The dam burst on a warm afternoon, unleashing nearly 300 million gallons of muddy water on a Los Angeles neighborhood. Five people died and dozens of homes were swept off their foundations and destroyed. In the aftermath of the 1963 Baldwin Hills Dam catastrophe, the state strengthened inspection regulations, helping establish California as a modern […]
How did a giant, gaping hole tear through the massive Oroville Dam’s main concrete spillway last week, setting in motion the chain of events that could have led to one of America’s deadliest dam failures? Dam experts around the country are focusing on a leading suspect: Tiny bubbles.The prospect is simple, yet terrifying and has […]
No disaster is entirely natural in our re-engineered state and valley. Owing to our hubris, we humans have a direct hand in them all. We have built cities on earthquake faults, balanced mansions on hillsides that burn in one season and slide into the ocean in the next, and moor boats in marinas where tsunamis […]
A powerful atmospheric river storm is bringing rain Friday to much of California, resulting in a flood watch for three counties down south and strong winds to the Bay Area. In Southern California, a flash flood watch will be in effect from 7 a.m. Friday through Saturday morning for Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, according […]
Since going over capacity last week, the water level in the Oroville Dam has dropped, but it’s still at a higher level for this time of year than the previous 16 years. The dam reached capacity causing overflowing water to go into two of the dam’s spillways. But damage to those spillways created concern that […]
The utterly avoidable, terrifying and still potentially catastrophic failures of the spillways of North America’s highest dam – California’s 170 foot, earth-filled Oroville – could, with the right national leadership, awaken America to the urgency of investing in our physical safety and future – our infrastructure.
Disturbing Deficiencies Seen In California’s Dam Safety Efforts
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /San Francisco Chronicleby Joaquin Palomino and Cynthia DizikesThe dam burst on a warm afternoon, unleashing nearly 300 million gallons of muddy water on a Los Angeles neighborhood. Five people died and dozens of homes were swept off their foundations and destroyed. In the aftermath of the 1963 Baldwin Hills Dam catastrophe, the state strengthened inspection regulations, helping establish California as a modern […]
Oroville Dam: What Made The Spillway Collapse?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Mercury News (San Jose)by Paul Rogers and Matthias GafniHow did a giant, gaping hole tear through the massive Oroville Dam’s main concrete spillway last week, setting in motion the chain of events that could have led to one of America’s deadliest dam failures? Dam experts around the country are focusing on a leading suspect: Tiny bubbles.The prospect is simple, yet terrifying and has […]
OPINION: The Bill Comes Due For Our Re-Engineered Way Of Life
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Sacramento BeeNo disaster is entirely natural in our re-engineered state and valley. Owing to our hubris, we humans have a direct hand in them all. We have built cities on earthquake faults, balanced mansions on hillsides that burn in one season and slide into the ocean in the next, and moor boats in marinas where tsunamis […]
California Storm: Rain, Gusty Winds Impacting Much Of State
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Mercury News (San Jose)by Mark GomezA powerful atmospheric river storm is bringing rain Friday to much of California, resulting in a flood watch for three counties down south and strong winds to the Bay Area. In Southern California, a flash flood watch will be in effect from 7 a.m. Friday through Saturday morning for Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, according […]
Oroville Dam Reached Capacity Faster Than Previous 16 Years
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /NPRby Wynne Davis and Alyson HurtSince going over capacity last week, the water level in the Oroville Dam has dropped, but it’s still at a higher level for this time of year than the previous 16 years. The dam reached capacity causing overflowing water to go into two of the dam’s spillways. But damage to those spillways created concern that […]
Lessons of Oroville: The Flood Next Time
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Huffington Postby Carl PopeThe utterly avoidable, terrifying and still potentially catastrophic failures of the spillways of North America’s highest dam – California’s 170 foot, earth-filled Oroville – could, with the right national leadership, awaken America to the urgency of investing in our physical safety and future – our infrastructure.