Dam Failure Lesson Learned: Dams in cold regions should account for ice.

Most of the 90,000 dams in the U.S. experience cold and freezing conditions for at least part of the year. Dam failures during the winter can release large blocks of ice from the reservoir that can increase destruction and loss of life in the dam failure flood downstream. For dams on rivers, dam engineers should investigate the potential for ice runs and mitigate the risk of ice runs should they exist. In addition to ice runs, cold weather ice can affect the operation of dam gates and other equipment. Equipment should be designed, operated, and maintained for ice and winter conditions. Importantly, all dams in cold weather regions (not just river dams) pose hazards to dam operators in carrying out their dam inspection, operation, and maintenance activities. For all dams in cold regions, dam engineers should make conditions safe for operators who may need to inspect, operate and maintain dams in severe cold and icy conditions.