Dams and Water Management

Aerial views of various dams and reservoirs, emphasizing their structure and surroundings, alongside reflections in calm waters.

Water pouring from the outlet of Cascade Dam on Cascade Reservior flowing into the Payette River in Valley County, Idaho.

Aerial view of the Boise River Diversion Dam, diverts water to the New York Canal for irrigation use in Boise, Idaho.

Kenya, Turkana District, Turkwel Dam, Controversial Arch Hydroelectric Dam That Has Cost Millions Of Aid Dollars And Contributed Little To The Economy.

Tumut Pond Dam from the Tumut River forming as part of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric power scheme in New South Wales, Australia, Oceania

Low water levels at Arrowrock Dam and reservoir near Boise, Idaho.

CASTELLON. GEOGRAFIA FISICA. EMBALSE DEL REGAJO. RIO PALENCIA.

Water pouring from the outlet of Cascade Dam on Cascade Reservior flowing into the Payette River in Valley County, Idaho.

Aerial view of the Alcántara Dam unleashing powerful torrents against a backdrop of rugged terrain under a clear sky, Alcántara, Extremadura, Spain.

Water pumped from original river as Nam Ou River, Laos flows through a diversion dam instead, Phongsaly, Laos

A view of the Portugues Dam, Puerto Rico; according to the National Hurricane Center, the island was inundated by large amounts of rainfall, anywhere from 12 to 30 inches of rain. United States Army Corps of Engineers designed and built the Portuguese and Cerrillos Dams. They are critical to the mitigation of flooding in the region. The two dams were able to hold approximately 16,000 acre-feet of water combined during Hurricane Fiona, which is the equivalent of filling Plaza Del Caribe Mall almost 16 times. This volume of water would have flooded almost the entire urban area downstream of the dams. Rough preliminary estimates for the prevention of flood damages from both dams and associated channels are over $100 million. More importantly, thousands of lives were saved.

Hydraulic weir United States of America

Tumut Pond Dam from the Tumut River forming as part of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric power scheme in New South Wales, Australia, Oceania

Low water levels at Arrowrock Dam near Boise, Idaho.

Katse Dam

USA, Washington State, Mount St. Helens National Monument, Debris trees from 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens still floating in Spirit Lake

Water Slough at a Hydroelectric Dam

Indira Sagar Dam standing tall on river Narmada under multi purpose Indira Sagar Project situated Khandwa Copyright: xManoejxPaateel/DinodiaxPhotox

$Most of Victoria and New South Wales in Australia has been in the grip of an unprecedented drought for the last ten years. River levels have dropped and reservoirs are at a fractio$

Kariba Dam Wall showing Nyaminyami - River God of the Zambezi on the left. Lake Kariba. Zimbabwe

USA, California, Central Valley, San Joaquin River Valley, canal at Cox Road and Frank Cox Road, near Grayson (between Modesto and Los Banos) (Large format sizes available)

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to the Powder River Basin area of northeastern Wyoming for tours; for aerial and ground inspections of coalbed methane gas wells, related water disposal systems, coal mine operations, and surrounding environments; and for talks with Bureau of Land Management state staff

The California Aqueduct is a 444 mile aqueduct, part of the California State Water Project, that carries water from Northern California to Southern California, San Joaquin Valley, Merced County, California, USA

The California Aqueduct is the state's largest and longest water transport system, stretching 444 miles from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in the north to Southern California, Palmdale, Los Angeles County, California, USA

hover dame

Water spilling from Roxburgh Hydro Dam, Roxburgh, Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand.

The California Aqueduct is the state's largest and longest water transport system, stretching 444 miles from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in the north to Southern California, Palmdale, Los Angeles County, California, USA

US: Washington, Columbia River Basin, east side of Hanford Nuclear Site near Ephrata, irrigation wasteway carrying water from agricultural fields to Columbia River

NA, USA, OR, Bonneville Dam, Columbia River

An aerial view of the labyrinth weir, emergency spillway, and auxiliary dam at the Isabella Dam Safety Modification Project in Lake Isabella, California, Sept. 14, 2022. Crews with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District are approaching completion of construction work on the project, which includes upgrades to the auxiliary and main dams, service spillway, emergency spillway and a new labyrinth weir. The project is designed to reduce flood risk for downstream communities including Bakersfield.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District Technical Dive Team Conducts inspection of the Mount Morris Dam stilling basin and safely identify accretion of silt/sediment with some woody debris and some deterioration of the conduit outlets no major issues were found. This inspection is done every 5 years to document the integrity of a 70 year old structure

Reservoir for acidic, polluting effluents generated by the mine, Yanacocha Gold Mine, Cajamarca, Cajamarca region, Peru, South America

Aerial view of reservoir dam La Plata located in Toa Alta Puerto Rico.

