Comment Corps of Engineers (Score 0) 62
Corps of Engineers are largely responsible for this. They've been systematically reducing water levels in damming bodies of water for "flood prevention" for decades. Things really started to heighten after the Midwestern/Nebraska flooding in (IIRC) 2005. Lower water levels = less hydro power intake pressure = less power.
On top of that, Instead of increasing holding capacity by adding more hydro power, they've been reducing holding capacity on the argument of 'environmental impact', as well - gotta protect those purple spotted beaver trout.
The irony is that these hydro dams produce ecosystems which would not have otherwise existed and substantially increase habitat. They help prevent flooding and reduce ecological (and financial) damage. It's a bit backwards how things are being orchestrated - it's not green, and it's not good for either the economy or ecology.