“I want to know ... whether those dry dam systems can still protect us,” Wu said.
After the flood that killed more than 300 people in 1913, Dayton implemented five dams between 1918-22.
“Dayton has a really good flood system,” Wu said. “But those systems are nearly 100 years old.”
Wu’s concern and interest in the topic stems from two dams collapsing in Michigan in 2020, causing $200 million in damages.
While the likelihood of flooding will be researched, the effects of dam damage is also an area of study.
“A lot of African-Americans, minority people, live in the West side of the Dayton area, right? I want to know, if we see the flood coming, will they disproportionally be (affected),” Wu said.
A map of sediment changes and water movement in the area, also known as a hydrological model, will be used to determine if these dams can still protect the area.
This model will also assist in understanding what zones are at risk of flood damage and what demographics may be disproportionally affected.
Wu hopes to make residents aware of the research being done to support the area.
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