National Inventory of Dams (NID)

ISO-19139 Metadata

Metadata Information

Metadata character set: utf8

Last update:

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Scope of the data described by the metadata: dataset

Scope name: dataset

Name of the metadata standard used: ISO 19139 Geographic Information - Metadata - Implementation Specification

Version of the metadata standard: 2007

Metadata identifier: f156ccabb57d434cbb1a5c38aedf224e

Data Identification Information

Resource citation:

Title: National Inventory of Dams (NID)

Date:

Reference date - creation: 2025-01-22T19:36:51

Date:

Reference date - revision: 2025-04-08T19:54:41

Descriptive keywords:

Keyword type not provided

Keywords: Dams, USACE, NID, National Inventory of Dams, Water Supply, HIFLD, Feature Service, SDI, NSDI, Open Data, FGDC, Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Planning, Infrastructure

Abstract: A Brief History of the NIDThe site we see today was first conceptualized in the 1970s when Congress tasked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with identifying, inspecting, and inventorying dams in the U.S (National Dam Inspection Act, PL 92-367).Early data gathering for the NID was led by USACE, which published the first inventory in 1975. By 1982, the NID included 68,153 dam records gathered from dam inspections, extensive record searches, and some feature extraction from aerial imagery. These NID databases were available on diskettes and compact discs.In the late 1990s, the NID was transitioned to a web-based platform and viewing the data on a map. Gathering data on dams also transitioned during this time - the most accurate data was now coming from states, territories, and federal agencies. This transition aligned with the establishment of the National Dam Safety Program.Information Available in the NIDSince transitioning to a web-based platform, site visitors have been able to download or export certain data. The NID is currently the only place to find and download national data at such a detailed level.Today, the database contains information for more than 91,000 dams that meet the following criteria:Dams where a failure or mis-operation will likely result in loss of human life (high hazard potential).Dams where a failure or mis-operation would likely result in disruption of access to critical facilities, damage to public and private facilities, and require difficult mitigation efforts (significant hazard potential).Dams that meet minimum height and reservoir size requirements, even though they do not pose the same level of life or economic risk as those above – these dams are equal to or exceed 25 feet in height and exceed 15 acre-feet in storage, or equal to or exceeding 50 acre-feet in storage and exceeding 6 feet in height.The NID does not yet contain all dams in the U.S. that meet these criteria. Continued, routine updates to the NID and enhanced data collection efforts, focused on the most reliable data sources (primarily the many federal and state government dam regulatory programs), will help capture these dams and result in a more robust dataset over time.National Inventory of DamsContact NID at NID@usace.army.mil

Purpose: The National Inventory of Dams (NID) is a dynamic database that serves as a central repository for information about dams in the U.S. and its territories. There are more than 70 data fields for each dam, including information about a dam's location, purpose, uses and benefits, type, size, last inspection, and other geographical information.

Dataset language:

Dataset character set: utf8

Resource constraints:

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Limitations of use: No special restrictions or limitations on using the item's content have been provided.

Resource extent:

Credits: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

Distribution Information

Distribution format:

Format name: Feature Service

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Online distribution information:

Online location: https://geospatial.sec.usace.army.mil/dls/rest/services/NID/National_Inventory_of_Dams_Public_Service/MapServer