San Vicente Dam, Lakeside, CA to be raised by 117-ft
Project Related
California’s Anderson Dam Has Seismic Stability Issues
‘The Santa Clara Valley Water District has received preliminary findings from an ongoing seismic stability evaluation for Anderson Dam that detail part of the dam could experience “significant slumping” if a 7.25 magnitude earthquake were […]
Geologic Hazards
Soledad Mountain Road Landslide Update
Residents of approximately 75 of the 111 homes evacuated after the slide have been allowed back into their homes. The City of San Diego is not wasting any time in determining the cause of the slide. The first of three 100-ft deep exploration shafts was excavated on Friday, and a Forensic Geologist from a firm hired by the City was sent down the hole to observe geology conditions and to locate the actual slip surface. Also, claims of leaking City water and/or sewer pipes prior to the failure have begun to surface. More details in the full post. (Photo by NELVIN CEPEDA / San Diego Union-Tribune)
Failures
$180 Million Settlement in Reservoir Failure
On December 14, 2005, the upper reservoir of the Taum Sauk pumped storage plant, a hydroelectric power plant in the Missouri Ozarks, suffered a catastrophic failure. The resulting flood severely damaged the Jonhson’s Shut-Ins State Park and swept away the park superintendent and his family. Fortunately all of them survived. (Photos by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and USGS)
Last week, the Missouri Attorney General’s office announced a settlement of $180 million between the facility’s owner, Ameren Corp. The failure reportedly was a result of negligence on the part of the company. More details after the break.