The original Aswan Dam and the newer Aswan High Dam have fulfilled their political and engineering dreams well. Gamal Abdel Nasser, president of Egypt 1956-1970, wanted to elevate Egypt to a world power by building the High Dam and increasing the country's electrical generating capacity. In that sense, the High Dam was a success. The Aswan dams are grand technological achievements that solved some immense problems - flooding, drought, and power generation. These structures did not come without problems. Silt-free water reduced marine life downstream of the dams, the reduced flow caused salt water to backup into the delta and work its way into the soils reducing crop yield, and the generators cost millions of dollars to repair.

Humans can come up with solutions for these problems also, but the new solutions will inevitably lead to new problems. When we take on new challenges, we learn yet more, and improve our techniques for problem solving in the future. One problem with our solutions is that nature has innate problem solving abilities as well. The more we try to take over the course which nature follows, the more we learn about upsetting the balance. Eventually, the machines and technologies we develop to make our lives more comfortable become controlling mechanisms of our own existence. Because, the world we create and all of the implements we make need major repair and upkeep.

From an industrial and governmental perspective, both dams were successes in their original goals (to control flooding, prevent drought, and supply hydroelectric power). From an environmental and humanitarian perspective, these dams altered ecosystems and displaced native peoples that had lived in harmony for literally tens of thousands of years. As with any major project, there is more than one side to the story and humans continue to learn to predict the outcomes of their actions and the effects these new conditions create.