Gravity dam
![Willow Creek Dam, a roller-compacted concrete gravity dam](/Images/godic/202501/05/Willowcr5714.jpg")
A gravity dam is a dam constructed from concrete or stone masonry and designed to hold back water by primarily utilizing the weight of the material alone to resist the horizontal pressure of water pushing against it. Gravity dams are designed so that each section of the dam is stable, independent of any other dam section.