Minimum discharge of water into the Panta de Sau dam with four percent water of its capacity in the worst drought in the history of Catalonia in Spain

Landfill site.

Mularroya (Zaragoza), 04/23/2021. Valdejalón sees its future in danger as a result of the ruling of the National Court, handed down that same week, which declares the construction works of the Mularroya dam, in the vicinity of La Almunia, "null" from a legal point of view. Photo: Fabián Simón. ARCHDC.

electricity production by falling water in andalusia spain called embalse de beznar

Sacedón (Guadalajara), 04/03/2018. Unrest in the town of Sacedón due to the new transfer from the Entrepeñas reservoir to the Segura basin, a channel that connects the Entrepeñas reservoir with the Buendía reservoir. Photo: Guillermo Navarro. ARCHDC.

Brazil, Itaipu Dam, Water Outflow With Gushing Water

An overview of erosion caused by the flooding at Painted Rock Dam. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in the area to construct barriers in an effort to protect surrounding communities from the waters of the flooded Gila River. State: Arizona (AZ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Alicante, 09/08/2015. Amadorio Swamp. Photo: Juan Carlos Soler Archdc.

The San Luis Dam and San Luis Reservoir is a water-storage 'off-stream' reservoir and is typically low in late summer due to its heavy usage for irrigation, Merced County, California, USA.

Reclamation of intertidal foreshores, Clontarf, Queensland, Australia. 01/11/1999

The Portugues Dam, Puerto Rico; according to the National Hurricane Center, the island was inundated by large amounts of rainfall, anywhere from 12 to 30 inches of rain. United States Army Corps of Engineers designed and built the Portuguese and Cerrillos Dams. They are critical to the mitigation of flooding in the region. The two dams were able to hold approximately 16,000 acre-feet of water combined during Hurricane Fiona, which is the equivalent of filling Plaza Del Caribe Mall almost 16 times. This volume of water would have flooded almost the entire urban area downstream of the dams. Rough preliminary estimates for the prevention of flood damages from both dams and associated channels are over $100 million. More importantly, thousands of lives were saved.

USA, Central California, Drought Spotlight 3a, Santa Ynez Valley Expedition, Lake Cachuma Reservoir (behind Bradbury Dam) with deep 'bathtub ring' showing impact of 4-year drought on water levels (Large format sizes available)

In northeast Syria on January 19, 2026, the Syrian Army officially took control of the Tishrin Dam, southeast of Manbij, following the withdrawal of Kurdish-led SDF units affiliated with the YPG/PKK. The deployment aims to secure critical infrastructure and restore state authority across the Jazira region, Aleppo, Manbij, Syria

A view of the Portugues Dam, Puerto Rico; according to the National Hurricane Center, the island was inundated by large amounts of rainfall, anywhere from 12 to 30 inches of rain. United States Army Corps of Engineers designed and built the Portuguese and Cerrillos Dams. They are critical to the mitigation of flooding in the region. The two dams were able to hold approximately 16,000 acre-feet of water combined during Hurricane Fiona, which is the equivalent of filling Plaza Del Caribe Mall almost 16 times. This volume of water would have flooded almost the entire urban area downstream of the dams. Rough preliminary estimates for the prevention of flood damages from both dams and associated channels are over $100 million. More importantly, thousands of lives were saved.

A view of the Portugues Dam, Puerto Rico; according to the National Hurricane Center, the island was inundated by large amounts of rainfall, anywhere from 12 to 30 inches of rain. United States Army Corps of Engineers designed and built the Portuguese and Cerrillos Dams. They are critical to the mitigation of flooding in the region. The two dams were able to hold approximately 16,000 acre-feet of water combined during Hurricane Fiona, which is the equivalent of filling Plaza Del Caribe Mall almost 16 times. This volume of water would have flooded almost the entire urban area downstream of the dams. Rough preliminary estimates for the prevention of flood damages from both dams and associated channels are over $100 million. More importantly, thousands of lives were saved.

Berkeley Pit, Butte, Montana - Superfund Site

Klaus an der Pyhrnbahn, water power station Klaus on river Steyr, bungee jumper in Steyr, Nationalpark Region, Upper Austria, Austria

Water supply from a dam. Wall

Secretary Dirk Kempthorne making helicopter tour of Lake Tahoe area with Forest Service personnel during visit to Nevada to participate in the annual Lake Tahoe Restoration Summit, where he joined federal, state, local, tribal leaders in the environmental forum

A view of the Portugues Dam, Puerto Rico; according to the National Hurricane Center, the island was inundated by large amounts of rainfall, anywhere from 12 to 30 inches of rain. United States Army Corps of Engineers designed and built the Portuguese and Cerrillos Dams. They are critical to the mitigation of flooding in the region. The two dams were able to hold approximately 16,000 acre-feet of water combined during Hurricane Fiona, which is the equivalent of filling Plaza Del Caribe Mall almost 16 times. This volume of water would have flooded almost the entire urban area downstream of the dams. Rough preliminary estimates for the prevention of flood damages from both dams and associated channels are over $100 million. More importantly, thousands of lives were saved.

