How does a dam work?
Dams are structures that control the amount and flow of water in a river, stream or creek from one side of the structure to the other, using various types of outlet gates or structures. During a high water event, the gates can be closed to store water that would otherwise have naturally flowed downstream and caused flooding, thereby providing flood protection and flood damage reduction for downstream communities. The water that is held behind the dam backs up into an area, forming a reservoir. When downstream conditions are such that hydraulic engineers and dam operators can begin releasing the water downstream, gates are slowly opened to return the reservoir level to its normal level.
