Wisconsin Faces Rising Dam Failures Due to Aging Infrastructure and Climate Change
A recent report reveals a significant increase in dam failures in Wisconsin, highlighting the challenges posed by aging structures and extreme weather events.
- Wisconsin has experienced 34 dam failures since 2000, with over 80% occurring after 2018, making it the second-highest in the U.S. after South Carolina.
- None of the failures have resulted in human fatalities, but they underscore the vulnerability of the state's more than 4,000 dams to extreme weather.
- Over 200 dams in Wisconsin are classified as high hazard potential, where failure could lead to loss of life, though only three high-hazard dams have failed since 2000.
- State budgets have consistently allocated at least $4 million annually for dam safety since 2009, but climate change poses new challenges to infrastructure resilience.
- The report suggests difficult decisions ahead for state and local leaders on whether to invest in dam maintenance or consider removal to address future risks.
The Canadian Press 
Newsweek 
Associated Press 