VIEVE BELMAKER

BUILT IN 1986 , Mosul Dam is a key water resource management tool for Iraq and an important strategic tool . Situated on the mighty Tigris River , it is downstream from the mountains of Turkey . The dam is also just north of the city of Mosul , an Islamic State ( IS ) stronghold , which complicates security and maintenance . In fact , in 2014 , Islamic State briefly captured and held the structure .

Though control of Mosul Dam was regained , the skilled workers who painstakingly maintained the structure ’ s troublesome integrity by injecting cement slurry 24-hours a day , 7 days a week had already scattered . The loss of those difficult to replace workers , along with the deterioration of the dam while IS held it , and the impending spring floodwaters of the Tigris River have combined to create a potential humanitarian and water resource crisis . Perhaps most critically , a water release valve that has been broken since 2013 could make it impossible to release the rising reservoir level quickly enough .

In short , Mosul Dam could be on the verge of collapse and the race is on to make necessary repairs before it is too late . It is estimated that at least 500,000 people would die if the dam collapsed .

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