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Earthquake risk prompts order to drain big dam south of San Francisco
KTLA ^ | 02/25/2020

Posted on 02/25/2020 5:30:49 PM PST by BenLurkin

Worried that an earthquake could collapse a big dam south of San Francisco, officials have ordered its reservoir to be completely drained by October to reduce the risk of floodwaters spilling into Silicon Valley.

The 240-foot (73-meter) high earthen Anderson Dam, built in 1950 between San Jose and the community of Morgan Hill, poses too great a risk of collapse and must be fully drained by Oct. 1, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which regulates dams, the Mercury News reported.

Since 2009, the dam’s water level has been kept at a maximum of 74 percent of capacity because of an assessment that it could fail in a 7.2 quake. The reservoir is built along the Calaveras Fault. On Monday, amid the threat of another drought in California, Anderson Reservoir was just 29% full.

A seismic retrofit project has been underway because of its state classification in 2017 as being an “extremely high” downstream hazard.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District said in a statement Monday that officials agree with the commission’s assessment that the reservoir should be drained ahead of the retrofit project, which is “complicated and time consuming.”

More than 14,000 residents had to be evacuated in 2017 as water from swollen Coyote Creek, downstream of the Anderson Reservoir, flooded homes and temporarily shut down a portion of a freeway.

It came the same month as a spillway failed at the nation’s tallest dam, in Oroville in Northern California, leading officials to order the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people.

Stored water is an important part of the south San Francisco Bay Area’s supply — with enough water for the annual needs of at least 130,000 people as well as what the district considers an emergency supply

(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: dam; earthendam
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1 posted on 02/25/2020 5:30:49 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

Why not just build another dam below this one?


2 posted on 02/25/2020 5:34:31 PM PST by crusty old prospector
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To: BenLurkin

I knew that dam was a hazard back in 1984 (college geology class project).


3 posted on 02/25/2020 5:35:22 PM PST by rfp1234
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To: BenLurkin

Keep an eye on the deep state. This move smells like another of their schemes.


4 posted on 02/25/2020 5:35:46 PM PST by reasonisfaith (What are the implications if the Resurrection of Christ is a true event in history?)
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To: crusty old prospector

Why not just depopulate to:

A. Decrease risk of damage from dam failure.

B. Avoid need to store water.


5 posted on 02/25/2020 5:36:35 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: reasonisfaith

Like the farmers and the Delta fish?


6 posted on 02/25/2020 5:38:11 PM PST by RushIsMyTeddyBear ("Progressives" (elitist communists) "Love you to death".)
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To: BenLurkin
Down in the valley valley so low
Drain your lake dear before the dam blows
Before the dam blows dear before the dam blows

Roses love sunshine violets love dew
earthquakes love nothing, not even you

7 posted on 02/25/2020 5:39:21 PM PST by BipolarBob (I asked my cat who his favorite socialist was. He looked at me and said Mao.)
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To: BenLurkin

That’s a major source of stored water. They’ve known it for decades. Lousy dems don’t care


8 posted on 02/25/2020 5:39:34 PM PST by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: BenLurkin

I smell a rat. Very fishy they decide to do this right after the president forces them to send water to the farmers.


9 posted on 02/25/2020 5:41:27 PM PST by tazman3
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: RushIsMyTeddyBear

I can’t help but find the timing suspect.


11 posted on 02/25/2020 5:44:57 PM PST by enduserindy (IÂ’m done explaining basic math and the definition of freedom.)
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To: BenLurkin

Shasta dam may be raised another 20’ according to my rumor source.


12 posted on 02/25/2020 5:46:39 PM PST by Cold Heart (.)
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To: tazman3

The endless drought came to an end. There’s too much water. They need to make water scarce again so they can put the squeeze on people.


13 posted on 02/25/2020 5:47:19 PM PST by yesthatjallen
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To: BenLurkin

Wow! The intersection of two of my favorite youtubers

Juan Brown(blancolirio) and Dutchsinse.

I can’t wait to hear what they have to say about this.

Maybe Bill Whittle will even have some interesting input.

7


14 posted on 02/25/2020 5:49:42 PM PST by infool7 (When you have the Lord, nothing else is important and everything is fascinating!)
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To: crusty old prospector
"below this one?"

The sudden failure of the dam above would take out the one below due to sudden, max force of water and earth pushing on it.

Also known as hydrostatic pressure.

15 posted on 02/25/2020 5:57:27 PM PST by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's fore sure)
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To: ping jockey

They are not acting


16 posted on 02/25/2020 6:04:37 PM PST by clamper1797 (We are getting close to the last "box")
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To: Vendome

Of possible interest...


17 posted on 02/25/2020 6:04:54 PM PST by null and void (By the pricking of my lungs, Something wicked this way comes ...)
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To: tazman3

“I smell a rat. Very fishy they decide to do this right after the president forces them to send water to the farmers.”

The dam has been known to be unsafe for over 30 years.

Of course they should replace it rather than just take it down.

But its water was NEVER part of the Central Valley Project and never went south. It was all used locally.


18 posted on 02/25/2020 6:08:10 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Deaf Smith

Once the new dam is completed, you blow a hole in the old one. Like Lake Lewisville and Palestine. They both had former smaller dams. I am sure there are others.


19 posted on 02/25/2020 6:14:38 PM PST by crusty old prospector
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To: crusty old prospector

There is nothing left to build a damn top below this one. It’s pretty much flat to the south past Gilroy and to the north to the south San Francisco Bay.


20 posted on 02/25/2020 6:19:28 PM PST by Magnum44 (My comprehensive terrorism plan: Hunt them down and kill them.)
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