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to the Powder River Basin area of northeastern Wyoming for tours; for aerial and ground inspections of coalbed methane gas wells, related water disposal systems, coal mine operations, and surrounding environments; and for talks with Bureau of Land Management state staff

Secretary Dirk Kempthorne making helicopter tour of Lake Tahoe area with Forest Service personnel during visit to Nevada to participate in the annual Lake Tahoe Restoration Summit, where he joined federal, state, local, tribal leaders in the environmental forum

Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico, The Isleta Diversion dam sends water from the Rio Grande into irrigation canals. Much of the state is experiencing extreme drought, and farmers are not getting all the water they need to grow their crops in the desert

Lake Success near Porterville, Bakersfield is at 7% capacity. Bakersfield is now the driest city in the USA. Most of California is in exceptional drought, the highest level of drou

Reservoir for acidic, polluting effluents generated by the mine, Yanacocha Gold Mine, Cajamarca, Cajamarca region, Peru, South America

Hydro_electric dam, California, United States of America, North America

Warren, Pennsylvania, The Kinzua Dam on the Allegheny River in northwest Pennsylvania. The dam was built in the 1960s by the Army Corps of Engineers for flood control and hydroelectricity. The Allegheny Reservoir extends 25 miles behind the dam, flooding lands that had been granted to the Seneca Nation of Indians in a treaty signed by George Washington. The reservoir is called Lake Perfidy by the Seneca

Zoggeler reservoir drain lock at the Zoggel reservoir in the Ulten in South Tyrol in summer 2017. The Zoggler reservoir is located in the middle of the Ultental, between the villages of St. Walburg and Dome. The lake receives its water from the false river. The reservoir has a maximum width of 650 meters, is a good 140 hectares and has a memory of 33,100,000 m³. It is the largest energy supplier in the Ultental.

Guillena (Seville), 01/04/2024. Gergal reservoir releasing water after the last rains. Photo: JM Serrano. ARCHSEV.

Events at Hoover Dam in Nevada, marking the 100th anniversary of the Bureau of Reclamation

Melbourne june 2003. Water catchments are dangerously low. This damn is less than 50% full.

Park pic and student photo op, Claudia McMurphy , Environmental Protection Agency

Landscape of ecological tragedy in the Panta de Sau reservoir with four percent of water capacity in the worst drought in the history of Catalonia in Spain

011041809 ND Floods. North Dakota Severe Storms and Flooding. Photographs Relating to Disasters and Emergency Management Programs, Activities, and Officials

Power plant Generating Station Electricity with colorado river and lake powell landscape generating in Navajo Page Arizona United States. USA Landmark environmental and electricity concept.

Algodones, New Mexico, The Angostura Diversion dam sends water from the Rio Grande into irrigation canals (left) . Much of the state is experiencing extreme drought, and farmers are not getting all the water they need to grow their crops in the desert

Events at Hoover Dam in Nevada, marking the 100th anniversary of the Bureau of Reclamation

Alicante, 09/08/2015. Amadorio Swamp. Photo: Juan Carlos Soler Archdc.

Dam/Levee Break Flooding Mudslide/Landslide Severe Storm Winter Storm - La Canada Flintridge, Calif. , July 30, 2010 The Dunsmir Sediment Basin ponds topsoil from winter storms in the Los Angeles County debris basin systems. Under the major disaster declaration, FEMA provides Public Assistance funds for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and permanent restoration of infrastructure, and as such, it is the most expensive of the disaster grant programs. Adam DuBrowa/FEMA.. Photographs Relating to Disasters and Emergency Management Programs, Activities, and Officials

Western Africa, Mauritania, Foum Gleita dam (Mbout area) on Gorgol river

US: Oregon, Columbia River Basin, Columbia Gorge, Bonneville Dam

undefined. 1972 - 2012. Department of Energy. National Nuclear Security Administration. Photographs Related to Nuclear Weapons Testing at the Nevada Test Site.

Fog lifts in morning downstream from the Conemaugh River Lake in Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, Aug. 13, 2022. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District operates the reservoir to provide flood risk reduction to the Conemaugh, Kiskiminetas, lower Allegheny and upper Ohio River valleys. Recreationally, Conemaugh River Lake provides residents and visitors with biking and hiking trails, fishing and picnic areas.

