Are the Country's Dams Sinking?

"in 2025, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the nation's infrastructure a C grade. This might not sound great, but it was in fact one of the highest marks it has ever received. Different types of infrastructure experience wear and tear in different ways - and a recently-published paper put the spotlight on one particular issue facing dams cross the country."

"A group of scientists, many of whom are based at Virginia Tech, sought to better understand the challenges facing dams. As they explained, they "used satellite data to look for ground movement that might signal structural problems", combining this with other factors to determine how hazardous the situation might be - and what kind of risk these dams posed to local communities."

The nation's infrastructure received a C grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2025. Researchers applied satellite-based measurements to detect ground movement beneath dams and combined those signals with other factors to assess hazard and community risk. A survey of 41 inspected dams found evidence of sinking at every site, with varying risk to surrounding landscapes; the Livingston Dam is sinking by roughly 8 millimeters per year and represents especially high risk. Satellite monitoring offers an affordable, centralized method to prioritize renovations and improve safety.

Read at InsideHook