Although hydroelectric power represents a relatively small portion of the world's energy resources, it is still an important commodity with great potential. To harness hydropower, civil engineers must design dams that convert the kinetic energy of water into electricity. The fundamentals of general-use dams are discussed on the home page of the US Society on Dams (1). Besides providing brief...

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) official Web site contains an abundance of information. Born out of the Great Depression in 1933, the TVA strives to "support sustainable economic development, supply affordable, reliable power, and manage a thriving river system." The site contains information about the history of the governmental agency, as well as current and future objectives. Of special...