2027 Webinar: Jimmy Carter’s Impact on Water Resources and Dam Safety (1970-1980): Celebrating 50 Years Since the Presidential Memo on Dam Safety

Speakers: Nathaniel Gee, PE 

PDHs: This webinar is eligible for 2 PDH credits.

This webinar explores a pivotal decade in U.S. water policy by tracing President Jimmy Carter’s lasting influence on dam safety and water resources. From early controversies like the Sprewell Bluff Dam to the national reckoning after the Teton Dam failure, we follow the momentum that led to Carter’s dam project review hit list, landmark congressional hearings, and the Presidential Memo that reshaped federal dam safety efforts. We also highlight key events and legislation, including major dam failures, the FEMA dam safety office, and the development of national guidelines. Join us as we commemorate 50 years of progress and examine how decisions from the 1970s continue to guide today’s dam safety programs.

Key Takeaways:
1. Recognize the long‑term impacts of 1970s dam safety initiatives on today’s federal, state, and local dam safety programs.

2. Understand how the policy shifts of the 1970s shaped the modern regulatory and interagency framework that dam safety engineers work within, helping participants navigate today’s requirements with clearer context.
3. Recognize how past failures and investigations established the foundations of current risk assessment practices, allowing engineers to better appreciate why certain standards and methodologies exist.
4. Identify lessons from Carter‑era coordination between federal agencies to improve today’s collaboration across local, state, and federal partners.