The only way that will happen is if they start writing checks to contractors with lots of zeros; they don't let an EPA weenie within 20 miles of the site; and they write-off that entire valley for the first mile or so down stream of the dam - no questions asked. Then turn the contractors loose and they can make it happen - as long as Cali's loony left government doesn't "help" too much. (ie. any)
In other words, ain't gonna happen. I predict they'll screw around with environmental stuff for weeks, maybe several months. They'll come up with a complicated design that coupled with various constraints imposed won't even begin to be ready by November. Instead, they'll fumble along, and then along in October sometime they'll push the panic button and blow millions on emergency measures and wreak more havoc through the rainy season. They may, may be done by November - of 2018.
They have a single option, rebuild the spillway in the same configuration it was before. Any other option would require a new permit for the dam, and considering it hasn’t even gotten the old permit renewed due to environmental lawsuits, that’s not going to happen.
Rebuilding the spillway isn’t that huge of a challenge, just a matter of logistics - incidentally, one which has already been solved when they built the spillway in the first place. Just going to suck for us locals who will have to adjust to even more truck traffic on Highway 70.
As I understand it the construction plans are supposed to be done in about a week.