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Emergency: California’s Oroville Dam Spillway Near Failure, Evacuations Ordered
Breitbart ^ | Feb 12, 2017 | Joel B. Pollak1

Posted on 02/12/2017 4:26:47 PM PST by janetjanet998

Edited on 02/12/2017 9:33:58 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

The California Department of Water Resources issued a sudden evacuation order shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday for residents near the Oroville Dam in northern California, warning that the dam’s emergency spillway would fail in the next 60 minutes.

The Oroville Dam is the highest in the nation.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: butte; california; dam; dwr; evacuation; lakeoroville; liveoroville; moonbeamcanyon; moonbeammadness; oroville; orovilledam; orovillelive; runaway; spillway; sutter; water; yuba
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To: janetjanet998; maggief

The procedure that is often followed in a big wash out of an drainage structure and flow way is to cap the area with heavy boulders that cannot be dislodged or to cap it with concrete. However, before you do that topping of the area where water is going to flow you need to replace the lower surged that has been washed away. It is generally necessary to use something such as large broken rock which bears weight due to edge to edge hard contact. (Called RipRap) Earth or gravel if used would be washed away just as the subgrade was before.

The rip-rap is delivered and often left in geotextile fabric bags to lock it into wads that won’t displace. These bags have a high tensile strength even though they are not fully closed.

Generally this whole sub-grade fill will be capped with larger rock, concrete topping or a combination of both of those items.

Part of the problem is that the runoff area was allowed to be covered with small trees digging into the earth — as they washed or their root balls washed out it pulled the grade apart. Look at new run off areas in any retention basin — earth with thick grass — not saplings and trees.

Black Locust can be used for bank erosion but this was just poor maintenance in my opinion.

Lets see if they top these bags and I turn out to be correct.


881 posted on 02/14/2017 3:34:13 PM PST by KC Burke (If all the world is a stage, I would like to request my lighting be adjusted.)
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To: maggief

Wx forecast from wee hrs of morning; scroll to bottom:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1964182_Biggest-dam-in-the-country-is-going-to-overflow-this-friday—FRESH-EVAC-VIDEO-PG-118—pucker-.html&page=150

5” to 8” expected

http://www.ar15!.com/media/mediaFiles/277447/Capture-146405.png


882 posted on 02/14/2017 3:36:40 PM PST by WildHighlander57 ((WildHighlander57, returning after lurking since 2000)
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To: KC Burke

Oh no doubt. Was simply reflecting on the history and seeing a younger Gov Reagan. Interesting.


883 posted on 02/14/2017 3:45:17 PM PST by rxsid (HOW CAN A NATURAL BORN CITIZEN'S STATUS BE "GOVERNED" BY GREAT BRITAIN? - Leo Donofrio (2009))
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To: SE Mom; pax_et_bonum; maggief; janetjanet998

Info on dam; supplies more than 2/3 of the States water

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3524930/posts?page=1#1


884 posted on 02/14/2017 3:45:33 PM PST by WildHighlander57 ((WildHighlander57, returning after lurking since 2000)
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To: SE Mom

It’s hard to pack and leave.

I’ve run from several hurricanes not knowing what would be left when we got back.

A little wry humor just to bring a smile in the midst of worry:

When I was preparing my home for Alicia, I took a yard swing down from a beautiful old oak tree.

After Alicia, the oak tree had fallen over but my swing was safe in the garage.

:-/

You’re in my prayers.


885 posted on 02/14/2017 3:50:46 PM PST by pax_et_bonum (Never Forget the Seals of Extortion 17 - and God Bless America)
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To: WildHighlander57

Holy crap. You’d think the governor would have the entire state mobilized. If this dam supplies 2/3 of the STATE, this should be ALL hands on deck.

What am I missing?

Besides the obvious snark, leftist gov, conspiracies, red county ;) This is unbelievable . Even if it’s “JUST” the spillway flooding over it’s a nightmare. The levees downriver ...crops destroyed...houses, livestock..all the unforseens..

What am I missing?


886 posted on 02/14/2017 3:57:23 PM PST by SE Mom (Screaming Eagle mom)
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To: WildHighlander57

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jYcSt5tlTXM

Listen quick before it’s taken down.

Between :30 and :50.

“The dam is not gonna make it.”


