To the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers


Published on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 10:20 PM PST

It seems clear that the Corps is trying to cover its bases concerning the Isabella Dam repairs in a very convoluted manner as compared to the Seattle Dam Project illustrated here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090928/ap_on_re_us/us_leaky_dam, where the Corps has taken immediate remedial action.

In 1948, Congress appropriated funds to build a dam to prevent flooding of Bakersfield. The dam was completed in March of 1953. The time from the of appropriation of money to the time of completion was slightly under five years.

The time frames that you express for the Isabella Dam repairs, with a proposed completion year of 2017, is absolutely astonishing, considering it took half that time to complete the dam it in the first place.

On April 28, 2006 a seepage problem was found in the Isabella Auxiliary Dam. The Corps of Engineers’ estimated completion date is 2017; a total of 11+ years. You might remember that it took only two years to pour all of the concrete in one of the largest dams in the entire world, the Hoover Dam.

In today’s world, with stimulus monies readily available now for shovel-ready projects and dams, I have not heard of a more urgent and shovel-ready project than the Lake Isabella Dam. In 1936, it was declared that flood control was a national priority since floods constituted a menace to our national welfare. Since 1936, Congress has authorized the Corps of Engineers to help protect and maintain our dams and reservoirs.

With all of this modern day red tape etc., God forbid we have a “hundred-year flood.” I know, and I am sure you know, that it could happen; the danger could be enhanced by this extraordinary 11-year repair schedule set by the Corps.

In today’s modern world, I would think a very small dam compared to the Boulder Dam or Bonneville Dam or the Panama Canal would not present such a entangled, complex and interminable problem for the Corps, especially since the Dam is listed as one of the most at risk dams in the entire nation. In fact, in a worst case scenario, if the dam were to fail, it is estimated that more than 300,000 lives could be lost from Lake Isabella to Bakersfield. Keeping the Isabella Dam water levels low, does not reduce this inordinate risk during an epoch flood year, the only thing that reduces the risk is to make repairs in a prudent and timely manner. Will it take dam repairs 20 or 30 years in the future? If so, this is obviously not a healthy or safe trend.

Robert Diller

Soquel

Copyright © 2010 Kern Valley Sun

Comments

14 comment(s)

    editor wrote on Nov 30, 2009 10:09 AM:

    " To SoCalAl: Thank you for your post. You are correct. This blog was allowed to stray way off topic. Irrelevant posts have been deleted.
    The Sun regrets the error. "

    SoCalAl wrote on Nov 30, 2009 9:39 AM:

    " This topic started out as a question to the Army Corps of Engineers about why it has to take so long to repair the Isabella Dam. However, many if not most of the comments are about other topics, christians, gays, waiters & waitresses, Republicans, ACORN, etc ..... Mr. / Ms. Editor --- you say "comments must be approved by an editor before appearing ---- " ---- How about making sure the comment is related to the original thought/idea? Thanks. --- SoCalAl "

    Fill the Lake wrote on Nov 29, 2009 11:56 PM:

    " The dam is just fine. It's an earthen dam and it seeps. So what? Let's get the dam lake refilled ASAP. This is just STUPID to cripple the economy during this recession. It's just about as stupid as NOT STOCKING TROUT. "

    Nancy wrote on Nov 26, 2009 3:50 PM:

    " Get ON THAT DAM and FIX it for G-ds sake, before something really bad happens ! "

    Ann wrote on Nov 20, 2009 7:47 PM:

    " Area Republican, the "local" poster is correct. This thread is about the Dam and you persist in bringing in your feelings about homosexuals. What exactly is your peeeve about this genre of citizens? You are overly obsessed to the point of needing psychological help. Further, Mac is more knowledgeable and intellegent than you could hope to wake up to be and that is fact, madame. Don't you dare call Mac a piece of work. Your posts are a fractured piece of work. "

    Scribdog wrote on Nov 19, 2009 9:46 AM:

    " The timely solution is obvious, if it takes approx 5 years to build a brand new dam, then we should build a new dam behind the old one. Then it would be double dam strong. Think of the new jobs it would create while still allowing recreation on the lake! "

    Mac wrote on Nov 18, 2009 11:30 AM:

    " Trey, possibly back when the dam was built their knowledge of the fault was limited as opposed to what we have now. That's the only reason I can think of for building it as they did. As far as how slowly they are fixing it, there is probably no reason other than business as usual. Does anything ever get fixed quickly when there's a government contract involved? It will probably be over budget too. "

    Trey wrote on Nov 17, 2009 9:30 PM:

    " I do not understand why the Army Corps of Engineers cannot get the job done quickly and why they did it wrong in the first place? Weren't studies done when the dam was first built and completed in '53? And why the delay of nearly eleven(??) years to correct the problem? No criticism but more concern for this community's livelihood. Forget about the Willow Fly Catcher, where will we live? "

    Mac wrote on Nov 16, 2009 7:40 PM:

    " Yeah, that liberal Army Corps of Engineers. What a joke!

    No, hon, it's not discrimination, it's called rebuttal. Post something crazy and people are going to call you on it. "

    Trey wrote on Nov 16, 2009 7:28 PM:

    " The Willow Fly Catcher will find another home somewhere else? "

    Kevin Coots wrote on Nov 12, 2009 10:46 AM:

    " If we fix the dam, what will happen to the Willow Fly Catcher? "

    Troutkiller wrote on Nov 7, 2009 9:40 PM:

    " OK, here's the deal: You are assuming the term "population at risk" (PAR) is equal to estimated lives lost. PAR just means everyone who might get their ankles wet (or worse). Usually, you take the PAR and multiply it by a factor like 0.001 to get estimated lives lost. Do the math. "

    Robert Diller wrote on Nov 6, 2009 8:50 PM:

    " Dear above reader, here is your evidence you request: Valerie Cassity in a Special to the Sun made this comment when reporting on comments made by Ronn Rose, Dam Safety Assurance Program Officer for the Corps of Engineers - Published on Wednesday, October 8, KVSUN 2008 8:15 AM PDT

    Valerie Cassity
    Special to the Sun

    Title of the Article in the KVSUN
    Corps of Engineers calls for new dam construction


    Look it up for yourself online.
    Robert Diller
    Soquel "

    Sherman wrote on Nov 4, 2009 2:35 PM:

    " "it is estimated that more than 300,000 lives could be lost from Lake Isabella to Bakersfield" WTF? where is your evidence. There is no way the water in that lake could wipe away all of Bakersfield "

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