Oroville Reservoir Update 2/16/2017

[@donmoore7785]

It's really nice to hear someone speak sense, and not hyperbole and politically-motivated nonsense. Also provide solid data. Good job.

[@blancolirio]

Yes! Thanks Don!

[@davidmillard93]

blancolirio

[@davidmillard93]

blancolirio

[@ElderlyIron]

Just like I would have said it!

[@sthengr]

Here here!!! Juan should be nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and show the world one does not need a degree in "Journalism" to succeed in the "profession". Notice the quotes :-).

[@barbaracarter8384]

Thank you once again for your up to date informed information on the Oroville situation. This is much appreciated. Your neighbors down south in Merced. Always praying for the safety of all in harms way.

[@garrettsoto1667]

Barbara carter Merced? Where's that. Kidding. I'm in Merced to

[@barbaracarter8384]

Garrett Soto HI Garrett. We're you a swimmer in Merced?

[@klm7858]

This was a terrific comprehensive explanation with great photos and videos showing EXACTLY what's been happening there! THANK YOU!!

[@blancolirio]

klm7858 Thanks!

[@robertheger9048]

Thank you for intelligent reporting!

[@Sshooter444]

Robert Heger if its Brown, flush it down!

[@Pgeters]

Really? Thanks you two for politicizing an abnormally high rainfall event! It's that type of "brown" that needs flushing!

[@zenmoto870]

brown had money to fix problem and decided high speed rail and illegal immigrants were more important. who the hell is he working for. HIMSELF.

[@rp4489]

Not best place to have a city next to a dam.

[@scarletfluerr]

+RP The city of Oroville has been there since the 1850's. Most all dams have cities near them. Idiot.

[@TheCharleseye]

I had to stumble upon a random KZbin channel to find thorough, unbiased reporting. The 21st century is awesome.

[@jamescohn4268]

Great update! Hats off to the folks and their efforts to shore things up and get ready for the next couple of days. Thanks!

[@davidmintun]

Thank you, we are in Alaska and have family in Ca. You are the best source of information on this situation we have found. Your tunes are new to us also, very nice.

[@madhatter9641]

Awesome. Informative, well presented and thoroughly enlightening. You really did finally show the magnitude of the dam and the power of the water behind it. Two thumbs up!

[@mp330600]

Thank you for your sane commentary.

[@blancolirio]

Thanks Bill!...from an ocean of misinformation..." I thought the internet would make us smarter..." Lol

[@mspollynicole1]

Thank you. Great update. Looks a lot better up there. Tons of work.

[@daydreamingarts]

it's interesting to go back to the early days and think about how little they seemed to understand the situation. or something... clearly much more erosion of the main spillway was yet to come, and use of the emergency spillway turned out to be a major mistake. it's also interesting to see how you have developed, Juan, as a youtuber & as a knowledgeable reporter.

[@ChrisCSunshine]

A wonderful piece of reporting well done. Prayers for all those affected.

[@haukesattler446]

Good solid report. No nonsense. No fake news. No scaremongering. If only all Oroville KZbin videos would have your quality.

[@EricBrown-yc4mj]

I live in Sacramento and from watching this ONE video I got more knowledge of the situation than watching ALL of the news coverage since this happen. great video

[@cdnpont]

Great report! Keep up the good work. Seeing the data in numbers really makes better sense, and the detail of the day/night inflows is interesting, I would have not considered that. Glad they are getting a little break to shore things up as best they can.

[@jasoncavitt2043]

I'm so relieved! I was worried for awhile there, but for no reason. It's too bad the unprecedented, record-breaking amount of rainfall got us into this situation this season to begin with, but thankfully the government has everything in hand. Thank you for being the voice of reassurance. We've gotta do something about these panic-mongering kooks!

[@godbluffvdgg]

Great video and Kudos to those doing the repairs! An awesome display of teamwork and tenacity!

[@pjbikerful]

Great video Juan. Thanks

[@SamiJumppanen]

Thanks for this great explanation of what's going on. I'm on another continent, but I decided to search if there is any light on the subject. Indeed there is! Awesome work.

[@joez9839]

Excellent. Thanks for all your hard work to put this together!

[@NSNorfolk]

Very informative and appreciate supporting your observations with hard data.

