All eyes have been on the crisis at Oroville Dam, but weeks of wet weather have put pressure elsewhere on the network of levees and dams protecting cities and farms in California’s vast Central Valley flood plain. Almost all of the major reservoirs that ring the Valley have filled to the point that officials have […]
Inspectors visited Oroville Dam 14 times since 2008 but never considered the integrity of the hillside that eroded below the emergency spillway, leading to a near catastrophe that forced the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people downstream, state records show. The inspections by the state’s Division of Safety of Dams repeatedly mentioned the concrete apron, or […]
In California, construction crews are trying to lower the level of Lake Oroville and repair emergency spillways at the Oroville Dam, about 75 miles north of Sacramento, to prevent catastrophic flooding downstream. A secondary spillway was opened Monday after the main spillway, which is supposed to safely release water when the lake level is too […]
California is expected to officially start up its second desalination plant in April, which takes seawater and makes it potable. The first one opened in December 2015 in Carlsbad that is near San Diego while the next one will be in Santa Barbara that is north of Los Angeles. And 15 more are on the […]
/in California and the U.S./by Mike Lee /The Associated Press (As published by Talking Points Memo)by Olga R. Rodriguez and Don Thompson
The water level dropped Monday behind the nation’s tallest dam, reducing the risk of a catastrophic spillway collapse and easing fears that prompted the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people downstream. As the day began, officials from the California Department of Water Resources prepared to inspect an erosion scar on the spillway at the dam on […]
Oroville, California (CNN)A massive crevasse that formed in a spillway at Northern California’s Oroville Dam has spurred mass evacuations, with nearby residents fleeing the worst-case specter of a three-story wall of water rushing downstream. In all, about 188,000 people, mostly in Butte, Sutter and Yuba counties, evacuated from the area, some being given only minutes […]
Oroville Dam Isn’t The Only Piece Of California Flood Infrastructure Under Strain
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento Beeby Ryan Sabalow, Ellen Garrison, and Brad BrananAll eyes have been on the crisis at Oroville Dam, but weeks of wet weather have put pressure elsewhere on the network of levees and dams protecting cities and farms in California’s vast Central Valley flood plain. Almost all of the major reservoirs that ring the Valley have filled to the point that officials have […]
Oroville Dam Inspectors Ignored Integrity Of Hillside That Eroded
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /San Francisco Chronicleby Peter Fimrite and Kurtis AlexanderInspectors visited Oroville Dam 14 times since 2008 but never considered the integrity of the hillside that eroded below the emergency spillway, leading to a near catastrophe that forced the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people downstream, state records show. The inspections by the state’s Division of Safety of Dams repeatedly mentioned the concrete apron, or […]
With More Rain Forecast, Crews Work To Reinforce Oroville Dam
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /NPRby Rebecca HersherIn California, construction crews are trying to lower the level of Lake Oroville and repair emergency spillways at the Oroville Dam, about 75 miles north of Sacramento, to prevent catastrophic flooding downstream. A secondary spillway was opened Monday after the main spillway, which is supposed to safely release water when the lake level is too […]
Can Desalination Plants Quench California’s Thirst For Water In A Clean Way?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Forbesby Ken Silverstein Mentioned: San Diego County Water AuthorityCalifornia is expected to officially start up its second desalination plant in April, which takes seawater and makes it potable. The first one opened in December 2015 in Carlsbad that is near San Diego while the next one will be in Santa Barbara that is north of Los Angeles. And 15 more are on the […]
Water Level Drops Behind California Dam, Easing Flood Fears
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Associated Press (As published by Talking Points Memo)by Olga R. Rodriguez and Don ThompsonThe water level dropped Monday behind the nation’s tallest dam, reducing the risk of a catastrophic spillway collapse and easing fears that prompted the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people downstream. As the day began, officials from the California Department of Water Resources prepared to inspect an erosion scar on the spillway at the dam on […]
California Towns Flee As Oroville Dam Threatens To Release ‘Wall Of Water’
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /CNNby Eliott C. McLaughlin and Paul VercammenOroville, California (CNN)A massive crevasse that formed in a spillway at Northern California’s Oroville Dam has spurred mass evacuations, with nearby residents fleeing the worst-case specter of a three-story wall of water rushing downstream. In all, about 188,000 people, mostly in Butte, Sutter and Yuba counties, evacuated from the area, some being given only minutes […]