I wonder how well the local media kept the local population informed of the deteriorating conditions at the dam during the past decade or so.
The local press - even in Sacramento - has (from what I’ve heard) been hammering on this for years. I can’t point to specific examples, though.
The dam functioned fine during the past years of drought - the problems weren’t even on the radar except for some environmental groups (who hate dams in general). Now when there is an over abundance of precipitation the water managers and engineers are scrambling to keep it from failing. I just hope they can lower the level enough to keep it safe during the next weeks/months to the end of the rainy season.
In many ways this reminds me of the childrens classic fable of the grasshopper and the ants - work ignored during the sunny days and the price paid in the winter. https://youtu.be/3V9uL_ruafU