[@johnleslie7788]

Good video. Hard to believe anyone would give it a thumbs down. I hope your sources are right about the stabilization of the headward erosion on the main spillway. Also hard to believe, regarding the emergency spillway, that no one realized millions of gallons of water flowing down a dirt covered chaparral slope wasn't going to erode it. The emergency spillway design should have been more like the main one.

[@dalesnale]

Great analysis of the data Juan. Thanks. Like many in Butte County, I've been glued to the data since the pothole first formed. I see tonight were down to 80,000 CFS as Bill Croyle stated. Let's hope there are no more surprises in this slow motion disaster. We've got a long couple months in front of us in Butte Yuba and Sutter counties. Hat's off to DWR and all agencies involved in dealing with mother nature's hand.

[@blancolirio]

Thanks! Yes, it's a hell of a race!

[@sonnydean3187]

Nice up-to-date report on Orville! Appreciate the update.

[@blancolirio]

Thanks for watching Sonny!

[@techpro360tour]

Awesome reporting and info. I share this via Facebook so others can see. :)

[@blancolirio]

Thanks Steve!

[@irgski]

Great summary Juan! Can't wait to see the damage to the main spillway once they're able to halt the flow for awhile.

[@bodhimartina6985]

What is the update? Your delivery is the best, facts and just the right amount of humanness.

[@heyitismyusername]

Better than the news. Great video! Very informative and detailed.

[@ProspectorJess]

Great survey summary of the event. Keep it up!

[@jimterryh1983]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIDEOS. VERY INFORMATIVE. YOU PROVIDE EXCELLENT INFORMATION TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE CALIFORNIA. PROGRESS IS MOVING QUICKLY. GOD BLESS ALL.

[@mann5353]

Thanks for helping us all, to easily understand what going in Cal..

[@godontog]

I got more info from your video than any news program. Thank you! I also appreciate your Rally Raid videos!

[@driveman6490]

Excellent update and thorough explanation of the series of events that have occurred. I must point out however, the 3 main purposes of a dam (including this one) is mainly for flood control, water supply and hydroelectricity generation. Recreation and water skiing is a by product, from the affects of creating the impoundment.

[@blancolirio]

Thanks, I forgot to mention electricity! Your right!

[@alwaysrockn2009]

Great video! Finally A good compilation and update on what's happening. Excellent.

[@OnBelayClimbOn]

Great job! Best update yet, thank you so much!!

[@blancolirio]

Thanks Thomas!

[@azimuthsurveyingpllc5459]

Nice update. You know your stuff.

[@ginnyflury7222]

Thanks. Will check in for more.

[@sierraechopnw4228]

Thank you for these...I have family south of the dam whose in laws have been evacuated from Oroville and I am very concerned even though we are in touch.

[@jaseg6673]

Very helpful videos, I've been keeping up with the situation thanks to you

[@siwaychen6646]

Great job! thanks for explaining in details with solid data

[@rondavison8475]

Thank You for this excellent, pragmatic public announcement.

[@randycoolbaugh1408]

AHHH!...... so nice to hear facts without dramatized spinning.... I really would like to find more you tuber reporters of this caliber.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

You have done a wonderfully informative video. Thank you.

[@CompanyBusinessCards]

Super Super cool updates Juan. thanks from South Africa

[@MpowerdAPE]

Thank you for trying to "objectively" report a major news story.... its a rare thing these days.

[@davidsteer8142]

MpowerdAPE Greetings from Australia. I'd like to second your comment of a quality 'objective ' report of the situation that California is currently having. Having stumbled across this fiasco on KZbin a few days ago, it's nice to finally find a clip that has no political, sensationalised crap or finger pointing. Just remember, if the dam wasn't there, Oroville would have been underwater long ago ( and how many times since the dam was built).

[@blancolirio]

EXACTLY! Thanks David.

[@blancolirio]

Thanks Mpowered!

[@donnaanderson1196]

It would have been even more truthful if he mentioned the lawsuit in 2005 that failed to put a ferc mandated concrete apron in that emergency spillway. Instead if using the current weather as the nemesis that created this dangerous situation. Makes me sick to think they have been doing temporary permits since then because cali didn't want to spend some money on their real actual tax paying citizens if that state. I keep having flashbacks of Baldwin hills in 63. As a child I was horrified seeing all that water coming down the canyon. All the adults were amazed that they put a helicopter up there with a camera and were broadcasting the horror. Nowadays. Seems they are not so much wanting to share info with the public. Prayers to all going south into Merced. Which one s where govt is staging camps.

