Dams Sector
Overview
The Dams Sector delivers critical water retention and control services in the United States, including hydroelectric power generation, municipal and industrial water supplies, agricultural irrigation, sediment and flood control, river navigation for inland bulk shipping, industrial waste management, and recreation. Its key services support multiple critical infrastructure sectors and industries.
The Dams Sector includes more than 92,000 dams in the United States, more than 24,000 miles of levees, and over 25,000 miles of waterways and channels made navigable by locks.
The Dams Sector has dependencies and interdependencies with a wide range of other sectors, including:
- Communications: Communications networks enable remote Dams Sector operations and control.
- Energy: Hydropower dams provide critical electricity resources and blackstart capabilities.
- Food and Agriculture: Dams Sector assets provide water for irrigation and protect farmland from flooding.
- Transportation Systems: Navigation lock systems in the Dams Sector enable all inland and intracoastal waterway freight movements. Major roads may traverse dams.
- Water: Dams Sector assets provide drinking water supplies and pumping capabilities.
For additional information on the Dams Sector, refer to the Dams Sector Overview, Dams Sector Profile, and the Dams Sector Risk Management Agency Fact Sheet.
Dams Sector Councils and Working Groups
The Dams Sector works in partnership with both the private and public sector to develop industry practices that build a culture of safety and security. In accordance with long-standing critical infrastructure partnership principles, sector partners—owners and operators, regulators, trade associations, and others supporting the sector—work together through the Dams Sector Coordinating Council and Government Coordinating Council.
Sector Resources
Homeland Security Information Network – Critical Infrastructure (HSIN-CI) Dams Portal
Allows Dams Sector partners to effectively collect and distribute information to federal, state, and local agencies and the private sector.
Dams Sector Publications
Dams Sector reference publications include both open source and those designated as "For Official Use Only" (FOUO). Publications available to sector partners include handbooks, guides, brochures, and fact sheets.
Dams Sector Training
These webinars, seminars, and web-based independent study courses provide dam and levee partners with the knowledge required to enhance security and resilience at their facilities.
Dams Sector Crisis Management Suite
Helps owners and operators to understand the principles of crisis management and build a crisis management program. The suite includes educational materials, planning templates, and exercise support to test the plans included in the program.
Dams Sector Consequence-Based Top Screen
Helps identify critical facilities within a given portfolio. Critical, high-consequence facilities are those whose failure or disruption are associated with the highest possible impacts when compared to other facilities within the portfolio.
Dams Sector Suspicious Activity Reporting
Helps owners and operators to understand and report suspicious activity. Timely reporting helps authorities act quickly to identify potential threats and can provide an indicator of national-level activities against similar facilities or operations.
Dams Sector Tabletop Exercise Toolbox
Provides dam owners and operators with exercise planning resources to address sector-specific threats, issues, and concerns related to the protection of dams. Available via the HSIN-CI Dams Portal.
Dams Sector Security Toolkit for State Dam Safety Offices
Supports the efforts of State Dam Safety Offices to promote, educate, and train owners and operators on critical infrastructure security and resilience practices. Available via the HSIN-CI Dams Portal.
Contact Us
For additional information, please contact the Dams Sector Management Team at DamsSector@mail.cisa.dhs.gov.