Dams play a vital role in the nation’s overall infrastructure. They contribute to the economic Dams play a vital role in the nation’s overall infrastructure. They contribute to the economic development of the United States and to the social welfare of the American public. Dam infrastructure can be affected by natural hazards, man-made threats, as well as an imbalance between resources invested and a dam’s age.
FEMA Determines Expected Fiscal Year 2025 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Dam Safety Grant Funding Amounts
The National Dam Safety Program, in consultation with the National Dam Safety Review Board (NDSRB), has determined the allocation for the remaining dam safety grant funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
After careful consideration and consultation with the NDSRB and internal stakeholders, the National Dam Safety Program will allocate the remaining estimated $122 million in dam safety grant funding as specified below.
Please note, these are estimates only and may change prior to the funding opportunities application periods that will open tentatively in January 2025.
- State Assistance: $26 million
- Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams—all authorized activities: $33 million
- Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams—removals: $63 million
The NDSP published two funding opportunities on Nov. 2, 2023, for a total of $211 million. The application period ran from Nov. 2, 2023 – Feb. 29, 2024.
The programs and amounts available:
- State Assistance grant program made $26 million available. Awards were made in mid-April. To see a by-state breakdown, please click here.
- The Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams made $185 million available. Awards were made in summer. To see a by-state breakdown, please click here.
National Dam Safety Program
Fiscal Year 2025 Fall Dam Safety Funding Opportunities
Grants through the Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams program are available to non-federal governments and nonprofits for the technical expertise, planning, design, and construction needed to rehabilitate eligible, non-federal high hazard potential dams.
National Dam Safety State Assistance Grant Program is available for any state or territory with an enacted dam safety program. These grants establish and maintain effective state programs to ensure dam safety and protect human life and property. The state administrative agency, or an equivalent state agency, is eligible to apply. Each eligible state or territory may submit only one grant application.
Applicants are encouraged to keep their respective dams’ information updated in the National Inventory of Dams.
Please check this page for periodic updates and sign up for FEMA’s Dam Safety mailing list by clicking here.
Information Needs for Dam Safety
Under FEMA’s leadership, state assistance funds have enabled all participating states to better their programs through increased inspections, emergency action planning and the purchase of needed equipment.
Federal Guidelines
The Interagency Committee on Dam Safety (ICODS) has prepared and approved the guidelines for federal agency dam owners and regulators. These guidelines may also be used by non-federal dam owners, regulators and operators.
Grants
Grant assistance to states provides vital support for the improvement of state dam safety programs that regulate most of the 94,000 dams in the United States.
The Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams Grant Program provides technical, planning, design, and construction assistance in the form of grants for rehabilitation of eligible high hazard potential dams.
The Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams program is making about $185 million available and another approximate $26 million available through the National Dam Safety State Assistance Grant Program. The investments funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help protect communities from flooding, avoid disaster costs, and strengthen resilience to climate change. The funding opportunity opens Nov. 6 and the deadline to apply is Feb. 29, 2024.
Advisory Committees
The Interagency Committee on Dam Safety (ICODS) was founded in 1980 to encourage the establishment and maintenance of effective federal programs, policies and guidelines to enhance dam safety and security. The committee serves as the permanent forum for the coordination of federal activities in dam safety and security. FEMA also chairs this committee.
The National Dam Safety Review Board advises FEMA’s Administrator in setting national dam safety priorities and considers the effects of national policy issues affecting dam safety. Review Board members include FEMA, the Chair of the Board and representatives from four federal agencies that serve on ICODS, five state dam safety officials, and one member from the private sector.
Dam Safety Training Program
FEMA has expanded existing training programs and initiated new training programs to enhance the sharing of expertise between the federal and state sectors.
Dam Safety Collaborative Technical Assistance
FEMA is offering a Collaborative Technical Assistance series to help communities at risk of dam-related flooding better understand their risk and the potential consequences of dam-related emergencies.
Publications & Resources
A variety of publications to include federal guidelines, technical manuals and fact sheets.
Updated guidance is available with FEMA resources and services that are applicable to support dam hazard risk mitigation, preparedness, response or recovery
DSS-WISE™ Lite Case Studies: A State Perspective
This provides a summary of how states are using this web-based, automated two-dimensional dam-break flood modeling and mapping capability as a dam risk management tool.
National Inventory of Dams
The National Inventory of Dams (NID) is now open to the public. The NID was populated using the 116th Congressional District Information. State and federal dam regulators provided their data for inclusion in the database.