[@jacksimmons4180]

Good work on this report. Just the known facts without a sermon. Thank you very much.

[@briangarrow448]

Accurate reports instead of stupid conspiracy theories!! Thanks for the information you shared with viewers. I hope that the Oroville area gets a break in the weather long enough to complete repairs.

[@juneshannon5941]

Congratulations and thanks for an extremely informative video.........from Australia.

[@Fenikkusuuk]

Blancolirio Thank you for an intelligent, video sans the panic and conspiracy theories. Now I feel like i have a better handle. Good for the workmen and women doing all they can as they can to repair and bolster. Californians the country is watching and hoping and praying for the best for all of you. You're having a rough time. I dearly hope you all make it through not just surviving it but in very good shape indeed. May God keep you all safe! This was an excellent video!

[@davemarriott9332]

Hi again, its 14:10 in Olivehurst here. thank you for that Ive been looking for info to monitor for my family. Once again youtube having more relevant content than the MSM (mainstream media) Now I can monitor with confidence rather than a reporter showing me boulders being put into holes without info that's actually useful. Thank you for your ongoing work. (now your getting so much attention the desk is clean, hair combed....stantin' tall....lol) Your service to us all is invaluable !!

[@franciscoh6592]

Very informative, very clear on your facts, something I can see on the weather radar is the Haarp, yes, they can stop raining in that particular area and above mountains, once again thank you for your time and good information.

[@abscomm]

Excellent job of accurate reporting, thank you.

[@SeymourPicks]

Best overview of the full story I've seen.

[@scarletfluerr]

A friend who works for the company supplying the rocks says date of repairs completion is estimated for April 2018.

[@scarletfluerr]

+likedbymany. Lol...still there, the emergency spillway almost finished then on to the main one. Don't you get tired of being wrong and stupid?

[@scarletfluerr]

Likedbymany Still here suckah! Lol.

[@MrPLC999]

Why is it the media is flat out incapable of producing an informative report like this?

[@MaxKoschuh]

people like to hear sensations,... not facts

[@scarletfluerr]

Because the main reason the media sensationalizes a story is money, more people watch...the more they charge advertisers. It no longer about the truth and information, its about cold hard cash.

[@johnbronxite7182]

MrPLC999 Because his intent is to inform, where media need to attract viewers to keep ad revenue up. #keepmoneyoutofthenews

[@jimmyhaley727]

it has always been about money,,, nothing new,,, ole USN vet

[@jaycampos666]

Because the vast majority of people are to dumb to understand this information. They would loose ratings. I agree though, this is great information

[@josephmckenna3977]

hope your all ok over there, best wishes from Liverpool UK

[@mrholdbutton971]

This is excellent coverage. Way better than any other coverage I've seen. You get into details and nuances, unlike the rest of the media covering this who exaggerate or lie outright to make it look like a soap opera. If only all journalists were this informative and knowledgeable about what they report, we might not have a society filled with such ignorant people. Keep it up.

[@blancolirio]

Real Name Thanks, let's make media Real again!

[@halfbit]

What are your thoughts on the decision to reduce the flow of the main spillway and allow lake to over top the emergency spillway? I think the erosion that occurred as a result was 100% predictable.

[@blancolirio]

Too early to Monday morning Quarterback....If they lost the main spillway (due to excessive flows)...all bets would be lost and 100% of the water would be flowing over the Emergency spillway, a recipe for certain disaster...I think they made the right call given the known's and unknowns at the time the decision was made....tough call.

[@mobilepaulnet]

Very informative. Excellent reporting. Thank you.

[@depolarization]

Excellent work clearly presenting the facts. Your audio / video setup could use a little improvement, but you've been putting out really quality content lately :)

[@blancolirio]

depolarization thanks! my damn audio keeps clipping on the voice over.

[@jkw4277]

What people fail to realize is the dirt weir to the side of the 1700ft long spillway, where it was thundering over, is the "fail safe" for the reservoir. Once they let the water erode that section, it can't be stopped. On the videos, you can plainly see the exposed lip of the emergency spillway after flow subsided, with a truck parked by it, I estimate it had washed that lower lip out (dirt) by around 8 ft. Bad juju if it extends under the concrete spillway into the reservoir. Plus they had the crater forming to the left of the spillway, eating itself back to that very lip. There was 2-3 feet of water flowing over the concrete spillway at the height of the flow. They look like they are anticipating an increase of future water in the catch basin, because their building a coffer dam, to block the power plant off from this water, plus to stop water from undermining the toe of the dam proper. Monday and Tuesday are the D Day for this, when all the new incoming rain and water will really test it. Myself, I would be removing myself today and no later than tomorrow from downstream, until at least next Wednesday, to see what happens.

