Review and Evaluation of the National Dam Safety Program

Large dam failures, while rare, have severe consequences. A succession of dam failures in the 1970s and 1980s led to a series of congressional actions to address what was perceived as a serious national problem. These culminated in the National Dam Safety Program (NDSP), established by the National Dam Safety Program Act of 1996, a part of the Water Resources Development Act of that year. The NDSP, led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is a partnership of the States, federal agencies, and private owners to encourage dam safety.