I don’t know a thing about flooding so I probably shouldn’t even be commenting in the first place.
Maybe there will be some miracle and rain won’t finish off the whole dam.
It doesn’t look good to me at all.
I’m afraid it will start a domino effect from hell from more rain and melting snowpack on top of everything else. There are a lot of levees in this state. Sometimes I wonder what would be left if they all failed and I just hurry up and push that thought out of my head.
I’m sure this will cause long lasting statewide problems.
Well, they’re talking about worst case at present being 30 ft from the reservoir being cut loose due to the spillway damage, to my understanding. Water will find it’s level and that will be the rivers and streams. I’m sure there are topographical maps available, from the county GIS site if nowhere else, showing elevation. How much commercial and residential property is endangered with a 30 ft flood crest? Is the entire valley relatively flat or is it hilly? Are all the towns right on the river?
Massive flooding in the aftermath of hurricanes is common here in NC on the coastal plain, it’s relatively flat but there are still safe areas that are above the flood crest. This typically goes on for weeks, since rainfall inland works its way downstream to the affected areas. Yes, it’s a nightmare and yes it’s an expensive mess but it’s not Katrina all over again.
Don’t give in to fatalism, it’ll be OK in the long run. A lot of work appears to be in order between now and then, though, whether or not the dam fails. It needs to be repaired or you’ll be right back in this position again in the future.
The "whole dam" has never been the least bit threatened. The adjacent spillways and hillside have been damaged and are deteriorating. The main spillway, which is/was concrete is pretty much a write off in the mid section.
Is this in an area where water could have been directed to the farmers being harmed by the drought? Or, is this water headed to the ocean, directly?