[@blancolirio]

Keep your eyes on the data here...cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryF?ORO

[@jkw4277]

Thanks, a number of us are watching levels closely. IF we feel things are out of control again, then we WILL alert to get the hell out. Just fyi, they have just finished re surveying the dam, to make sure the topography hasn't changed. They AND us, should be watching this situation closely. Water tables in Oroville have risen so much that basements are now flooding. Rarely is a cataclysmic event just one error, but a series of errors leading to an event. Crossing my fingers for everyone in that area. Follow you're intuition.

[@jkw4277]

Here's one of my radar links. This is one meteorologist pull from. Too zoom in just click an area. radar.weather.gov/Conus/full_loop.php

[@sandraknight88sk]

Really like your report. it's detailed and covers important stuff. Thanks'

[@blancolirio]

Thanks Shema

[@richardbrooks3569]

Good job explaining what's going on.

[@TheRetiredtech]

What was the purpose of the emergency spillway if it wasn't suitable for use?

[@blancolirio]

That's why it's called an Emergency Spillway...It worked as advertised 48 years after it was built for this emergency.

[@hellohun7331]

You need to mention the stats on that dam and how it was constructed. A reinforced concrete base built on solid rock, 3900 feet thick at the base, an impermeable clay core with an adobe and mine tailing outer layer that has since construction metamorphosed into concrete. This dam is not going anywhere. The problem is the capacity of the river drainage system between Oroville and the ocean.

[@lisaspeakstruth4646]

Why are they saying its an earthen dam? The video shows no concrete, no clay. Just dirt.

[@jburr36]

One would think authorities will open all lanes in the divided highway as outgoing lanes during a emergency mandatory evacuation. I see so many videos of evacuations where the outbound lanes are packed but the inbound lanes are empty. Seems so silly

[@Fordgroup00]

Can't guarantee that someone won't get on that route headed in the (correct direction) from another access point. Then what happens with a head-on collision? How to clean that mess up?

[@blessedlife8821]

About an hr after most of the shots seen on the news highway 70 was closed to southbound, and turned into a northbound 2 other lanes. I actually spoke w someone at my work who was travelling north on the southbound side lol

[@dannysulyma6273]

I am pretty sure the between the police and fire depts they could handle reversing the flow of traffic safely in situations such as this, which would be a smart thing to do. I can only imagine the frustration one must feel when fleeing for your life and being stuck in traffic that is barely moving along. And than to be looking at the opposing side of the road laying empty would certainly be tempting to try it. I'm sure many do.

[@ice9594]

Hidden, then no wonder the open lanes are empty!

[@Bigbri80]

I'd recommend you all head down to your local Fire Dept.and join up! become part of the solution! help implement your great ideas.....(Yes I am on one BTW).

[@dirtdogb17]

thanks for the update! your info is best i can find, you da man!

[@j.t.6700]

Thanks for the good information What's the likelihood of the dam failing ?

[@schumannresonanceswithverte]

The stream at full force, actually blasted through portions of the "bed rock", the so called basement. wow! just wow!!

[@osimnod]

Nice to have some factual reporting on this situation, Juan. Too many sites on YT pushing a conspiracy meme -- so tiresome.

[@garyholman2947]

Major networks should follow your example. Just the facts like it should be.

[@DennisCambly]

Best video for an explanation of what happened at the Oroville dam. Has this caused any major problems downstream from the reservoir?

[@longlat39]

Excellent reporting. I hope in your next update you can get some information regarding the power station and if there is a timeline for getting it online.

[@crisbrackett2067]

Thank you for your non emotional report. No spin for your own agenda. The haters will do what they do. And we will carry on. Blessings

[@blancolirio]

Tory Amos Yep! Thanks.

[@armandotagtag962]

Repair of the main spillway is top priority. Hoses or pipes with pumps should be installed ASAP to siphon the water to the lower stream. The main spillway should be free from water to allow adequate repair.

[@bdac2420]

Block the large inflows coming into the reservoir with temporary dams. This will allow the spillway to reduce the water level in the main reservoir.

