The big hole part way down the main spillway has nothing to do with the dam’s ability to hold the lake back.
The water flowing through “The big hole part way down the main spillway “ undercuts the spillway’s foundation above it.
The hole will thereby work it’s way closer to the dam.
That’s why they reduced flow through it- which caused the water level to rise to the emergency spillway.
They didn’t want to repair it because ‘we’re in a drought.’
They don’t want to build desalination plants because ‘we’re flooded with water.’
I feel for the area residents, and hope they stay dry.