Are Dams Forever?
Nearing completion of the removal of the Savage Rapids Dam in Josephine County, OR. Heavy equipment moves piles of soil to direct the Rogue River's flow away from the remaining half of the dam structure, so it can be removed next. October 9, 2009.Copyright 2009 US Bureau of Reclamation http://www.waterwatch.org/programs/freeing-the-rogue-river/photo-gallery-removal-of-savage-rapids-dam
Students learn in this lesson, and through the associated activity, that dams are constructed with specific purposes and unfortunately 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. Students can investigate existing projects using the associated activity to see if various structures have stood the test of time while still maintaining their intended purpose 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.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- 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.