[meyer]

That’s possible. I think that they panicked with the damaged main spillway and on a hope and a prayer, tried the emergency route.

Either way, problems were found!

[semantic]

The total & complete luck out was the continuing integrity of the primary spillway above the break. Without being able to run @ 100k cfs, the emergency spillway would have certainly failed with any significant overflow.

It will be interesting to see how they design/build/repair this summer. With respect to the e-spillway, they'll probably riprap and concrete a rough surface are covering the entire hillside.

The primary spillway will be very interesting. Since it appears there is solid bedrock under the spillway to the point of the break (thus allowing them to run @ 100k without significant back cutting towards the bridge), I wonder if they'll lay in multiple 15-20' thick concrete catch basins within the dugout ravine? Maybe they'll employ a ladder effect to allow the cascades to eventually reach the bottom with the confluence of the Feather river.