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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences University of Florida

The past, present and future of dams in the Southeastern U.S.

A view of the man-made waterfall at Rainbow Lake on top of Signal Mountain. Just outside of downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The Southeastern United States has among the highest density of reservoirs, and water storage capacity per unit area in the country.

This article explores how more than 19,000 dams have reshaped the rivers, ecosystems, communities, and energy systems of the region, and why the aging infrastructure is becoming a growing challenge.

The future of these dams will mean some are upgraded, some removed, and others reimagined for a changing climate and energy system.

Engstrӧm, J., Mossa, J. & Praskievicz, S. (2026). The past, present and future of dams in the Southeastern U.S.. Environmental Management 76, 287.

Photo by Sarah Swainson on Unsplash.