Laboratory, College of Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulderhttp://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2010-07-275Teacher