October 22, 2024

Understanding impounded lake levels and dam spillway capacity can be challenging and we've recently received questions about these topics. To explain dam spillway capacity check out this three-minute doodle video by clicking on the photo or button below.

Dam spillway capacity is the capacity of the spillway to match flows that mimic the natural flow of the river downstream of the dam. Spillways maintain a lake level to protect a dam and prevent failure when river flow increases.