In the spring of 1976, Teton Dam was the site of the most significant failure of a Bureau of Reclamation project in the agency's history. The failure of Teton Dam served as a catalyst for Reclamation's Dam Safety Program. For decades, Reclamation's Dam Safety Office has stood out internationally as a leader in its field. While Reclamation has always been concerned with the safety of its facilities, the failure of Teton Dam ushered in a new era of understanding and managing risk.