Dams Sector
The Dams Sector provides critical water retention, control, and management functions throughout the United States. Its infrastructure supports hydroelectric power generation, drinking and industrial water supplies, agricultural irrigation, flood control, inland navigation, industrial waste management, recreation, and other services that are essential to communities and the economy.
Overview
The sector includes dams, navigation locks, levees, hydropower projects, dikes, hurricane barriers, tailings dams, and other water-control or industrial impoundment infrastructure. These assets vary greatly in size, ownership, purpose, and design and are distributed across communities throughout the Nation.
Dams Sector infrastructure has significant interdependencies with other critical infrastructure sectors, particularly Energy, Water and Wastewater Systems, Transportation Systems, Communications, and Emergency Services. Many facilities also depend on industrial control systems and other operational technology to monitor water levels, control physical processes, generate electricity, and manage access and safety systems.
Protecting the Dams Sector requires attention to structural and operational safety, cybersecurity, physical security, emergency preparedness, natural hazards, aging infrastructure, and the potential consequences of a failure or disruption. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security serves as the Sector Risk Management Agency for the Dams Sector and works with owners, operators, and government partners to improve security and resilience.
