American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

Dams

People around the world need and use far more water than societies of the past; people use water for drinking, washing, cooking, waste removal, heating and cooling, and irrigation. During the 20th century, harnessing water by building dams was recognized as a way to meet an unprecedented demand for low-cost, widely available energy sources to aid in the production of goods and services for the consuming public. Dams continue to play an integral role in our daily lives, providing a range of benefits including flood control, hydroelectric power, and water for irrigation, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhancements. Dams spur industrial growth and provide navigation routes in developing nations. As the world's population increases and the need for food multiplies, it is likely, even in the face of increased environmental sensitivity, which dams will continue to be built during the 21st century.

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Hoover Dam: A Monument of the Millennium

Date of Dedication:
September 27, 2001

The building of the Hoover Dam provided something positive for the United States to focus on during the years of the Great Depression.

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Completed in 1935, the 726-foot-high structure was the highest dam in the world, by 300 feet, at the time of construction. It is still the highest concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere. Today, it continues to regulate the flow of the Colorado River and provides a range of benefits, including electricity for more than 1.3 million people and irrigation for 1.5 million acres of land in the United States and Mexico.

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The Hoover Dam was designated an ASCE Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1984 and was named one of America's Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders in 1955. The National Park Service designated the Hoover Dam as a National Historic Landmark in 1984. Significant Worldwide Dam Projects include the Aswan Dam.

Additional Information

http://www.hooverdam.usbr.gov/
The US Bureau of Reclamation tells the story of one of America's Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders. Visitor information also included.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/hoover/
Chronology of Hoover Dam, searchable database of the people and events that led to the dam's creation and a teacher's guide with maps included.

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA98/haven/hoover/front2.html
In-depth report on Hoover Dam, including slide shows and maps.

http://hooverdamtourcompany.com/
All about tours of the site, including bus, helicopter and plane routes.

http://www.lvdi.net/~iceman/hooverdam.htm
Extensive pictures, both inside and out, of Hoover Dam. Statistics and human interest facts included.

http://www.sunsetcities.com/hoover-dam.html
Information and history about Hoover Dam and the taming of the Colorado River.

http://www.desertusa.com/colorado/lm_nra/hoover/du_hoover.html
Guide to Hoover Dam, includes color photos, tour, Visitor Center facilities, rates and fees, seasons and hours.

http://www.accessnv.com/bcmha/index.htm
Boulder City's Hoover Dam Museum's homepage and interesting factoids.

ASCE does not endorse any of the above Web sites. They are presented here for informational purposes only.

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