Utah State research reveals another danger of climate change: aging dams

LOGAN, Utah (ABC4) — Researchers from Utah State University recently found that removing outdated dams can make communities safer amid climate change.

Led by Sarah Null, professor of watershed sciences at Utah State University, researchers found that removing aging dams can protect communities from intensifying storms while also adding a more cost-effective model than retrofitting.

Increase climate severity

“Our review of recent research suggests that removing dangerous and obsolete dams and barriers improves resilience to flooding, drought, increasing temperatures, sea level rise and changing rivers,” Null said.

Research from NASA has shown a stark increase in extreme weather events like droughts and floods. Events have become more frequent, while also lasting longer and being more intense.

NASA data shows the number of severe weather events in 2024 doubled the average from 2003-2020.

One group of scientists with World Weather Attribution and Climate Central found the world experienced, on average, an extra 41 days of dangerous heat in 2024 due to climate change. The scientists found that 26 extreme weather events in 2024 had “clear links” to climate change.

Aging infrastructure

Engineers with the National Inventory of Dams found that of the over 848,000 dams and barriers that exist in U.S., 70% of them have outlived their average lifespan nationwide. 16,700 dams are listed as high hazards and create a “risk to those living downstream.”

Null says the removal of obsolete dams avoids catastrophic failures during these intense weather events.

Null clarified that her team’s research showed the importance of keeping safe, structurally sound dams and barriers. “Many dams provide useful services and should not be removed. But for those structures that are outdated or unsafe, removal can be a smart decision for communities.”

Environmental and cultural benefits

Researchers also found that by removing dangerous barriers, fish harvests can be preserved more easily.

“Dams were frequently built in and flooded areas that are culturally important for Native Americans,” Utah State said in a press release on the research. Null’s research highlights the cultural benefits of removing many such dams.

Finally, Null’s team found that removing such barriers can also restore river health and improve water quality.