Student Handout 2-Debate Information for the United States Government

The Kinzua Dam was constructed (during 1960-1966) for three reasons: flood control, hydroelectric power, and recreation. Flood-control was the most important of these.

1) Flood Control: After major floods from 1935-1937 caused enormous amounts of damage and loss of human life—the 1936 flood left 12 people dead in Johnstown and caused $67 million in damage along the banks of the Susquehanna (cited from ExplorePAhistory Historical Marker Page, Johnstown Local Flood Protection Project)—Congress passed Flood Control Acts (1936 and 1938) which supported the control of rivers through manmade structures such as dams, levees, and spillovers.

Excerpt from the Flood Control Act of 1936 (Section 1):

“It is hereby recognized that the destructive floods upon the rivers of the United States, upsetting orderly processes and causing loss of life and property, including the erosion of lands, and impairing and obstructing of navigation, highways, railroads, and other channels of commerce between the States, constitute a menace to national welfare; that it is the sense of Congress that flood control on navigable rivers or their tributaries is a proper activity of the Federal government in cooperation with the States, their political subdivisions, and localities thereof, that investigations and improvements of rivers and other waterways, including watersheds thereof, for flood control purposes are in the interest of the general welfare; that the Federal government should improve or participate in the improvement of navigable waters or their tributaries, including the watersheds thereof, for flood control if the benefits to whomsoever they may accrue are in excess of the estimated costs and if the lives and social security of the people are otherwise adversely affected.”

Facts from the Army Corps of Engineers website,

  • The Kinzua Dam was built to prevent the Allegheny and upper Ohio RiverValleys from flooding.
  • It cost $108 million to construct.
  • It prevented an estimated $247 million in flood damages in 1972 when Tropical Storm Agnes rained down on Pennsylvania. (Notice: This storm alone saved more money in damages then it cost to construct.)
  • In total, it is estimated to have saved $1 billion of flood damages since construction.

2) Hydroelectric power-This is turning the power of water into electricity.

  • At its height, the Kinzua Dam produces 400,000 kilowatts per hour.
  • The average household uses 888 kilowatts an hour per month according to the U.S. Department of Energy (
  • So in one hour, the dam produces enough energy for ______[fill in number of households].

Some other statistics to support your position:

  • At 400,000 kilowatts per hour, the Kinzua Dam produces the equivalent energy of 2,192,593 barrels of oil (Stastic adapted from How Stuff Works website: today costs about $71 per barrel.
  • Hydroelectric energy is a renewable energy. That means it can be used again. Oil is not.

3) Recreation: In Pennsylvania, where tourism is the second largest industry, the Kinzua Dam and surrounding AlleghenyNational Forest offer several recreational activities:

  • Swimming
  • Boating
  • Water-skiing
  • Fishing
  • Camping

In addition to the reasons the dam was built, the government also has the ruling of the Supreme Court to back up its right to build a dam. When the Seneca did not want to relocate they took the issue to court. The case eventually reached the Supreme Court, and it was decided the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could build the dam. The reason the Court gave was “the right of eminent domain.” Basically this is the right of the government to use your property if it is for the good of the greater public and if they pay/compensate you for it. This right is based on the 5th Amendment of the Constitution which states:

5th Amendment of Constitution:

… nor shall any person be … deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.[emphasis mine]

The Seneca were compensated $15 million for the cost of their relocation and their land by the US Government.