When the levee breaks....Lake Oroville dam in trouble.

[rush1]

It was at the intersection of spring and 3rd in downtown Los Angeles.

Fuck it I'd still dump it and blame it on the immigrants for not showing up to work today ! :lmao

 

[4Waters]

Fuck it I'd still dump it and blame it on the immigrants for not showing up to work today ! :lmao

The state of California freaks out if concrete lands on the ground where it's not supposed to, if you spill while driving down the road and someone reports it the company pays 4-5k to clean it up and the driver looses his bonus for the month, however it's easy not to spill just don't drive like an asshole. Lol

 

[jonnyd]

5.5 yards went off in my truck because the crew was not ready when they called for the truck I didn't work for 4 days waiting for the chippers to come out and chip the truck is was pissed. The crew asked me "are you going to get in trouble" I said in a calm but serious voice "no I just don't work until my truck gets chipped guess my wife and kids don't get to eat this week thanks guys sign here".

Been on a few jobs over the years where we were finishing the concrete as it was coming out of the chute. I have seen times where a truck broke down and could not offload the concrete, but I would think you would find an empty field or lot somewhere and just dump it on the ground. Must not have had that option.

 

[wsuwrhr]

It was at the intersection of spring and 3rd in downtown Los Angeles.

Way easier to clean it up off the ground when it hardens than it is out of the vessel.

 

[4Waters]

Been on a few jobs over the years where we were finishing the concrete as it was coming out of the chute. I have seen times where a truck broke down and could not offload the concrete, but I would think you would find an empty field or lot somewhere and just dump it on the ground. Must not have had that option.

Not an option, and since it stayed in the truck I didn't loose my monthly bonus if ithe hardens on the truck it's not considered the driver's fault.

 

[evantwheeler]

Not an option, and since it stayed in the truck I didn't loose my monthly bonus if ithe hardens on the truck it's not considered the driver's fault.

In a previous life, we ran concrete cars on rail in a tunnel for a shotcrete operation. If we had a mechanical, we would throw a couple large bags of sugar in the mixer and head back out to dump in a clean out hopper. Sometimes we didn't make it in time, but the sugar made chipping the drums out so much easier. Couple times early on in the work, the guys didn't use the surgar and we had two guys on a drum for two weeks chipping that shit out. Make the shift boss get in there and do some chipping and he learns really quick the importance of keeping sugar on his train.

Why would this not work with a mixer truck? Just curious.

 

[4Waters]

In a previous life, we ran concrete cars on rail in a tunnel for a shotcrete operation. If we had a mechanical, we would throw a couple large bags of sugar in the mixer and head back out to dump in a clean out hopper. Sometimes we didn't make it in time, but the sugar made chipping the drums out so much easier. Couple times early on in the work, the guys didn't use the surgar and we had two guys on a drum for two weeks chipping that shit out. Make the shift boss get in there and do some chipping and he learns really quick the importance of keeping sugar on his train.

Why would this not work with a mixer truck? Just curious.

Sugar does work but not used any more they use a tablet that you break up and throw it in the mixer to slow it down however I was 3 weeks on the job and my truck was pillaged by the other drivers for 2 months while it wasn't in use so the tablets were not in the truck and I didn't know about them at the time but I learned about them the following Monday and put 10 in the truck. Oh by the way I was able to get 3.5 yards off before it went off I was discharging pretty fast they were yelling at me to slow down I just ignored them I knew I was in trouble.

 

[Carlson-jet]

Look what it looks like down stream.:eek This is where the American meets the Sacramento river just north of Sacramento. Look at the docks at Discovery Park...they look like they are in the middle of a lake. And before you cry babies say "I don't have Facebook", you don't need to, just click the link. Make sure and click HD under settings.

https://www.facebook.com/kellyhuston/posts/10154330639482503

View attachment 539578

I don't see any homes underwater. I like that Photo.

 

[Cray Paper]

The guy filming drives me nuts with the "cement" comments, but this was taken from today. Looks like they are REALLY concerned about the last resort spillway.

