Wisconsin Reports Increase in Dam Failures

Wisconsin ranks second in the nation for dam failures, with a total of 34 incidents from 2000 to 2023, primarily driven by increasing severe weather linked to climate change. A report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum reveals that 28 of these failures occurred after 2018, with 18 happening since 2020; however, none resulted in fatalities. The state has over 4,000 dams, with more than 200 classified as having high hazard potential, but only three failures involved such dams. While state budgets have allocated funds for dam safety, rising extreme weather events pose new challenges to infrastructure resilience. Recent examples, like the breach of the Manawa Dam, highlight the urgent need for evaluation and potential removal of aging infrastructure. The report suggests that enhanced funding and proactive measures are necessary to address the risks posed by changing climate patterns.