State Doesn’t Have Enough Funds To Ensure Dam Safety
In yet another example of Texas’ Republican-led government failing to pay attention to infrastructure needs, a report by the State Auditor’s Office released last week shows that the state has poorly funded the state’s dam safety program. In fact, Texas ranks 28th out of 47 U.S. states with state-funded dam safety programs.
Too, many dams inspected from 2002-2007 had not been inspected since the 1970s and 1980s. Since 1970, 98 of the state’s 7,603 dams have failed. That may not seem like a large number, but consider this:
Examples of these dam failures include breaches, spillway failures, overtoppings, and collapses. Of the 98 failures, 42 percent were at high- or significant-hazard dams. In some cases, the same dam had multiple failures. For example, one dam owned by a public utility has suffered four failures since 1970 and three dams owned by one business suffered a total of eight failures.
Given that any one dam failing–especially if it is a large dam with potentially high hazards associated with its failure–could result in millions of dollars in property damage and even the loss of life, even 98 dam failures are too many, especially when many are preventable.
If you don’t think this is an issue that should matter to you in the next election, then perhaps you should examine the map below and determine how many dams your county has:
Written by Vince Leibowitz
If you like what you read here, please consider giving us a tip through Blog Patron or PayPal!
Visit Capitol Annex's Online Book Store!
If you liked that post, then try these...
An Interview With Congressman Charles Gonzalez On The Voting Rights Act by Vince Leibowitz on May 25th, 2006
Protests Make It To East Texas by Vince Leibowitz on April 1st, 2006
Net Neutrality by Vince Leibowitz on March 29th, 2006
Caspar Weinberger Is Dead... by Vince Leibowitz on March 28th, 2006
Overshadowed: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's US Visit by Vince Leibowitz on March 22nd, 2006
Popularity: 44% [?]