[video=youtube;wD7WzYVW4iU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD7WzYVW4iU[/video]

The area they filled with rock and armored with concrete (If your a male from birth, and you mention the grey hard stuff, it's fucking CONCRETE! not cement). Seems that the people in charge know they will be relying on this CONCRETE armored band aid at the emergency spillway again. It isn't a permanent fix for the posters that are ignorant big constructions posters on this site. Its a temporary fix to get them through for a short period of time. No compaction of fill materials, no reinforcement dowling in to the existing CONCRETE, no mesh or CIP reinforcement in the scab they are placing with the PIP CONCRETE.

 

[Cray Paper]

This guy seems to be picking up on something that no one else is talking about. Backfilling of the existing dam structure with existing materials. Forget about the initial portion reviewing the overflow spillway.

[video=youtube;Edy-PGqBkkc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edy-PGqBkkc[/video]

 

[LuckyDaze]

This guy seems to be picking up on something that no one else is talking about. Backfilling of the existing dam structure with existing materials. Forget about the initial portion reviewing the overflow spillway.

[video=youtube;Edy-PGqBkkc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edy-PGqBkkc[/video]

Looks no bueno.

 

[chaser]

Looks no bueno.

guy is a dooms day nut job BUT
even if he is half right things are looking really bad.

 

[Willie B]

... I haven't posted much because I have been really sick since last Friday ... but when I first saw the emergency spillway when I was launching at that launch ramp which is considered the main launch ramp ...I looked at it and it looked to me like it was an unfinished version of a large swimming pond they were going to build ..the edge of it looks like the coping around an older swimming pool just a bit larger ... when someone told me that was the emergency spillway I just kind of shook my head because it looked to me like it really wouldn't hold much and the fact that it did start to let go comes really as no surprise at all to me???

 

[C-2]

The state of California freaks out if concrete lands on the ground where it's not supposed to,

The irony should be explained here...he was in front of the State building, the Ronald Reagan building. :thumbup:

Correct?

 

[4Waters]

The irony should be explained here...he was in front of the State building, the Ronald Reagan building. :thumbup:

Correct?

Didn't realize it but yeah it was

 

[Flying_Lavey]

This guy seems to be picking up on something that no one else is talking about. Backfilling of the existing dam structure with existing materials. Forget about the initial portion reviewing the overflow spillway.

[video=youtube;Edy-PGqBkkc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edy-PGqBkkc[/video]

That guy is an IDIOT!! Using his numbers.... 140' of inflow, minus 127' of release equals 13' of lake level rise. And if the water level is 30+' down from the 901' IT'S NOT GOING TO OVERFLOW!

And I really don't think there is anyway in the world they will open up the gates 100% to 250k CFS. This guy needs to put down whatever he is smoking.

 

[Ziggy]

guy is a dooms day nut job BUT
even if he is half right things are looking really bad.

No Shit.....it took all of 5 seconds of watching the video to figure that one out.
.
.
.RUN EVERYONE RUN>>>>ITS GONNA BE 13 FEET OVER THE DAM..rolleyes

 

[Flyinbowtie]

The helicopters are still flying bags of rocks, and the dump trucks are still hauling rock, they are saying 1200 tons per hour ha been being placed, 24-7, for the last 4-5 days...even as it rains.
Lotsa stuff being moved.
I doubt the dozers are working in the dirt, it is raining big time up here, but they seem to have a handle on it so far. The Delta and river area are goiing to be the focus later in the weekend and next week.

 

[Waterjunky]

Yup, it is going to be exciting down here for the next few days. On the other hand it will be exciting for the next few months........

 

[lake p.a.l.]

Sure hope they don't get 10" of rain this weekend like they are predicting. I can't imagine Oroville can release more than 100,000 because everything down stream is either at or near flood stage already.

 

[Flyinbowtie]

Yup, it is going to be exciting down here for the next few days. On the other hand it will be exciting for the next few months........

All kidding aside...and I know you are a heck of a lot sharper than me on this stuff, but be careful, WJ. I hope you and your wife are both home for awhile and able to stay close as we move through this...and remember my numbers. Here if you need us.

 

[Waterjunky]

FBT, I will do that. I always appreciate a backup plan......

The entire system is running not at but near capacity. There is not a huge amount of wiggle room left but it is being managed. A friend just took a run by Folsom and was shocked because of how low they had dropped it. My bet is that they wanted storage that they could easily shut down and use if something gets out of hand up stream, Oroville for example. Think about it for a second, if there is a significant release like the ESW breach they were worried about, shutting down Folsom at a key time would do wonders for letting a huge uncontrolled glut pass though Sacramento and the delta. In order to do that you need real capacity.

