Aging U.S. Dams Face Rising Flood Risks as Climate Change Intensifies Storms

The recent flooding in northern Michigan exposed the vulnerabilities of the United States’ aging dam infrastructure, as record rainfall and snowmelt pushed rivers to dangerous levels. On April 16, water levels came within just five inches of spilling over the Cheboygan Dam in Cheboygan, a city of approximately 4,700 people. Officials in Bellaire also deployed around 1,000 sandbags to reinforce a century-old dam as rising waters threatened to overwhelm it.

Nationwide, the average dam is 64 years old, and most were designed for rainfall patterns that no longer align with today’s changing climate. Approximately 18% of the roughly 92,000 dams in the U.S. are classified as high-hazard, meaning their failure could result in loss of life. The Association of State Dam Safety Officials estimates that repairing all aging dams will cost more than $165 billion, with Michigan alone facing a $1 billion repair bill.

Dam safety experts warn that inspections are inconsistent and upgrades are often underfunded, leaving communities exposed to escalating risks. Richard Rood, a professor emeritus at the University of Michigan who studies climate change, emphasized that recent events should not be viewed as isolated incidents but as a preview of future conditions. “This needs to be considered not the worst we can experience,” he said. “This needs to be considered as typical of the future.”

Michigan’s Aging Dams: A Growing Concern

More than half of Michigan’s dams have surpassed their 50-year design life, and the recent flooding highlighted the urgent need for action. The state’s dams, many of which are over a century old, are increasingly struggling to cope with the intensity of modern storms. The close calls in Cheboygan and Bellaire underscore the broader challenges facing dam safety across the country.

Bob Stuber, executive director of the Michigan Hydro Relicensing Commission, described the April flooding as a wake-up call. He advocates for a balanced approach: upgrading dams where feasible and removing them where necessary to reduce long-term risks. “I think every opportunity we have to remove an aging dam, we should take advantage of it because it’s not going to get better,” Stuber said. “It’s just going to get worse.”

Removal as a Solution: Balancing Risks and Benefits

For many communities, removing aging dams is a cost-effective alternative to costly upgrades. Dam removal can reduce flood risks and restore rivers to a more natural state, benefiting ecosystems and local economies. However, the process often faces resistance from property owners and communities that rely on the reservoirs created by these dams.

In Traverse City, officials made the decision to remove the Union Street Dam along the Boardman-Ottaway River in 2024 as part of a long-term restoration project. The project, which includes the FishPass—a system designed to allow key fish species to migrate while blocking invasive species like sea lamprey—aims to improve river health and reduce flood risks. Engineers believe the removal and upgrades have already helped mitigate the impact of recent flooding.

Calls for Action: Strengthening Dam Safety Regulations

As floodwaters recede, local leaders, dam safety advocates, and experts are urging stronger safety regulations and proactive measures to address the aging dam crisis. The recent events in Michigan serve as a stark reminder of the broader challenges facing the nation’s infrastructure as climate change intensifies storms and increases the frequency of extreme weather events.