Congress originally authorized the construction of 15 dams in Portland District to reduce the risk and damages from flooding. While flood damage reduction remains the dams’ highest priority authorization, Congress also authorized the Corps to store and release water from these projects for additional uses, such as irrigation, municipal and industrial uses, water quality, fish and wildlife enhancement and recreation. To learn how most of these dams manage water, watch
this video. (Click here for
a text-only version of the video, "How dams manage water".)