Dams are man-made structures that are used to control the flow of water in rivers and other bodies of water, and they can be found in some national and state parks throughout the United States. These dams can have both positive and negative impacts on the natural and cultural resources within the parks. Some examples of national and state parks that have dams include:
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Arizona and Utah, which is home to the Glen Canyon Dam, a large hydroelectric dam on the Colorado River.
- Grand Coulee Dam in Washington, which is a hydroelectric dam on the Columbia River and is also a National Historic Landmark
- Hoover Dam in Arizona and Nevada, which is a large hydroelectric dam on the Colorado River.
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Arizona and Nevada, which is a man-made lake created by the Hoover Dam.
- Shasta Lake in California, which is a man-made lake created by Shasta Dam on the Sacramento River.
- New River Gorge National River in West Virginia, which includes the Hawks Nest Dam, a hydroelectric dam on the New River.
Dams can provide many benefits such as hydroelectric power generation, flood control, irrigation, and recreation opportunities, but they can also have negative impacts on the natural and cultural resources within the parks. Some of the impacts can be negative on the fish populations, water quality, and the downstream ecosystems. The National Parks Service and State Parks Service are working to balance the benefits and impacts of dams within the parks and to protect and preserve the resources in the parks for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.
