Thursday, May 25, 2017

DAMN DAM REPAIR IS (ALLEGEDLY) MOVING RIGHT ALONG

by Bob Walsh

The massive repair project at the Oroville Dam is allegedly already one week AHEAD of schedule, if the PR people are to be believed. They are working 20 hours a day, seven days a week right now doing demolition. They assert the main problem right now is housing for the construction employees. I admit that sort of surprises me as that is a California semi-resort area due to hunting, fishing and lake recreation, but still, they wouldn't lie, would they?

Right now they are blasting loose rock out of the way and destroying much of the old spillway with massive jackhammers mounted on large Caterpillar rigs. They are also removing debris from the bottom area of the spillway channel and putting a hard surface face on the emergency spillway. They are supposed to get it to where it is both safe and functional by November 1 and complete the rest of the work next year

Theoretically the lake is at a level now where they will not have to open the main spillway until November 1. I sure hope they are right. It will cost somebody (i.e. taxpayers) a buttload of money if they are not..

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