Castaic Lake, a terminus of the West Branch California Aqueduct is at 55% of capacity during California's declared drought State of Emergency. Los Angeles County, California, USA

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, The Elephant Butte reservoir on the Rio Grande holds water for southern New Mexico and western Texas, but is only 7% full due to the drought in the southwestern United States

US: Washington, Columbia River Basin, Ice Harbor Dam

Córdoba, 12/23/2021. Report reservoir, drought, dam, Guadalmellato reservoir. Photo: Valerio Merino. ARCHCOR.

Córdoba, 12/23/2021. Report reservoir, drought, dam, Guadalmellato reservoir. Photo: Valerio Merino. ARCHCOR.

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, Lake Travis, TX, July 10, 2007 With 4 flood gates open on Mansfield Dam Lake the Lower Colorado River Authority has Lake Travis slowly coming down to normal levels. Bob McMillan/ FEMA Photo.. Photographs Relating to Disasters and Emergency Management Programs, Activities, and Officials

USA, Maryland, Aerial photograph of the Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River

LAO - ENVIRONNEMENT - 4000 ISLANDPortrait of the 4000 Islands territory (Si Phan Don) in the extreme south of Laos where the famous Don Sahong Dam is being built.LAO - ENVIRONNEMENT - 4000 ÎLESPortrait du territoire des 4000 îles ( Si Phan Don ) à l'extrème sud du Laos où est en construction le fameux barrage de Don Sahong.

US: Washington, Columbia River Basin, Wells Dam, fish spawning channels, Columbia River in background

Low dam water levels during a drought

Wind power turbines under Velebit mountain view, Alkaline pool from abandoned factory, Dalmatia region of Croatia

Low water levels at the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, NV

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton to the Powder River Basin area of northeastern Wyoming for tours; for aerial and ground inspections of coalbed methane gas wells, related water disposal systems, coal mine operations, and surrounding environments; and for talks with Bureau of Land Management state staff

Flooding Mudslide/Landslide Severe Storm Wildfire - La Canada Flintridge, Calif. , April 19, 2010 Los Angeles County DOT crews excavate and repair the Angeles Crest Highway after heavy rains and severe winter storms collapsed the earth beneath. The area; already unstable due to recent fires that swept across the mountain's one year ago, sustained heavy erosion and soil losses when the heavy rains washed the highway down the mountain. Adam DuBrowa/FEMA. California Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud Flows. Photographs Relating to Disasters and Emergency Management Programs, Activities, and Officials

The Power of Bhumibol dam at Tak in Thailand.

2.8 billion gallon sludge pond of toxic chemicals & heavy metals

LAO - ENVIRONNEMENT - 4000 ISLANDPortrait of the 4000 Islands territory (Si Phan Don) in the extreme south of Laos where the famous Don Sahong Dam is being built.LAO - ENVIRONNEMENT - 4000 ÎLESPortrait du territoire des 4000 îles ( Si Phan Don ) à l'extrème sud du Laos où est en construction le fameux barrage de Don Sahong.

Elevated view of Pongolapoort dam South Africa

07/27/2016. Cebreros (Ávila), 07/27/2019. Calas de Guisando Urbanization. Tail of the San Juan swamp practically dry due to the drought. Only the Alberche River flows through its natural channel. Boats and berths are abandoned on the dry bed. Photo: Guillermo Navarro. ARCHDC.

Not in 21 years has a picture lake this been possible. In 1920 the reservoir above Roosevelt Dam, Arizona, filled to overflowing, and again this spring, breaking an extended drought in that region. Completed by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1911 and dedicated by Theodore Roosevelt for whom it was named, the dam has provided irrigation water for the famous Salt River Valley, a prosperous winter garden located on the rich arid land that would otherwise be covered with desert cacti and tumbleweed, and which supports a farm population of *****. May 27, 1941.

Aerial views of California taken during visit of Acting Secretary P. Lynn Scarlett

The Mapocho River, polluted by all kinds of sewage and copper mining waste, in the city centre near the Mercado Central, Santiago, Chile, South Americ...

This acequia in New Mexico is art of the East Puerto De Luna Community Ditch Association. It was surveyed as art of the FEMA state damage assessments which were conducted following severe storms and flooding in New Mexico in 2013. This acequia in New Mexico is part of the East Puerto De Luna Community Ditch Association. It was surveyed as part of the FEMA/state damage assessments which were conducted following severe storms and flooding in New Mexico in 2013. Photo by Kathy Canady. Photographs Relating to Disasters and Emergency Management Programs, Activities, and Officials

ESCLUSA 7ª EN TERMINO HERRERA DE PISUERGA-OVALADA(CANAL NORTE). Location: CANAL DE CASTILLA. PROVINCIA. SPAIN.

Tooma Dam from the Tooma River forming as part of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric power scheme in New South Wales, Australia, Oceania

Alicante, 09/08/2015. Amadorio Swamp. Photo: Juan Carlos Soler Archdc.

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