Federal law places strict liability on dam owners — meaning you may be held responsible for flood damage, injury, and loss of life regardless of what caused the failure. The good news: federal funding is now available to help you get ahead of it. Chat with our team to learn more.
The federal government classifies dams by their failure consequence — not their current condition. A High-Hazard rating means one thing: if your dam fails, lives would likely be lost and serious property damage would occur downstream. That classification carries serious legal weight.
Courts have consistently ruled that storing water is an inherently hazardous activity. If your dam releases water uncontrollably, you may owe damages to everyone downstream — regardless of whether you were negligent. The act of owning the dam creates the exposure.
In 2020, the private owner of the Edenville Dam in Michigan was found liable for approximately $120 million in damages after it failed. The company filed for bankruptcy. The families downstream waited years for compensation.
The US experiences 10 to 20 uncontrolled dam failures annually. Most involve seepage that was detectable before the breach. Professional assessment is the documented evidence that you took your ownership responsibility seriously.
In litigation, the question is not only what happened — it's what you knew, when you knew it, and what you did about it. A Willowstick assessment report is that documentation. It establishes your standard of care.
"In today's litigious society it is safe to assume that in the case of catastrophic dam failure, extensive litigation will ensue. Any competent lawyer, representing the victims, will sue all possible wrongdoers in seeking redress — including the owners and operators of the facility."
— Denis Binder, Legal Liability for Dam Failures (ASDSO)
Total dams in the National Inventory of Dams
Classified as High-Hazard Potential
Average age of a US dam — most predate modern safety standards
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and WRDA 2024 unlocked real federal funding for high-hazard dam rehabilitation. Applications require documented pre-remediation assessment data — exactly what a Willowstick assessment produces.
Allocated in FY 2024 alone for high-hazard dam rehabilitation. Congress has authorized $60 million per year through 2030. Grants require documented pre-remediation subsurface assessment data.
Additional funding through FEMA's National Dam Safety State Assistance Grant Program. State-level programs stack with federal funding. Your state may have additional programs for high-hazard dam owners.
The most common barrier to grant funding: applicants don't have the required pre-remediation assessment documentation. A Willowstick assessment report satisfies this requirement — and can be completed before the next grant cycle opens. Chat with our team to learn about timing in your state.
Non-invasive. Professional. Documented. Here is exactly what to expect from your first call to your final report.
You speak with a Willowstick engineer about your dam — its age, classification, location, and any concerns you've noticed. No commitment. We tell you honestly whether an assessment makes sense for your situation.
Our team comes to your dam. Using our patented Magnetometric Resistivity (MSR) technology, we map every subsurface water pathway inside and around your structure. No drilling. No excavation. No disruption to the dam's operation.
You receive a complete assessment report authored by credentialed geophysicists — in the format accepted by state dam safety agencies and FEMA grant programs. This is the document that protects you legally and unlocks grant applications.
The report is yours. We don't do rehabilitation — we do diagnostics. You share the findings with your state agency, engineering firm, or legal counsel. We make sure you have the information needed to make the right decision.
Use the chat in the corner of this page to connect with our team — or call us directly at (801) 984-9850. No sales pitch. No commitment. Just a straight answer from an engineer who knows dam safety.
Call (801) 984-9850