The Miami Conservancy District is working to improve the integrated flood protection system so communities continue to stay safe. The flood protection system has stayed strong for over 100 years; Without improvement, there is an increased risk of failure and threat from catastrophic flooding. It now requires reinvestment to continue to protect communities from destructive flooding.
Each year, The Miami Conservancy District reports on the progress of improvements and needs of the system, as required by state law to the Conservancy Court. Detailed summaries of ongoing capital projects and other maintenance activities can be found in our annual reports.
Learn more: History of MCD | Great Flood of 1913 | Funding | Governance | Annual Reports
When the Miami Conservancy District dams were first built, the Ford Model T was America’s best-selling car. Geotechnical engineering didn’t exist, nor did air-entrained concrete. The massive outlet walls—some towering 78 feet high—were constructed without reinforcing steel or keyways between blocks. While the system has served remarkably well for more than a century, modern technology and materials are now essential to reduce risks tied to its outdated design.
These structures have also weathered the elements every single day for more than 100 years. Concrete and steel, like all materials, have a limited lifespan. Without sustained investment, deterioration will accelerate.
The Capital Plan: 2025–2032
In response, MCD has a phased Capital Improvement Program, beginning with a $34.5 million Phase 1 investment through 2032. The plan prioritizes critical repairs, modernizes risk management, and lays out funding strategies to ensure the Miami Valley remains protected.
After more than a century and over 2,100 flood events, our dams and levees are showing their age. Without critical repairs and renewed investment, the system that has safeguarded our communities could fail when we need it most. Capital improvement is essential to protecting our region for the next century.
The dams, levees, and other parts of the flood protection system have worked harder and stored more water in recent decades, resulting in more stress on the system.
The Dam Safety Initiative (DSI) was a capital assessment that expired in 2022. The total amount authorized to spend on dam safety through 2025 projects was approximately $34M. The DSI was authorized to address a limited scope of high-risk concerns related to dam underseepage, crest permeability, and concrete deterioration. MCD has no long-term funding since the DSI expired.
Miami Conservancy District managed the analysis, design, and construction of dam safety projects to improve the safety of the flood protection system including:
Miami Conservancy District also secured grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) using the DSI funds as matching dollars.