887 posted on 02/14/2017 4:00:09 PM PST by pax_et_bonum (Never Forget the Seals of Extortion 17 - and God Bless America)
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To: pax_et_bonum

Sorry I was unclear. I said what I’d do IF I were there. I’m in Florida and know about evac and living without power for 2 weeks etc. Been through several hurricanes;)

Love the swing story AND I’ll take the prayers too:)


888 posted on 02/14/2017 4:00:38 PM PST by SE Mom (Screaming Eagle mom)
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To: pax_et_bonum

Save it if you can!

I’m very hearing impaired, so can’t listen, but can send it on...


889 posted on 02/14/2017 4:01:15 PM PST by WildHighlander57 ((WildHighlander57, returning after lurking since 2000)
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To: maggief; janetjanet998; SE Mom; Texas Eagle; LucyT

Post 887.

Listen quickly before the video is removed.


890 posted on 02/14/2017 4:02:03 PM PST by pax_et_bonum (Never Forget the Seals of Extortion 17 - and God Bless America)
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To: SE Mom

I have never seen a State level commitment to upgrade all the levees and structures in the central valley. Instead, it is treated as thought the Federal Government should just show up and start a giant waterway project because California is so important.

They feel like it should be paid for by the nation, IMHO.

For fellow conservatives, I apologize if this seems harsh toward your state but that is how it looks to an outsider.


891 posted on 02/14/2017 4:03:59 PM PST by KC Burke (If all the world is a stage, I would like to request my lighting be adjusted.)
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To: maggief

This


892 posted on 02/14/2017 4:07:38 PM PST by SE Mom (Screaming Eagle mom)
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To: pax_et_bonum

This video is worth watching.

I made a post yesterday where I said I had not seen the mobilization of equipment, trucks, cranes, multiple helicopters, light plants for 24 hour operation and other things that are typical in a giant construction operation if they are going to save this thing.

This video is more like what I would expect.


893 posted on 02/14/2017 4:10:38 PM PST by KC Burke (If all the world is a stage, I would like to request my lighting be adjusted.)
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To: pax_et_bonum

Ok...the dam itself????

Is this guy reliable I wonder...or playing..messing with people..

(I often play devil’s advocate)


894 posted on 02/14/2017 4:10:50 PM PST by SE Mom (Screaming Eagle mom)
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To: pax_et_bonum
Comments
pete smith the emergency spillway is f****d. they said it's leaking back into the reservoir.....it's not shored up like the dam.....the spillway hole won't hold the weight of big rocks, if that's where they're putting them....it might work for awhile, but only if they repair the spillway with cement and restore the chute to normal operating function again....but all that beautiful, fertile brown california dirt is way too soft to hold anything.....it washes away so fast....they only kept draining the lake down the spillway because of the upcoming rainstorms tomorrow and thursday....they'll have to open the spillway again, it will fall apart, and the emergency spillway will be where the dam fails...
895 posted on 02/14/2017 4:11:46 PM PST by WildHighlander57 ((WildHighlander57, returning after lurking since 2000)
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To: pax_et_bonum; WildHighlander57; All
The quote at ~00.35 :

just got an update, don't know how true it is, but it's reliable source, that the dam's not gonna make it, that it's not working

In case the YT vid gets scrubbed, download it here (16MB):

"Dam's Not Gonna Make It"

Could be rumor, could be true, could be both - but there it is if anyone wants it.

896 posted on 02/14/2017 4:16:46 PM PST by tomkat
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To: pax_et_bonum; maggief; janetjanet998; SE Mom; Texas Eagle; LucyT

Can any of y’all save it?

See my comment upthread, with the comment from one of the folks that viewed it.


897 posted on 02/14/2017 4:17:22 PM PST by WildHighlander57 ((WildHighlander57, returning after lurking since 2000)
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To: KC Burke

My state (NC) has for over a decade been forcing owners of earthen dams to remove all tree growth because the roots compromise integrity of the dam, as well as update or remediate spillways, even small private dams if there are populated areas downstream. Not a cheap proposition, even spread across a homeowners association, I know it happened with my former lake house. My “share” was determined by lake frontage, $3,000.00. Some property owners are electing to just take out the dam. Funny, the Ag Extension pretty much subsidized them, back in the day. Flood control, water retention for irrigation. They’ve aged, not been properly maintained and now pose a risk of flooding if they fail.


898 posted on 02/14/2017 4:18:01 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: tomkat

Thanks for that. It may (or not) be important to have.


899 posted on 02/14/2017 4:18:05 PM PST by SE Mom (Screaming Eagle mom)
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To: SE Mom

yw .. cheers


900 posted on 02/14/2017 4:20:21 PM PST by tomkat
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