[@devineutsler7286]

blancolirio Thank you for mentioning the TFR. With the abundant availability of drones these days, almost everybody has one. We have to be responsible with them in times like this, or the FAA will simply make the certification for the use of them very difficult to obtain and will make the penalties for violation uglier than they already are.

[@cbgreely]

i haven't heard anything about this so i will ask here. Why did they remove trees and groundcover below the emergency spillway? That increased the erosian.

[@MrMccurley]

I have heard that "the authorities" were worried about debris going down stream. I wondered the same thing, but I've lived in this state long enough that nothing surprises me any more coming out of the democrat controlled Cali state government.

[@GSMSfromFV]

It's important to remember that California has just gone through 6 years of drought, which was only partially relieved last year for the northern part of the state. Without the needed rain in those previous years, brush and trees die off. In fact, I heard that about 10 million trees in the state have died or are dying as a result of bark beetle infestation. The trees have not been able to produce enough sap to protect themselves from the insects.

[@OldLordSpeedy]

Michael McCurley Possible a non-democratic goverment is better? What you wish? Erdogan, Putin, Kim Jong Un? Be happy to have a democratic goverment. Here the Queen Dam fault, of course the King Dam later too. Then they saved the main city Bangkok - after HM King Bumipol order to put away the savety dam around his city the water level fall from about 3m deep to 0.5m in the country around. Over 100 people died, around 200'000 people injured. Around 20 mio people loose her homes or what affected about the flood. Problem 2: The city is around 16 m over normal 0 sea level, this time the full moon was heavy, less water flowing away into the sea. Problem 3:The many water what come down suddenly over the mountains many bridges collapses too. The most are build for less water flow only.

[@MrMccurley]

I was referring to the completely corrupt American democrat party. BTW, at the federal level we are not a democracy, we are a representative republic, with an electoral college to act as a buffer between terminally libtard cities and the rest of the country. And we have lost a lot of people to poorly designed dams, as well.

[@johneaston197]

What I don't understand about the emergency spillway is who designed this so there no catch basin for the water flowing over it. Where did they think the water was going to go if it crested over the dam onto the bare soil?

[@blancolirio]

John Easton 1960s standards, and was never updated. They thought the chances of ever using it were slim to none....

[@GSMSfromFV]

I also heard or read somewhere that so far this season (Oct. 1st begin date), that in parts of California, this is the most rain since records were started to be kept back in the 1880s, if I'm not mistaken. Here in So. Cal., the forecast for 2/17 & 2/18 is for about 24 hours of solid rain with 50-75 MPH gusts. At the Mashable website, they indicate that there is a 2,000-mile long atmospheric river of sub-tropical moisture that's coming on in. I think I'll stay home! :o[

[@richardvsassoon5144]

isn't it so, that when we finally see something with our own two eyes and that magical click goes off in our brain and we 'get it'. that the scales fall off our eyes and we can see again...for how long will we be blind to climate change ? the short answer to your obvious question is, they didn't think it would ever be used, and you know what John ? It never was used until now...Welcome to the real world

[@Sugarsail1]

skiing and bass fishing is #1 reason for dams in 'Merica and you know it.

[@sjc1204]

Enjoying your updates. Succinct.

[@Travisfromoregon]

Great video, I think you pretty much answered most of the questions I had about what was happening. I think the main question I have is what do you think might have caused the main spill way to fail? Do they know yet? Was there a weak spot under the spillway and the weight of the water caused it to collapse?

[@AMETASubliminals]

Thanks for the explanation really appreciate it!

[@Kadath_Gaming]

Please could you comment on the status of the Shasta reservoir and other reservoirs feeding into the Sacramento valley? Sustained heavy rains when they are all approaching capacity could make for a HUGE disaster...

[@NewWaveFan1]

KCRA 3 also learned Thursday that 15 construction crew members were terminated from the job this week. Five were fired after they failed a drug test, five others were terminated for posting on social media from the worksite -- which is forbidden -- and five others were let go because they were found to be unqualified for the job, DWR spokesman Chris Orrock said.

[@sgtNUKEtroop]

great video...what do you think all that super increased heavy truck traffic over the dam is doing to the integrity of the actual dam...it was not designed to take that kind of traffic...

[@garyjohnson4657]

People do not understand the power falling water has. Miners using relatively small nozzle water cannons were able to blast away mountains. When people saw what was happening, they outlawed that type of mining. It was, however, insignificant, compared to the amount of water flowing out of the Oroville Dam. The Rocks they are dumping now will end up down stream if this over flows again!

