Reducing Air Pollution. One of the major benefits of dams is the production of hydroelectric energy. The efficiency of a modern hydropower plant exceeds 90 percent, which is more than twice the efficiency of a thermal plant. If all the energy produced by hydropower were instead produced by coal, pollutants from coal would increase by 16 percent. Providing Habitats for Wildlife.
Dams can provide habitats for many species of wildlife.
The Kingsley Dam in Nebraska provides a habitat for over 280 species of birds. Huge flocks of waterfowl and cranes live in the 6,200-acre wildlife management area during migration. Hundreds of bald eagles congregate during the winter to catch fish below the dam's hydro plant. A primary objective of FEMA is to strengthen these partnerships, with the goal of making the public a full partner in dam safety. The Federal Emergency Management Agency Dam safety is not solely a state or local issue.