A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aquaculture, and navigability. Hydropower is often used in conjunction with dams to generate electricity.

2024年6月21日 · Dams can be used to store water, control flooding, and generate electricity. An aerial view of the Hoover Dam. This dam has been harvesting hydroelectric power for over 80 years now. A dam is a structure built across a river or stream to hold back water. People have used different materials to build dams over the centuries.

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 processes.

Tolt Dam and Reservoir, looking east. The City of Seattle owns and operates the Tolt Dam and Reservoir located on the South Fork Tolt River in unincorporated King County, Washington, approximately 35 miles east of Seattle. The dam was completed in 1962 and is a 200-foot high earthfill dam with a Morning Glory Spillway.

At the Skagit Project, we adjust flows through the dams on a seasonal, monthly, and daily basis to supply the right amount of water for adult salmon and steelhead when they return to lay their eggs and to protect the young fish when they emerge.

At first glance, dams look like they only hold back and store water, but they actually do so much more. Dams can help protect communities from floods, provide water to irrigate farmland, enable safe passage for boats and barges, create places to play on the river and provide the Northwest with renewable, carbon-free electricity. While not all ...

Albeni Falls Dam, Libby Dam and Chief Joseph Dam on the Columbia River system produce 3,025 megawatts of electricity—more than enough to power a city the size of Seattle. The U.S. Army Corps of...

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, airports, and other major elements of the infrastructure.

2025年3月15日 · Workers keep dams safe by monitoring data, identifying weaknesses and doing site exams to check for cracks and seepage. “As we scramble to get these screenings, as we lose institutional knowledge from people leaving or early retirement, we limit our ability to ensure public safety,” the worker added. “Having people available to respond to ...

2021年11月14日 · Dams are rigid wall-like structure that forms a reservoir at the upstream side. Check components, purpose, and different types of dams here.