Data – Global Dam Watch

GDW curates and hosts three leading global dam databases, and provides summary information and links to many additional global, regional and national datasets

GDW’s Core Datasets

GlObal geOreferenced Database of Dams (GOOD²)

Global Reservoir and Dam Database (GRanD)

Future Hydropower Reservoirs and Dams (FHReD)

Each of the three core datasets has been developed over many years with a particular focus and methodology. The Global Geo-referenced Database of Dams (GOOD²) maps all dams visible on Google Earth satellite imagery globally; it catalogues the geospatial coordinates of 38,660 dams. The Global Reservoir and Dam Database (GRanD) maps the location and attribute data of 7,320 dams greater than 15m in height or with a reservoir of more than 0.1km³. Future Hydropower Reservoirs and Dams (FHReD) maps 3,700 dams that are under construction or in advanced planning stages. Together, these three datasets represent the most detailed, freely available global database of dams and georeferenced information about global dams.

Currently, some overlaps exist between the datasets. For example, large dams mapped by GRanD may also exist in GOOD², though the GOOD² dam points are location-only and do not carry the attribute data found in GRanD. Dams that were under construction before 2015 may have been captured by FHReD; those that have been completed since may also be reflected as completed and operational in GRanD or GOOD², though again without attribute data. Our future efforts are focused on harmonizing these three datasets so that researchers can either use them independently or in combination with all overlaps attributed for and easily filtered out.

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GDW’s Global Dam and Reservoir Datasets

Dataset	Year published	# Records	Size of Dam	Sources	Methods	Attributes	Geo-referenced	Aligned to HydroSHEDS	License	Distribution
GOOD²	2015	38,660	Medium to large	Google Earth	Manually Digitized	Coordinates	Yes	No	--	Access data using this GEODATA user feedback form
GRanD	v1.3 – 2019 v1.1 – 2011	v1.3 – 7,*** v1.1 – 6862	Large (≥0.1km³)	Databases that provide freely available dam data, research articles, grey literature, internet	Manual inspection and validation of all records	Multiple	Yes	Yes	Free for non-commercial use	Download v1.3 Download v1.1
FHReD	2015	3,700	≥ 1MW	Databases that provide freely available dam data, research articles, grey literature, internet	Manual inspection and validation of all records	Multiple	Yes	No	--	Download FHReD

External Datasets

Here we provide a curated list of other dam databases that are available online. These datasets are not incorporated into the GDW data except where listed explicitly in the description of the dataset.

This list grows as new data is made available. We welcome contributions from researchers who work at regional and global scales.

Contribute Data

Global Dam and Reservoir Datasets from External Sources

Dataset	Year published	# Records	Size of Dam	Sources	Methods	Attributes	Geo-referenced	Aligned to HydroSHEDS	License	Distribution
ICOLD	1958 – 2018	59,071	≥ 15m, or 5-15m with reservoir ≥0.03km³	Submitted by member countries	Varies by country	Multiple	No	No	See ICOLD	Purchase access to online database at ICOLD
FAO AQUASTAT	2014	14,500	Medium to large	Country-based reporting	Gathered during country update processes	Multiple	Partial	No	See User Agreement	Access database at AQUASTAT website
OpenStreetMap Dams	2017	54,308	--	Global dam data based on OSM tags	Downloaded Mulligan Dec. 2017	Multiple	Yes	No	Open data, licensed under the Open Data Commons Open Database License, © OpenStreetMap contributors	Access data using this GEODATA user feedback form

Regional Dam and Reservoir Datasets from External Sources

Dataset	Year published	# Records	Size of Dam	Sources	Methods	Attributes	Geo-referenced	Aligned to HydroSHEDS	License	Distribution
AMBER Atlas – Europe	Expected Nov 2019	> 450,000	Small to large	Institutional registries (national, regional, EU and worldwide)	Data gathered and submitted by institutions	Multiple	Yes	No	Expected to be freely available/downloadable	Expected to be accessible by web-based maps and data at JRC and AMBER websites
United States National Inventory of Dams	2016	90,580	Small to large	State registries	Data gathered and submitted by states	Multiple	Yes	No	See National Inventory of Dams	Access web-based maps and statistics at National Inventory of Dams
United States National Anthropogenic Barrier Database	2012	52,456	Small to large	United States National Inventory of Dams	Cleaned and aligned to NHDPlus/NHD	Multiple	Yes	No	--	Download file at USGS
MARS European Dams	2016	5,043	≥ 10m	ECRINS v1.1, ICOLD	--	Multiple	Yes	No	--	Download as part of larger geodatabase at MARS Project
South Africa List of Registered Dams	2018	5,528	Reservoirs ≥ 50,000 m³ and dam height ≥ 5m	Individual registration in accordance with Dam Safety Legislation	--	Multiple	Yes	No	Public domain	Download the database at Republic of South Africa Water and Sanitation Department
Large Dams in Canada	2003	933	Medium to large	Canadian Dam Association	--	Multiple	Yes	No	--	Available on request at Canadian Dam Association
Japanese Dam Finder	2018	--	--	Data c/o Japan Dam Foundation	--	Multiple	Yes	No	See Japanese Dam Finder	Access online visualization at Japanese Dam Finder
Greater Mekong Dams Observatory	--	805	Reservoirs ≥ 0.5 km² and hydropower dams ≥ 15MW	--	--	Multiple	Yes	No	--	Available on request at Greater Mekong Dams Observatory
Volta Basin Dams	2016	1200	--	Google Earth	Manually digitized	Location	Yes	No	Free for non-commercial use	Access data using this GEODATA user feedback form
Brazil Dams Safety Report	2017	24,097	Small to large	State registries	Data gathered and submitted by states	Multiple	Yes	No	--	Download the database and associated report at Sistema Nacional de Informações sobre Segurança de Barragens
Myanmar Dams	2018	254	Medium to large	International Finance Corporation, Water Land and Ecosystems	Merged two independent dam datasets	Multiple	Yes	No	CC-BY-SA.4.0	Download the database at Open Development Mekong