On April 1, 2021, a group of organizations, including the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, issued a proclamation declaring April as Low Head Dam Public Safety Awareness Month. As an association dedicated to pursuing a future where all dams are safe, ASDSO is proud to recognize this effort again in 2022.
Through the establishment of the awareness month, supporting organizations aim to:
- Spread awareness of the dangers and risks associated with low head dam structures.
- Spark an interest in public volunteerism to help identify sites throughout the country where these dams are located.
- Encourage people who recreate on or near water to avoid low head dams both upstream and downstream.
Dozens of lives are lost at dams on America's waterways each year. Low head dams are deceptively deadly, and even the strongest swimmers and rescuers wearing the best personal floatation devices have drowned at low head dams. It is critical that we understand the scope of this danger and that the public is made aware of the many ways they can keep themselves safe and avoid a tragedy.
Over the coming years, we hope to see growing support for this effort and develop a yearly robust public outreach campaign as part of the awareness month. This year, we ask that our members join in by recognizing every April as Low Head Dam Public Safety Awareness Month and share awareness messages through social media, websites, and newsletters. We also ask our members to consider attending or promoting a free webinar on low head dam safety hosted by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) on April 28 at 3 pm ET. The webinar presenters are ASDSO's Public Safety Around Dams Committee Chair Manuela Johnson and National Low Head Dam Inventory Task Force Lead Rollin Hotchkiss. Additional information about the webinar, including how to register, will be posted on ASCE's National Inventory of Low Head Dams page when available.
LEARN MORE
Read the Proclamation on Low Head Dam Public Safety Awareness Month (2021)
