Hazard is consequence—not condition
High hazard potential means a failure could likely cause loss of life. It does not mean failure is likely, nor does it by itself describe maintenance or condition.
National data
Numbers with the caveats attached.
This page requests live counts from the public National Inventory of Dams instead of publishing a frozen national total. Read the definitions before drawing a safety conclusion.
Live inventory snapshot
Counts come directly from the USACE public Feature Service and may change as agencies update records.
Requesting current counts from the public NID service…
Condition is a reported assessment
Condition fields depend on inspections and reporting rules. Dates, access, and public visibility vary by owner and regulator; some records are not rated.
Authority is distributed
State programs regulate many non-federal dams. USACE, Reclamation, FERC, TVA, and other bodies own or oversee different portfolios. Start with the NID record, then contact the named regulator.
Reservoir data is a different layer
Water level and streamflow come from operating agencies and monitoring networks such as USGS. A dam inventory record is not a real-time gauge or an emergency warning service.
Use the right source
A national count is a starting point, not a diagnosis.
For a specific dam, confirm the NID record, find the responsible state or federal regulator, check dated inspection or docket materials, and consult local emergency management for official alerts.