 

[Flyinbowtie]

I agree, that is exactly why they pulled Folsom down. I believe the choke point of the river is Sacramento itself, and the Tower bridge to be exact, but don't know for sure. They've pulled Bullards down to about 80%, which is the only major control they have on the Yuba. They have some breathing room, but the rivers are close to max.
Last fall when we met in Auburn I would never have dreamed this was around the corner.

 

[4Waters]

No news is good news but how is up there rainfall amount word on lake level and in/out flow...

 

[napanutt]

FBT, I will do that. I always appreciate a backup plan......

The entire system is running not at but near capacity. There is not a huge amount of wiggle room left but it is being managed. A friend just took a run by Folsom and was shocked because of how low they had dropped it. My bet is that they wanted storage that they could easily shut down and use if something gets out of hand up stream, Oroville for example. Think about it for a second, if there is a significant release like the ESW breach they were worried about, shutting down Folsom at a key time would do wonders for letting a huge uncontrolled glut pass though Sacramento and the delta. In order to do that you need real capacity.

Here's a vid I took today of the Sacramento river in Rio Vista. This was 3 hours after high tide. [emoji15]
[video=youtube_https;WNdnFkfzvu4]https://youtu.be/WNdnFkfzvu4[/video]

 

[Cray Paper]

That guy is an IDIOT!! Using his numbers.... 140' of inflow, minus 127' of release equals 13' of lake level rise. And if the water level is 30+' down from the 901' IT'S NOT GOING TO OVERFLOW!

And I really don't think there is anyway in the world they will open up the gates 100% to 250k CFS. This guy needs to put down whatever he is smoking.

The thing that got my attention was dozers pushing soil from the back side of the earthen dam structure down in to the backfill pool at the base of the dam and power house. THAT is last resort type of action as it's just dirt, not rock or rip rap type rock.

 

[Deja_Vu]

Looking good so far... 30k in 70k out - Surface at 857.59

 

[dread Pirate]

This is Hwy 20 west of Williams. It's closed and no idea when it will reopen.

 

[BajaMike]

Look what it looks like down stream.:eek This is where the American meets the Sacramento river just north of Sacramento. Look at the docks at Discovery Park...they look like they are in the middle of a lake. And before you cry babies say "I don't have Facebook", you don't need to, just click the link. Make sure and click HD under settings.

https://www.facebook.com/kellyhuston/posts/10154330639482503

View attachment 539578

Is that I-5 there in the picture?

 

[napanutt]

Is that I-5 there in the picture?

Yes it is.

 

[Cray Paper]

This guy has been videoing repairs of the emergency spillway for the past couple of days.

This is his video from this morning.

[video=youtube;h384gT87WxI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h384gT87WxI[/video]

Funny how PH balance of run off water isn't even part of the though process. If it wasn't a state or local government project several people would be in jail by now, according to the EPA laws currently in place for storm runoff. Water running over CONCRET (notice it's not called cement) raises the PH level of water, even 1 year old concrete. The water needs to be held, tested and treated and documented before release. People get arrested for not doing this.

I get that it's semantics right now, but when the "decision makers" decided to not address known issues 12 years ago did they take this in to account? Nope. When piss poor decisions are made they force the hand of everyone else later. Those later decision makers are the ones left holding the bag.

 

[Old Texan]

This guy has been videoing repairs of the emergency spillway for the past couple of days.

This is his video from this morning.

[video=youtube;h384gT87WxI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h384gT87WxI[/video]

Funny how PH balance of run off water isn't even part of the though process. If it wasn't a state or local government project several people would be in jail by now, according to the EPA laws currently in place for storm runoff. Water running over CONCRET (notice it's not called cement) raises the PH level of water, even 1 year old concrete. The water needs to be held, tested and treated and documented before release. People get arrested for not doing this.

I get that it's semantics right now, but when the "decision makers" decided to not address known issues 12 years ago did they take this in to account? Nope. When piss poor decisions are made they force the hand of everyone else later. Those later decision makers are the ones left holding the bag.

