Description
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, by 2030, seven out of 10 dams in the United States will be over 50 years old. The high average age means that most dams will not have been built to current standards, increasing risk to downstream areas. Furthermore, at the time of their construction, the dams may have been considered low hazard potential so they may not be able to withstand increasingly frequent and severe weather events or other natural hazards like earthquakes. These risks are compounded in areas with increased development in downstream inundation zones.
King County will pursue opportunities to conduct a climate risk assessment of smaller to medium-sized dams (Class 2 and Class 3) in the County where an increase in impacts to human life and/or economic impacts are a concern. The comparative risk analysis will support hazard mitigation planning in these areas, including risk communication, preparedness, policy development, and infrastructure investment.