The Weather Channel will be showing a segment on this tonight (Sunday September 27). Episode "Big Bangs" "Exploding Rocks" on their series "Strangest Weather on Earth" - as if this geologic event had anything to do with weather. That aside, it should be cool to see it described in a professional production. I'm not in this one, but the geologists probably did a great job on camera. These episodes tend to get replayed a lot when there's no hurricane or tornado to cover 24/7.
Dam Update:
We were able to design and construct the repair in record time last spring. We approved it for filling and closed the outlet valves just days before a rare spring storm hit and filled it back up. This reservoir is critical to the town's economy during the summer. The local businesses were ecstatic having it fixed and full by Memorial weekend.
If anyone cares, it was repaired by isolating the foundation under the dam from the larger exfoliation slabs by drilling closely spaced holes into the granite - creating a perforated edge. So when the next event happens, the uplifting slab will break off at the "tear line" before going under the dam. Also added anchor bars into the foundation and filled in the arches with six feet of mass concrete for weight. The design checked out nicely on a finite element computer model.
Last edited by SierraNevada; 09/27/15 08:28 AM.