I knew very little about the Orovile damn prior to this. But now likely more that most other dams. The one thought that has stuck out, is how it appears they ran out of money or time or something when they got to the final section we now all know of as the socalled emergency spillway. It's like they had this dam well designed and built until they got to the left several hundred feet. It's too short, too weak, and as we've now seen, very dangerous.:yikes

Makes no sense.....:headscratch:

 

[28Eliminator]

This guy has been videoing repairs of the emergency spillway for the past couple of days.

This is his video from this morning.

[video=youtube;h384gT87WxI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h384gT87WxI[/video]

Funny how PH balance of run off water isn't even part of the though process. If it wasn't a state or local government project several people would be in jail by now, according to the EPA laws currently in place for storm runoff. Water running over CONCRET (notice it's not called cement) raises the PH level of water, even 1 year old concrete. The water needs to be held, tested and treated and documented before release. People get arrested for not doing this.

I get that it's semantics right now, but when the "decision makers" decided to not address known issues 12 years ago did they take this in to account? Nope. When piss poor decisions are made they force the hand of everyone else later. Those later decision makers are the ones left holding the bag.

Id like to know how the EPA expects ANYONE to hold storm run off for PH testing?? This makes no sense, of course little that the EPA does.... water runs through and over concrete everywhere.

 

[napanutt]

Id like to know how the EPA expects ANYONE to hold storm run off for PH testing?? This makes no sense, of course little that the EPA does.... water runs through and over concrete everywhere.

Kind of like every pile of dirt, wood posts, asphalt grinding that have to be covered unless they're being used.
I'm pretty sure we've all seen those stupid straw waddle thingies "protecting" our water sources or whatever they're for. [emoji19]

 

[Cray Paper]

Id like to know how the EPA expects ANYONE to hold storm run off for PH testing?? This makes no sense, of course little that the EPA does.... water runs through and over concrete everywhere.

That comes down to the plan that needs to be submitted, reviewed and approved prior to construction commencing. What is happening at Orrville dam is illegal from the EPA perspective. You cannot grub without approval (when all the trees and shrubbery were removed) without an erosion control plan. Placing CONCRETE and letting water run over it without being a part of a required PLAN that requires review and approval is illegal. I have been in the commercial construction industry for decades. CONCRETE raises PH levels in water run off. You have to have a mitigation plan in place and monitor storm runoff water to insure it meets turbity and PH levels before being released to the environment.

The emergency work performed at the Oroville dam has broken several EPA and environmental laws I am surprised the leftwing Nazis that administer these things are not protesting. Guess it's "different" when it involves your home.

 

[napanutt]

That comes down to the plan that needs to be submitted, reviewed and approved prior to construction commencing. What is happening at Orrville dam is illegal from the EPA perspective. You cannot grub without approval (when all the trees and shrubbery were removed) without an erosion control plan. Placing CONCRETE and letting water run over it without being a part of a required PLAN that requires review and approval is illegal. I have been in the commercial construction industry for decades. CONCRETE raises PH levels in water run off. You have to have a mitigation plan in place and monitor storm runoff water to insure it meets turbity and PH levels before being released to the environment.

The emergency work performed at the Oroville dam has broken several EPA and environmental laws I am surprised the leftwing Nazis that administer these things are not protesting. Guess it's "different" when it involves your home.

A lot of good points Dave that I wouldn't mind commenting on but we should respect Mr. FBT's wishes and keep politics out of this thread. [emoji846]

 

[Outdrive1]

Any updates? Obviously it survived the latest round of storms?

 

[Instigator]

Any updates? Obviously it survived the latest round of storms?

Sounds like the Pineapple Express is still in full swing with more Rain and Storms coming. We are in Tahoe this whole week and the news is saying ALOT more rain is headed to the area but not much news about the dam. They are still saying more flooding even in the Tahoe area. It is cloudy here now and the forecast is for a mix of rain and snow all week and beyond.
I will tell you this, if they get heavy warm rain in the Sierra's Sacramento will be in the Pacific. We were moved from our Condo to the units across the street on Friday before we got here due to a concern of the amount of snow on the roof. It is the most snow we have seen up here for as long as we can remember.

