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Key Oroville Drain Plugged as Heavy Storms Pounded the Reservoir After a long history of problems, two river outlet valves deep inside Oroville Dam were not operating at a critical time this winter, eliminating one option to help manage severe storm runoff. Written by Matt Weiser Published on  Mar. 8, 2017 Read time Approx. 5 minutes Oroville Dam on February 27, the aftermath of high runoff from several atmospheric river storms. The damaged main spillway is shown at center and the emergency spillway at left. The river outlets are located at the base of the dam on the far right.Photo...

A study examining the prevalence of the fungus Fusarium in bathroom sink drains suggests that plumbing systems may be a common source of human infections. In the first extensive survey of its kind, researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences sampled nearly 500 sink drains from 131 buildings -- businesses, homes, university dormitories and public facilities -- in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and California. They analyzed fungal DNA to compare the spectrum of Fusarium species and sequence types found in drains with those recovered from human infections. The study identified at least one Fusarium...

SAINT-GERVAIS-LES-BAINS, France (AFP) – French authorities set about draining a lake trapped beneath a glacier in the Mont Blanc Alpine range on Wednesday to protect thousands of people in the valley below from a flood. Workers toiled at an altitude of 3,200 metres (10,500 feet), pouring hot water on the ice to make a hole through which they will push a pump and start tapping off the water that has accumulated below one of the glaciers. Some 65,000 cubic metres (2.3 million cubic feet) of water have gathered in a cavity which is under immense pressure from the ice above....

Cracking the whip on all those throwing plastic bags in drains, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has fined nearly 150 people and collected a fine of Rs 1.32 lakh in a fortnight. After having learnt lessons from July 26 deluge, when plastic bags had blocked drains and led to flooding in the metropolis, the civic body has formed two 'plastic ban' squads consisting of six people. "We have collected a fine of Rs 1.32 lakh from 146 people who were caught throwing plastic in drains in the last 12-13 days. These people are largely hawkers and shopkeepers," Deputy Municipal Commissioner...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2005 – The Army Corps of Engineers continues working with New Orleans' authorities to repair levees damaged by Hurricane Katrina and to pump out remaining floodwater in the city, the corps' senior official said today. The Army's military and civilian engineers are in New Orleans as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's response to the disaster, said Army Lt. Gen. Carl Strock, commanding general of the Corps of Engineers, told reporters at the Pentagon. Besides fixing damaged levees and ensuring that the Mississippi River is navigable, the engineers also are providing emergency electric power, as well...

Life drains away from lost tribe of Mountain Jews By Tom Parfitt in Azerbaijan (Filed: 27/04/2003) One of the most isolated Jewish communities in the world is struggling for survival as its young people leave in droves seeking a better life in the West. The population of Krasnaya Sloboda in northern Azerbaijan has fallen to 4,000 from the 18,000 who lived here during the Communist era. Lured by the prospect of better wages and an easier life, young Jews are fleeing abroad, raising fears that the community could dwindle and die. "Soon there may be no one left," said God...