Fatal accidents at low-head dams have earned them the nickname “drowning machines.” They generate a significant amount of power, even at low water levels. That can make it disorienting for people who mistakenly get trapped in their currents, and it can be hard to find a way out.

Thousands of low-head dams are found in rivers, ponds and creeks across the country, usually standing several feet tall.

Researchers at Brigham Young University created a nationwide database tracking low-head dams in 2023. They’ve catalogued around 13,000 dams, but researchers say there are likely thousands more.

State and local agencies have spearheaded efforts in recent years to remove low-head dams in Kentucky, Tennessee and the surrounding region, but it’s often difficult to figure out who actually owns them

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