2024 – Publicly Sharing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Inundation Maps and Risk Information

Rebecca Ragon, Alexandra Ubben

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) possesses a wealth of data and information available on the more than 700 dams the agency owns and operates, including who or what might be harmed if large water releases were made, the dam does not operate as intended, or the dam fails. This dam safety information must be communicated accurately, timely and clearly in order for individuals to understand their risk and make informed decisions about their safety. To grow public awareness and understanding of dam flood risk so that individuals can effectively prepare and appropriately respond to emergency management officials, USACE publicly shares risk information and inundation maps of different flooding scenarios within the U.S. National Inventory of Dams (NID) website. USACE wants to assist stakeholders near its dams, including those with risk management responsibilities, such as emergency managers or local municipal leaders, and individuals to understand and make use of USACE risk information to help manage their own risk. This paper will focus on the specific data elements and maps available to the public, why USACE is sharing this type of information and the benefits it provides, and future integration with other dam safety resources.