News

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The California Department of Water Resources on Thursday made public a memo from the independent forensics team, which outlines a list of potential physical factors that may have contributed to the Lake Oroville gated (main) spillway failure on Feb. 7.

“This memo outlines the potential causes of the main spillway failure, which will be thoroughly investigated by the forensics team over the next few months,” said DWR Acting Director Bill Croyle.  “Although this is preliminary information, we are taking it into consideration as we develop plans to reconstruct the spillway.”

The memo, which is posted below, includes 24 candidate physical factors for the service spillway damage, ranging from variations in slab thickness to tension reinforcement, corrosion and failure of reinforcing bars across cracks, unfiltered drains, groundwater pressure, issues with the foundation and cavitation, among other things.

Four possible factors are suggested for the damage to the emergency spillway: significant depth of erodible rock and soil in orientations that allowed rapid headcutting toward the crest control structure; hillside topography that concentrated flows and increased erosive forces, facilitating headcut
formation; insufficient energy dissipation at the base of the spillway crest; and absence of erosion protection downstream of the crest structure.

The forensics team is assigned to prepare an independent report on the actual contributing factors that led to the failure of the main spillway at Lake Oroville.

As outlined in the letter dated Feb. 13, 2017, the the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requested that DWR complete a forensic analysis aimed at determining the cause of the main spillway failure and determining if the failure mode could occur again.

The Association of State Dams Safety Officials and the United States Society of Dams assembled the independent team of experts in April that could conduct a forensic evaluation. 

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also requested that the Board of Consultants and the California Division of Safety of Dams be allowed to review and comment on the ongoing investigation, including possibly requesting additional information or analysis be completed by the forensic team regarding the analysis.

In a conference call briefing on May 4, the team presented a preliminary list of candidate physical factors that could have potentially contributed to the initial failure mechanisms at the main spillway to DWR, the independent Board of Consultants, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the California Division of Safety of Dams.
 
The purpose of this list is to outline the potential causes of the spillway damages, to ensure that DWR considers these factors in the new design.

DWR expects to receive the team’s final report in fall of 2017 which will outline what caused the failure.

Consistent with DWR protocol, every memo from the forensics team will be posted in the same format it was received, with critical energy infrastructure information, or CEII, redacted as needed. CEII is considered a security risk, as it contains design details about the Oroville Dam facilities.

050517 Oroville Dam spillway report by LakeCoNews on Scribd

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – An estimated 200,000 to 300,000 fall-run Chinook salmon were killed early Thursday morning at the Feather River Fish Hatchery-Thermalito Facility due to a pump failure from a faulty wire.

More than two million remaining salmon at the facility will be released over the next month as they reach an appropriate size, state wildlife officials said.

Overnight on May 10, the primary pump supplying well water to the facility failed, drastically reducing the water supply to the hatchery raceways, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or CDFW.

CDFW staff first observed stressed fall-run Chinook salmon at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday along with mortalities in the raceways due to low dissolved oxygen levels. Hatchery staff immediately started supplying supplemental oxygen to the raceways to keep fish alive.

CDFW notified the California Department of Water Resources, or DWR, which manages the wells, and DWR electricians made immediate repairs to restart the pump motor and resume the flow of water.

Early loss estimates suggest 200,000 to 300,000 fall-run perished in this event. Officials said a rapid response likely saved thousands if not millions more fall-run Chinook at the facility.

The fall-run were reared at the Thermalito Facility after they were evacuated from the main hatchery in February following erosion of the Oroville Dam gated flood control spillway.

More than two million fall-run Chinook at the Thermalito Facility will remain there until they reach an appropriate size for release to the Feather River.

Releases begin this week and will continue over the next month. CDFW and DWR staff are developing additional redundancy measures to prevent future pump failures.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Art Center is pleased to present Gregory Graham Winery and R Vineyards for the third in the 2017 series of Palette to Palate, “Seeing Red,” an evocative pairing of wine and art.

Two dynamic husband and wife teams, Marianne and Gregory Graham and Monica and David Rosenthal, will pour and share stories for MAC’s newest exhibit “Seeing Red.”

Join them on Saturday, May 13, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. as they learn of winemaking and growing in the Red Hills Appellation and also taste wonderful reds, include Reba Red from R Vineyards.

Your $10 cover fee provides wine tastings from Gregory Graham and R Vineyards. Additional glasses of wine will be available for $5 per glass.

Join them for a great experience sipping wine, viewing art, enjoying light refreshments, and be immersed in the idea of red, from color to emotion, with our winemakers and participating artists.

Palette to Palate is a new series recognizing that wine makers and artists share the same creative impulse.

A vine is planted and nurtured, a concept composed; harvest and crush, forms blocked in; varietals are blended and seasoned, colors and textures stroked onto canvas; through creative alchemy a uniquely flavorful elixir, or work of art, comes into being.

Gregory Graham wines are grown in the Red Hills Appellation of Lake County and did well at the 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The 2013 Sonoma Coast Pinot noir and the 2012 Estate Syrah both won Best of Class and Double Gold. The 2012 Grenache and 2012 Magma Red got Gold, and four more wines got awarded a Silver medal. Their Gold-winning Grenache just earned a 90-point score from Wine Enthusiast. 

Mature, deep, well drained and often rocky, the Jafa soils on the North slope of Mt. Saint Helena inform the wines of R Vineyards. Known for their signature Viognier, R Vineyards also produces zinfandel, Cabernet Franc and other varietals. Reba Red is new introduction and will be one of the wines featured at this Palette to Palate.