 

[Flyinbowtie]

The lake is withing 3 or so ft. of the 850 level they have been seeking. Releases are back down towards 50k CFS.
They are focused on the work on the emergency spillway, and down in the "debris pool" at the river where the spillway dumps into the Feather River. They are removing the debris to get the flow path restored so that they can begin using the powerhouse again.
Yesterday they began ops with divers working to clear debris from the powerhouse intakes and outlets, they are saying that may be finished and the powerhouse available within a week or so.
They are not worried about the storms, having created a substantial amount of space in the lake to handle it, and they are re-evaluating the status of the inflows and weather models every 12 hours to stay on top of things.
Flight ops were continuing in the rain, but stopped when weather brought in high wind and bad visibility. Don't know if they have resumed this am.

The rest of the northern valley is really taking some hits with flooding issues. I would imagine the coming construction season is going to be a busy one for road construction crews, my younger son will probably be on 12s when he returns to work.

 

[28Eliminator]

That comes down to the plan that needs to be submitted, reviewed and approved prior to construction commencing. What is happening at Orrville dam is illegal from the EPA perspective. You cannot grub without approval (when all the trees and shrubbery were removed) without an erosion control plan. Placing CONCRETE and letting water run over it without being a part of a required PLAN that requires review and approval is illegal. I have been in the commercial construction industry for decades. CONCRETE raises PH levels in water run off. You have to have a mitigation plan in place and monitor storm runoff water to insure it meets turbity and PH levels before being released to the environment.

The emergency work performed at the Oroville dam has broken several EPA and environmental laws I am surprised the leftwing Nazis that administer these things are not protesting. Guess it's "different" when it involves your home.

36 years in residential construction and land development, I'm very familiar with EC and mitigation plans. I would think an emergency situation such as this, negates any concern over the EPA's requirements, and (if required), any concern with the EPA would have been addressed when the dam was constructed, no? Worst case scenario (what's happening now) I assume would have have been taken into consideration a long time ago.

Regardless, I'm sure your correct, and all the enviro agencies and organizations will jump in line with they're lawyers and hands out after this is over.

 

[JJK94]

I'm sure the EPA wasn't a concern when they destroyed two houseboats at the delta.

 

[Flyinbowtie]

This is the powerhouse area at the base of the dam. They are bringing in and assembling a barge to clean out the debris here and down at the main pile located at the bottom of the spillway.

 

[dread Pirate]

Off topic a bit, but with the lake on everyones mind it might be a good summer to visit. One of the cool things they offer are the floating campsites. Has a bathroom and bbq on a floating 2 story dock. Maybe get a group together and rent a couple of them in the same cove?

 

[wsuwrhr]

Off topic a bit, but with the lake on everyones mind it might be a good summer to visit. One of the cool things they offer are the floating campsites. Has a bathroom and bbq on a floating 2 story dock. Maybe get a group together and rent a couple of them in the same cove?

Where have you been my whole life?

I'm. In.

Show me the way home or lose me forever.

Like waterworld.

 

[SHOCKtheMONKEY]

Looks cool.

How big is Oroville compared to Shasta? How many marinas?

 

[28Eliminator]

Watching the live feed on the main spillway, and it looks like it has broken in another spot, and now the water is running off to the side. Am I seeing this right?! Anyone know?

 

[dread Pirate]

Looks cool.

How big is Oroville compared to Shasta? How many marinas?

It's a big lake, but is open and wide. Can get pretty sloppy mid day on the main body. I thought there were more marina's, but this map only shows 2? Maybe FBT or someone else can comment?

https://www.google.com/search?clien...:-1,lf_od:-1,lf_oh:-1,lf_pqs:EAE,lf:1,lf_ui:2

 

[jmeads]

Off topic a bit, but with the lake on everyones mind it might be a good summer to visit. One of the cool things they offer are the floating campsites. Has a bathroom and bbq on a floating 2 story dock. Maybe get a group together and rent a couple of them in the same cove?

Can you post up a link on how to rent/reserve one of this floating campsites. Thanks

 

[dread Pirate]

Can you post up a link on how to rent/reserve one of this floating campsites. Thanks

I think they used to have more of them? Anyway, here's the link although the site isn't the easiest to navigate.

http://www.reserveamerica.com/campi...Details.do?contractCode=CA&parkId=120046#sr_a

 

[Ziggy]

Watching the live feed on the main spillway, and it looks like it has broken in another spot, and now the water is running off to the side. Am I seeing this right?! Anyone know?

View attachment 540340

I think they've throttle down the spillway enough so now it's not reaching the other side of the washout.