In California evacuated because of the risk of destruction of the highest in the United States the dam
Uncategorized February 14, 2017
Local authorities declared Monday, February 13, urgent evacuation of people living below the Oroville dam in California, because of the threat of the collapse of the spillway. On it informs Agency Reuters.
Initially it was reported that the collapse of the reserve spillway may occur in the near future because of erosion damage in the structure. The water level in lake Oroville was significantly increased in connection with the fallen this winter, heavy rainfall after several dry years.
However it became known later that the threat of a dam break is not as high as previously thought. However, the order to evacuate the inhabitants of the settlements located below the object remains in force. This was announced on Sunday, the Sheriff of Butte County Horses Khoni. “Better safe than sorry. It is better to withdraw people from the area in hopefully a safe place,” explained the Sheriff, quoted by TASS.
According to the Sheriff, in the main drainage system were corruption was detected, it was therefore decided to use the reserve spillway. However, it was on Sunday discovered a hole, the size of which increases. According to Khoni, in the management of water resources in California, he was told that “erosion is not as fast as previously thought”.
Currently, the authorities have prepared a plan involving the use of helicopters. Their crews must throw the stones in the open part of the drainage system with the aim to fill the gap.
Built between 1962 and 1968, the Oroville dam is the tallest hydraulic structure in the United States, its height is 230 meters. Downstream from the dam is the eponymous city with a population of more than 16 thousand people.