Longhorn Dam Woes (Austin, Impact: 2013, construction, swimming)

[verybadgnome]

Seems like dam operations are taken for granted. I've never heard a peep out of an elected official about these issues.

"The fact that more water was entering the Lake than could exit, causes Dennis Hipp to conclude that much of the downtown flooding could have been avoided with better planning and a properly functioning dam."

"For critics of the dam, like Dennis Hipp, each day that repairs aren’t funded is a day that brings the city closer to major flooding on the lake, or the surreal possibility of Lady Bird Lake draining out completely."

Near-Catastrophe During Flooding Highlights Issues at Dam in Austin | StateImpact Texas

[hoffdano]

It seems like an item the city doesn't want anyone to know about. Instead of fixing something like this, they are taking money from concert promoters to clean up Auditorium Shores.

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

It seems like an item the city doesn't want anyone to know about. Instead of fixing something like this, they are taking money from concert promoters to clean up Auditorium Shores.

And to build $25,000,000 boardwalks.

[10scoachrick]

No tellin' what the actual story is; but I'm pretty sure dam repair doesn't fall into the category of 'don't worry, someone will take care of it' !!! It ain't sexy to maintain/repair a dam; but it sure beats the alternative!

[centralaustinite]

Yes, that was a pretty incredible story from State Impact Texas. I actually read it aloud to the family. The kids were wide-eyed. Can you imagine the whole lake draining away?!! That would crimp C3 Presents and their event planning!

Hopefully the piece will focus some minds!

[ScoPro]

The local TV and AAS need to carry the story to get widespread attention.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

Yes, that was a pretty incredible story from State Impact Texas. I actually read it aloud to the family. The kids were wide-eyed. Can you imagine the whole lake draining away?!! That would crimp C3 Presents and their event planning!

Hopefully the piece will focus some minds!

Let's say the lake got drained for repair but not a catastrophic event...imagine what might be revealed as the water level went down.

[scm53]

No wonder Austin Erergy says they can't afford to prevent this catastrophe:

Austin Energy will pay more than $170 million this year for city services not directly related to the utility’s operations. Its profit covers about 20 percent of the city’s $613 million spending on parks, firefighters, libraries and other “general government” services, about the same as previous years.

In addition, Duncan said, the city has also added other programs to the utility’s budget since 1994, when the utility made its last major rate increase. They include annually: $8 million for the city’s 311 call center; $19 million in additional grants to make buildings more energy efficient; $8.5 million for the city’s economic development office; and $4.3 million in subsidies that help homeowners pay for installing solar panels.

Skewed priorities.

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by 10scoachrick

Let's say the lake got drained for repair but not a catastrophic event...imagine what might be revealed as the water level went down.

There is an incredible amount of debris in that lake! Remember two summers ago when someone went swimming under the MoPac bridge and ended up impaled on rebar?!

Police divers have said that it is an incredibly challenging place to dive full of construction debris, ramps etc from Aquafest and boat races, cars, and who knows what.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by verybadgnome

Seems like dam operations are taken for granted. I've never heard a peep out of an elected official about these issues.

"The fact that more water was entering the Lake than could exit, causes Dennis Hipp to conclude that much of the downtown flooding could have been avoided with better planning and a properly functioning dam."

"For critics of the dam, like Dennis Hipp, each day that repairs aren’t funded is a day that brings the city closer to major flooding on the lake, or the surreal possibility of Lady Bird Lake draining out completely."

Near-Catastrophe During Flooding Highlights Issues at Dam in Austin | StateImpact Texas

What a complete hack-job of a piece. When 90% of the information and quotes in a story come from one former employee, you have to wonder if he has his own axe to grind.