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Most of the United States' 2.5 million dams are not under the jurisdiction of any public agency. These small (under 6 ft [1.83 m] tall) nonjurisdictional dams, unregulated and not inventoried anywhere, endanger public safety and degrade riparian ecosystems. Their problems are increasing as structures age and storm events become more violent. Property owners can be held liable for problems at dams. Through several policy changes and legal actions, states can vastly improve the situation. States should consider expanded jurisdiction over small dams, a program of inventorying and mapping all dams in state waterways, owner education and outreach, and shared resources to allow for improved public safety and river restoration through best dam management or dam removal practices. This article is categorized under: Human Water > Water Governance Engineering Water > Planning Water Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems

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International conservation presents a unique challenge for American conservation agencies, demanding unique policy tools. To encourage American citizens to support overseas conservation, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Postal Service, and environmental non-governmental organizations collaborated to create the Save Vanishing Species Stamp, a semipostal stamp featuring a tiger. In doing this, these actors relied on the flagship species approach, wherein a charismatic species attracts attention and support for ecological protection. The “Tiger Stamp” has been on sale since 2011, but its effectiveness as a policy tool is uncertain. In this paper, we discuss the Tiger Stamp and analyze its effectiveness from several angles. The stamp’s impact on species conservation is uncertain and its sales have been lower than those of past semipostal stamps, but this should be understood in the context of nationwide decline in traditional postal activities and the hortatory effect of the stamp beyond its economic effects. We conclude that the stamp is, on balance, a valuable policy tool, and should be continued.

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