March 1, 2001
John Redding
(208) 378-5021
James Mumford
(208) 378-5240
Terry Kent
(208) 378-5290

Reclamation Inspection Shows No Damage to Dams Following Quake

Inspectors report no apparent damage to any of 33 Bureau of Reclamation facilities within the range of the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that shook the Pacific Northwest yesterday.

Immediately following the earthquake, dam inspectors followed established emergency preparedness procedures and made visual inspections of each of 33 dams within about 300 miles of the earthquake impact zone. One additional dam on the fringe of the impact zone in eastern Oregon is still undergoing inspection.

"Visual inspections revealed no apparent damage and instrument readings appear to be normal," said Jim Mumford, Regional Safety of Dams Program manager.

The dams are located in a wide area that includes Washington, Oregon, and parts of Idaho. The operation and maintenance of many of the dams has been transferred to local irrigation districts, who performed the inspections according to Reclamation protocols.

More detailed inspections, review of instrumentation readings, and visual monitoring will follow.

Washington Dams: Bumping Lake, Clear Creek, Cle Elum, Conconully, Dry Falls, Easton Diversion, Elwha, French Canyon, Glines Canyon, Grand Coulee, Kachess, Keechelus, North, O’Sullivan, Pinto, Roza Diversion, Salmon Lake, and Tieton.

Oregon Dams: Agency Valley, A.R. Bowman, Cold Springs, Crane Prairie, Haystack, Mason, McKay, Ochoco, Scoggins, Three Mile Falls Diversion, Unity, Wasco, and Wickiup. A report is pending on Thief Valley Dam, but experts do not anticipate any damage will be found.

Idaho Dams: Reservoir A and Soldiers Meadow

The Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region encompasses a five-state area that includes Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and parts of Montana and Wyoming. Reclamation’s multi-purpose mission involves managing water systems for irrigation, hydropower production, flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat.