October 25, 2018
This week, President Trump signed S. 3021 (Public Law No: 115-270), the America’s Water Infrastructure Now Act of 2018, or the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2018, into law. The Senate passed this bill by a vote of 99-1, while the House passed it by voice vote. Read ASCE’s official statement on the House’s September passage of WRDA,......
National Dam Safety Awareness Day Across the Country
June 01, 2018
On May 31, individuals and organizations across the country recognized National Dam Safety Awareness Day. This event is held each year in memory of the May 31, 1889 South Fork Dam failure in Johnstown, PA – the nation’s worst dam failure. Today, many organizations used the day as an opportunity to look back on......
Building a Culture of Preparedness at FEMA
March 30, 2018
Last week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released a new strategic plan to guide the agency from 2018 through 2022. The plan outlines three goals: reducing the complexity of the agency, readying the nation for catastrophic disaster, and building a culture of preparedness. The strategic goals will be driven by twelve supporting strategic objectives......
Kelly Barnes Dam Failure: Dam Safety Then and Now
November 06, 2017
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Kelly Barnes Dam failure: an event that acted as a catalyst for improvement in dam safety. On November 6, 1977, Toccoa Falls Bible College was nearly swept away as high water erupted through the defects in the Kelly Barnes Dam, sending 25-foot waves through the campus. This tragedy......
Infrastructure in the News: Innovative and sexy are in, old and dilapidated are out
June 03, 2016
With Dam Safety Awareness Day and the kickoff of Innovation Month, water, transportation, and dam infrastructure continue to be a topic of discussion in the media. Monday was National Dam Safety Awareness Day, which raised awareness about the need for dam safety protocols and procedures to protect the public from danger potentially caused by failing......
Infrastructure in the News: The Domino Effect of Water Infrastructure
February 12, 2016
Recent events, including water main breaks, have renewed attention in our nation’s pipes, sewers, and dams and this week Members of Congress focused on different aspects of our water delivery and water resources infrastructure. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, John Duncan and Richard Hanna introduced the Water Investment Trust Fund Act, a bipartisan bill that will......