Trouble Right Here in River City

By Josh Sevin

10 Nov 1999

Read more about: dams | energy | rivers and watersheds | United States | all of these topics

5,270 large dams blocked rivers in 1950

36,500 large dams block rivers today

17 percent of U.S. rivers are currently dammed

600,000 miles of rivers in the U.S. have been impounded behind dams

235,000 miles of rivers in the U.S. have been channelized

25,000 miles of rivers in the U.S. have been dredged for navigation

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80 percent of river water in California is used for irrigation

87 percent of river water in Arizona is used for irrigation

25 percent of U.S. dams are older than their life expectancy of 50 years

Sources:
1,2 -- World Resources Institute
3-7 -- American Rivers.

Read more about: dams | energy | rivers and watersheds | United States | all of these topics

Josh Sevin is a graduate student in MIT's planning program. Previously, he was an editor at Greenwire environmental news service and a researcher for U.S. News.

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