Drought be dammed, Calif. lawmakers look to storing water

The Sacramento Bee ^ | February 27, 2014 | Michael Doyle

[bubbacluck]

The California drought is stoking a congressional appetite for additional water storage, with new and larger dams back on competing menus.

[bubbacluck]

I remember when they built the Auburn Dam. Oh, wait...

[bubbacluck]

It all sounds good, but in ten years we’ll again be asking ourselves, “Where ARE those dams?”

[knarf]

Jeff, how does the Klamath Falls “war” play in all this ?

[Vince Ferrer]

List of California dams removed

[al baby]

What did the fish say when it hit concrete?………………… DAM !!!

[Thank You Rush]

“”I remember when they built the Auburn Dam. Oh, wait””

That hole in the ground? It’s still there, isn’t it? I have pictures I took in the ‘80’s or possibly the ‘90’s of the proposed or half built bridge across that expanse while on vacation. Haven’t been back since but I would imagine it still looks the same???

[builder]

These idiots react WAYYYYY late in this idiotic state.

And in 30 more years if they start NOW, and the permanent Dem Legislature stays on it, then they will STILL be 30 years from ever building another dam in this state.

The greens and enviros in this state rule.

More lying lip service by our legislature. The y WILL no doubt find a way to build the train to nowhere though.

[NormsRevenge]

Rip Van Winkle has nothing on the state legislature that has been asleep at the wheel for far too long.

[builder]

Wasn't the last dam built or enlarged in California , the one down near Hemet- like 20 years ago ??

And they dam-ed sure have torn out boatloads of small dams in the last ten years to satisfy the fish run enthusiasts.

[bubbacluck]

According to the article this is coming from the congressional level, not the legislature.

The "green" roadblocks will be later. I think I remember that the Auburn dam was halted because it would affect the availability of free running white water for those who ran the rapids.

I suppose that is much more important than dehydrating to death.

[knarf]

According to a Wiki article;

Although new proposals surfaced from time to time after the 1980s, the dam was never built for a variety of reasons. Limited flood-control capability, geologic instability, and potential harm on recreational and ecological values finally put an end to the Auburn Dam project. Many of the original groundworks and preliminary constructions at the Auburn Dam site still exist, and up to 2007, the North Fork American River still flowed through the diversion tunnel that had been constructed in preparation for the dam. Reclamation and Placer County Water Agency completed a pump station project that year which blocked the tunnel, returned the river to its original channel, and diverted water through another tunnel under Auburn to meet local needs. However, some groups continue to support construction of the dam, which they claim would provide important water regulation and flood protection.

[ArmstedFragg]

The Lake Wohlford dam in San Diego County has been operating at half capacity for years because of state seismic regulations. The state could fund the repairs necessary to bring it to full capacity for a lot less than starting over somewhere up the road. The locals usually vote Republican, though, so that's not too likely.

[Sivad]

Remember: BUILD IT. DAM IT!..........?

[SierraWasp]

Yeah, the director of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce that initiated the distribution of that bumpersticker in 1977 just retired!!!

[SierraWasp]

Why not list the Auburn Dam that was 2/3rds completed when the selfish corporate white water rafters stopped it even though they were given the ownership of the South Fork American unaffected by Auburn on the North and Middle Forks. Now nature has ripped out the coffer dam and us taxpayers have financed the destruction of the diversion tunnels at even further expense. (talk about "sunk cost!")

The greater Sacramento Area has destroyed it's own nuclear power and a great multi-purpose hydro-electric, flood control, storage/peak power and back-up for Folsom Reservoir to keep it full as the most popular State Recreational Area in CA!!! This has also left the highest bridge structure in CA high and dry on the Foresthill Road from I-80 to Foresthill.

There are few greater monuments to abject stupidity than these landmarks along with the twin cooling towers at Ranch Seco in southern Sacramento county!!!

[Carry_Okie]

Not to bitch about nuclear power, but did that plant have a dam around it sufficient to deal with the flood potential of the Central Valley? It is amazing what can happen.

[SierraWasp]

I don't know because in those days all the rivers were as undamed as the Consumnes is today and with such short and steep watersheds that would get hit with "Pineapple Express" monsoons that melted the Sierra Cement (wet snow) it's easy to see the "inland sea" type floods that occurred in those days. I just don't know if all our current dams plus an Auburn Dam would have flooded a nuke plant near Elk Grove.

I've driven past the site and could look in and see the cooling pond/lake so I doubt there was any levees, dykes or dam that could have withstood the floods described in your link. But as I said above, those floods may not have been so drastic with those wonderful time machines call dams in the watershed like we have now.

[Sivad]

Huh.......Looks like we have our own little Mother Lode caucas
here at FR.

[Thank You Rush]

Thanks for that information... CA is going to continue to talk the problem to death without solving any of the ongoing consequences...

[forester]

There are few greater monuments to abject stupidity than these landmarks along with the twin cooling towers at Ranch Seco in southern Sacramento county!!!
______________________________________________________________
How about the eight lane wide 380 freeway that goes from the SFO airport and then dead ends into a hillside? I just marvel at all of the bridges at the end of it - reminds me of the old Talking heads song - We’re on a Road to Nowhere

BTW - been working as a contractor laying out fire salvage logging above Forest Hill on the American fire for the USFS - very interesting...