High Water Takes Toll on North Dakota Dams

North Dakota officials say that many small and aging dams will likely need repair after a third straight waterlogged spring.

One of those dams, near Burlington, nearly failed recently, and about 200 people were advised to evacuate as a precaution.

State engineer Todd Sando says he won’t know many dams are in bad shape until inspectors get into the field, but estimates that at least 10 of them will need work.

Officials say the risk to people and homes from those dams is low because most of them are in rural areas with little possibility of future development.

Gary Neshem, a spokesman for the water board that manages the Burlington dam, says many water districts don’t have the money to maintain or repair small dams.