Pennsylvania Enacts New Safety Law for Low-Head Dams

Pennsylvania Enacts Bipartisan Low-Head Dam Safety Law Following National Fatalities

Pennsylvania lawmakers and Governor Josh Shapiro have enacted House Bill 961, establishing new safety requirements for low-head dams across the state, American Rivers reported. Sponsored by State Rep. Natalie Mihalek, the legislation aims to protect swimmers, paddlers, and anglers by addressing hazards on waterways that have recorded nearly 800 fatalities nationwide, with Pennsylvania being the lead state for fatalities.

Because they typically stretch across a river’s entire width and blend into the surroundings, these structures are difficult to spot, earning the nickname “drowning machines” due to the inescapable, churn-like whirlpools that form at their base. The Dock Street dam on the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg—noted as the nation’s most lethal—is one such structure.

New Mandates for Public Safety and Enforcement

The newly enacted law introduces several practical measures to mitigate these risks. Under the legislation, the state will maintain a publicly accessible inventory and map of low-head dams. It also shortens deadlines for replacing missing or damaged warning signs and buoys and strengthens enforcement when dam owners fail to meet safety requirements.

“Low-head dams are a death-trap hidden on too many of Pennsylvania’s waterways,” said Adam Schellhammer, Mid-Atlantic regional director for American Rivers. “This law is a big win for community safety, river recreation and its bipartisan, unanimous passage proves that caring for our rivers unites us.”

House Bill 961 received unanimous, bipartisan support in the Pennsylvania legislature before reaching the governor’s desk, reflecting broad agreement on the need to address river hazards. The legislative effort was supported by American Rivers, a nationwide conservation group dedicated to protecting the 3.5 million miles of waterways vital for robust communities, diverse wildlife, and safe drinking water across the country.