Dams and levees are critical pieces of our infrastructure and our history. They're one of the oldest type of human-made structures on the planet, and they were one of the first things that that humanity used to try to contain or use water. Well, the general purpose of *** dam or *** levee is similar, they're also very different. Levees primarily control flooding from bodies of water, and they're often made from land. Dams are more commonly built with steel and concrete and serve many functions. Eric Halpin is with the Army Corps of Engineers. Dams are structures that are built across the river, and their main purpose is to create *** reservoir, retain *** reservoir along the river. It may be to provide water supply for either human consumption or irrigation for agriculture. It may be for navigation on the river, and of course, uh, dams are built for flood control. As well. Often easy to overlook, this important infrastructure is everywhere. There are more than 90,000 dams and more than 7000 levees in the US. How they're designed, built, and maintained is crucial. The failure of *** dam or levee can destroy property and take lives. Katrina is *** great example of, of unfortunately, uh, *** system that didn't, that didn't work very well. Del Shannon from the American Society of Civil Engineers says the levee disaster in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago was *** tragic lesson. High levels of rain combined with inadequate design, materials, and construction caused dozens of breaks and levees flooding the city. They have massive consequences if they fail, and many people are at risk of dying. Hurricane Katrina and what happened in New Orleans. 1800 people lost their life. The biggest challenge right now is maintaining the structures and finding the money to keep them in top condition. Building *** new dam or levee today is very different than 60 or 100 years ago. The big challenge is money because they are out of sight, out of mind. One report estimates it would take $70 billion to get all of America's levies up to date, another $165 billion for dams. It it costs *** lot because there are *** lot. Can we build. Better, smarter, more environmentally appropriate, absolutely, and I think that's happening. Given their roles in agriculture, energy, and flood protection, experts say increased investment in dams and levees has to be *** top priority. We don't have any other option. In Washington, I'm Christopher Seas.
Get the Facts: Why are dams and levees so important?
Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina caused devastating effects for Louisianans when the levees meant to protect residents failed. Now, we’re taking a look at the dam and levee infrastructures in the U.S. and the critical role they play in protecting residents.
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Updated: 1:00 PM CDT Aug 25, 2025
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Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina, a Category 3 storm, struck the Gulf Coast, making landfall near the Louisiana-Mississippi border and causing irreparable and fatal damage to New Orleans. The tragedy was not purely caused by storm surge and strong winds; the catastrophic structural failure of the city's levees was also responsible. Dam and levee infrastructure remains a part of everyday life in the U.S. The American Society of Civil Engineers and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers work to ensure that what happened in New Orleans does not happen again. Here are some of the ways dams and levees contribute to society and the challenges that come with building and maintaining them. What are dams and levees?Dams are man-made structures that run through or across bodies of water and have water on both sides. They hold back water, which causes the rise of the water levels and creates a reservoir that can be used for water supply or to generate electricity, among other things. While dams have multiple purposes, the sole purpose of a levee is to provide flood protection. Levees are usually man-made and have water on one side to protect dry land. While levees reduce flood risk, dams are used as reservoirs. How do dams and levees contribute to society?Globally, dams have been around for thousands of years, and they have been in the U.S. since the country’s founding. “Dams were really built to accommodate the areas on the East Coast that were being settled, and so, you saw dams associated with a lot of agricultural purposes,” said Eric Halpin, a retired USACE official who now works as a dam and levee consultant. There are more than 90,000 dams in the U.S. This critical infrastructure is used to produce hydropower, a renewable energy source that uses water to generate electricity. Dams are also important for flood control and provide a water supply for drinking, agriculture and irrigation. Levees, first constructed in 2500 B.C.E., initially offered protection from invaders in other parts of the world. In the U.S., their use began in 1717, first being built in New Orleans, along the Mississippi River. Challenges of dams and leveesFunding is the biggest challenge for dams and levees. According to the ASCE, it would take $70 billion to get all of America’s levees up to date, and another $165 billion for dams. This high number is due to the number of dams and levees, their size and the massive amounts of material used. Each year, they require investment to deliver benefits safely. “When failures happen, we all pay,” said Halpin. The levee failure during Hurricane Katrina caused more than 1,000 deaths. Del Shannon, a member of the ASCE who works on the Infrastructure Report Card, says when it comes to the importance of dams, “We don’t have any other option.”The future of dams and leveesGiven their roles in agriculture, energy and flood protection, experts say increased investment in dams and levees has to be a priority. However, this increased investment will include taking extra thought and strategic planning into consideration. “Can we build them better, smarter, more environmentally appropriate? Absolutely, and I think that’s happening,” said Halpin.
Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina, a Category 3 storm, struck the Gulf Coast, making landfall near the Louisiana-Mississippi border and causing irreparable and fatal damage to New Orleans. The tragedy was not purely caused by storm surge and strong winds; the catastrophic structural failure of the city's levees was also responsible.
Dam and levee infrastructure remains a part of everyday life in the U.S. The American Society of Civil Engineers and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers work to ensure that what happened in New Orleans does not happen again.
Here are some of the ways dams and levees contribute to society and the challenges that come with building and maintaining them.
What are dams and levees?
Dams are man-made structures that run through or across bodies of water and have water on both sides. They hold back water, which causes the rise of the water levels and creates a reservoir that can be used for water supply or to generate electricity, among other things. While dams have multiple purposes, the sole purpose of a levee is to provide flood protection. Levees are usually man-made and have water on one side to protect dry land. While levees reduce flood risk, dams are used as reservoirs.
How do dams and levees contribute to society?
Globally, dams have been around for thousands of years, and they have been in the U.S. since the country’s founding. “Dams were really built to accommodate the areas on the East Coast that were being settled, and so, you saw dams associated with a lot of agricultural purposes,” said Eric Halpin, a retired USACE official who now works as a dam and levee consultant.
There are more than 90,000 dams in the U.S. This critical infrastructure is used to produce hydropower, a renewable energy source that uses water to generate electricity. Dams are also important for flood control and provide a water supply for drinking, agriculture and irrigation.
Levees, first constructed in 2500 B.C.E., initially offered protection from invaders in other parts of the world. In the U.S., their use began in 1717, first being built in New Orleans, along the Mississippi River.
Challenges of dams and levees
Funding is the biggest challenge for dams and levees. According to the ASCE, it would take $70 billion to get all of America’s levees up to date, and another $165 billion for dams. This high number is due to the number of dams and levees, their size and the massive amounts of material used. Each year, they require investment to deliver benefits safely. “When failures happen, we all pay,” said Halpin. The levee failure during Hurricane Katrina caused more than 1,000 deaths. Del Shannon, a member of the ASCE who works on the Infrastructure Report Card, says when it comes to the importance of dams, “We don’t have any other option.”
The future of dams and levees
Given their roles in agriculture, energy and flood protection, experts say increased investment in dams and levees has to be a priority. However, this increased investment will include taking extra thought and strategic planning into consideration. “Can we build them better, smarter, more environmentally appropriate? Absolutely, and I think that’s happening,” said Halpin.