MAC’s current exhibit, “Seeing Red” is on view through Monday, May 29, then the MAC readies the next exhibit “eco-centric” a continuing thread carried over from the annual EcoArts Sculpture Walk which was discontinued due to the Valley Fire which destroyed the Middletown Trailside Park.

Proceeds from Palette to Palate support the Middletown Art Center, a non-profit dedicated to providing art opportunities, art education, cultural enrichment, and ecological awareness contributing to the social and economic well-being of Lake County, California.

All donations to the MAC are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated.

MAC is located at 21456 State Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29 in the heart of Middletown.

Visit www.middletownartcenter.org to learn more about exhibitions, classes, events, volunteer opportunities and membership.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Local mindfulness teacher, life coach and author JoAnn Saccato, MA will present two free 90-minute workshops on Mindfulness for Stress Reduction at Lake County Jazzercise, located at 15642 Armstrong St. in Middletown, on Thursday, May 25, and Thursday, June 1.

The workshops begin at 1 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

The workshop includes a brief history and definition of mindfulness, recent scientific findings with emphasis on stress reduction, and simple guided mindfulness exercises including sensory awareness, gentle movement and loving kindness.

The workshop is based on Saccato's eight-week course and forthcoming book, “Mindful and Intentional Living: A Path to Peace, Clarity and Freedom.”

Mindfulness is a popular practice that invites one to pay kind, non-judgmental attention to their experience.

The scientifically supported approach helps reduce stress and stress-related illnesses, increase focus and attention, decrease incidences of and relapses with depression, reduce anxiety, and aid in sleep and digestive disorders.

Beth Rudiger of Lake County Jazzercise is hosting the event. "I took this workshop with JoAnn last year and realized that being mindful is just being present and acknowledging what my body is telling me. We actually encourage our clients to practice mindfulness at every Jazzercise class when we tell them to engage their muscles and pay attention to how hard they’re working."

For more information on Lake County Jazzercise, visit www.lcjazz.com or call Rudiger at 707-502-3389. 

For more information on the workshop, Saccato and her work, visit www.Compassion-basedMindfulness.com or call 707-350-1719.

SACRAMENTO – On Thursday morning, Judge Charles Breyer of the United States District Court for Northern District of California approved a $250 million settlement with Volkswagen over its “defeat device” software to bypass emissions controls in its 3.0 liter diesel vehicles.

The settlement was negotiated by attorneys and technical experts from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Justice, California Air Resources Board (CARB), and California Attorney General's Office.

California will receive $66 million from this settlement among the United States, California, and Volkswagen.

Of this amount, $41 million will go to air quality mitigation projects selected by CARB and $25 million will fund CARB programs that help replace polluting cars with zero emission vehicles.

Volkswagen is also required to buy back or modify 85 percent of its polluting vehicles in California and provide fair compensation to owners.

“There is no excuse for what those at Volkswagen did,” said Attorney General Xavier Becerra. “They lied to consumers and environmental regulators. They cheated on emissions tests. They did harm to our environment. They put profits before people, and that’s inexcusable. Today's action should serve as further warning to wrongdoers who believe they can run and hide – we will hold you accountable."

“I want to thank Senior Assistant Attorney General Nicklas Akers, Supervising Deputy Attorney General Judith Fiorentini, Deputy Attorneys General Jon Worm and Laurel Carnes, and their colleagues in our Consumer Law, Environment, and Natural Resources Law Sections, for their efforts to protect California's consumers and environment in this case,” added Attorney General Becerra.

In addition to Thursday’s settlement, California has previously reached two settlements with Volkswagen: one for a landmark $14.7 billion in environmental mitigation and consumer relief related to Volkswagen's inclusion of defeat devices in its 2.0 liter vehicles, and the other for $86 million in civil penalties. 

The settlement approved Thursday is documented in two partial consent decrees, one among the United States, California and Volkswagen, and the other between California and Volkswagen. Both are available at www.oag.ca.gov/news .

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County and the North Coast during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Floyd Way beginning Thursday, May 18. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Curb and sidewalk repairs from Morrison Creek to Ogden Road will continue. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 29
 
– Emergency culvert repairs from Spruce Grove Road to Hofacker Lane will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175

– Emergency highway repairs from Grouss Springs Road to Emerford Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Emergency highway repairs from east of Forest Lake Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Pacific Wood Road through Friday, May 12. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs from Haven Neck Drive to Old Stageroad Drive on Tuesday, May 16. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Arjay Rafferty has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to pave a driveway near Philo Greenwood Road through Friday, May 12. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Emergency slide removal near Leggett will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 20

– Bridge deck repairs at the East Fork Russian River Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays.

Highway 101
 
– Routine maintenance near Frog Woman Rock will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

– Storm damage repairs south of Ridgewood Ranch Road will continue. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

– Emergency slide repairs on the westbound Route 20 to southbound Route 101 connector ramp will continue. Intermittent ramp closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Emergency slide removal near Hermitage Vista Point will continue. Northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

– Rumble strip installation at various locations from the junction of Routes 1/101 to Confusion Hill will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Emergency slide removal near the Dora Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, and 15-minute delays at other times.

– Emergency slide removal near Piercy will continue. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 128

– Roadway repairs west of Yorkville will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary traffic signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 162

– Emergency storm damage repairs near The Middle Way will continue. One-way traffic control with temporary stop signs will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Emergency storm damage repairs near Sand Bank Creek will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary traffic signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175

– Emergency storm damage repairs at various locations from 1.7 miles east of Buckman Drive to the Lake/Mendocino County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 30-minute delays.

Highway 253
 
– Emergency roadway repairs from Booneville to Ukiah will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).