[@plumbit111]

Thanks for sharing professionally done

[@scottfisher9563]

Very informative. Nice job!

[@MaxKoschuh]

excellent video. thank you for sharing.

[@P.B.Theriver]

2009 images of cracks leaking in the spillway has now led me to believe that the problem started in the ground under the spillway, and not from the spillway surface down as previously thought. The photo was taken in 2009 by Barbara Arrigoni and the article was in the ChicoER. The Dam probably needs to be torn down and rebuilt. It probably developed cracks during earthquakes between 1968 and 2017. www.chicoer.com/article/NA/20170210/NEWS/170219971

[@ww321]

great video and information. thanks !

[@shawncole9124]

great coverage thanks for the update

[@kw9999kw]

Perhaps the residents can help to drain the lake provided they don't get charge to their water bill! The number could add up to 100 million gallon per day (1 million users x 100 gallon/day)?

[@56mikefagan]

Good work. Once these upcoming storms have passed and the Water Resources agency can begin to think about proper long term remedial engineering work, a lot of money is going to have to be spent. I've yet to see any explanation as to why there was no concrete channel to guide water downhill from the emergency spillway and into the Thermolito Diversion Pool. Without such a channel, the inevitable result of the emergency spillway being used was always going to be serious erosion. How could the engineers (or commissioners) not have anticipated this? Perhaps there was a good engineering reason for them not to build one, but it escapes me entirely.

[@blancolirio]

Thanks, yes the design criteria in 1968 did not require this....and now it's going to cost a small fortune to upgrade to today's codes.

[@lisaspeakstruth4646]

This is the highest dam in the country. located in an area known for mild winters and lack of precipitation relatively speaking. The amount of rain we have had in the past month is unheard of!! I mean has NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!!! Ever. They said that we were out of the drought after the very first rain of the year. Thats how much rain has been getting dumped on us. We were so happy...at first.

[@P.B.Theriver]

Lisa speaks .. Feb. 9, 2017 ........190,000 cfs inflow Jan. 1, 1997 ........331,000 cfs inflow Never say never

[@P.B.Theriver]

The Dam came within about a foot of running over the emergency spillway in '97. The reason I believe it didn't overflow back then is because the operators of the dam at that time maintained the Lake at a much safer lower level below the 850' Mean Sea Level (MSL) mark.

[@56mikefagan]

That's actually an interesting point that goes to the nature of spillway design. With a gated spillway, the operators can control the rate and volume of discharge, though this also allows for error; with an open overflow spillway, no discretion is possible and so it must be built to allow very for very high rates and volumes of discharge. In reservoirs with open overflow spillways, there are usually also two or three gated sluiceways to allow controlled rates of discharge from the bottom of the reservoir rather than from the top.

[@montello33]

My bad, its calling for worst storm in Central & Southern Ca in over 6 years, not Northern Ca. Good luck to LA & SD. They need it but no one like flooding.

[@blancolirio]

Yes the early models have this next series of storms slipping south...stay tuned!

[@snowcrash395]

So interesting! Thanks for reporting the facts.

[@savagemako17]

So, was there actually a breach in the emergency spillway as I have heard or was it the fear that erosion in front of the spillway was going to undermine the footings of the spillway and it would then get pushed forward and over, allowing water to flow through. In order to create the 30 foot wall of water they were predicting, it looks like the entire spillway would have to fail at the same time which seems rather unlikely. I'll be the first to admit I'm not an engineer.

[@blancolirio]

the latter.

[@richardvsassoon5144]

thanks to Juan's reporting, we are all a little smarter when it comes to damn dams. One of the things I learned was how fast a breach becomes a complete failure...faster than we can run away, I'm afraid.

[@totallyjonesin]

Some dams were built primarily for irrigation, power second recreation third. Flood control was not an issue until long after many dams were built. Then they built communities on flood plains which made flood control the new big issue.

[@blancolirio]

Here in N. California it's flood control...

[@totallyjonesin]

Maybe, but now they are having to release as much water from Oroville as what is coming into it because the reservoir is full. So, so much for flood control.

[@dibutler9151]

What about the engineer who said this evening, (2/16/17), who said they'd only managed to fill about 8% of the erosion area? Also, what about the erosion possibly eating up under the lip of the emergency spillway, and also the dam breaks, all down stream possibly failing?