News Release Archive

Reclamation Announces Safety of Dams Drilling Program at Prosser Creek Dam

Media Contact: Russell Grimes, 916-978-5100, rwgrimes@usbr.gov

For Release: May 12, 2017

TRUCKEE, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation will be performing a Safety of Dams drilling program at Prosser Creek Dam to evaluate the ability of the dam to resist large earthquakes. Prosser Creek Dam and Reservoir, part of Reclamation’s Truckee Storage Project, are located on Prosser Creek about 1 mile east of Truckee, California, and 27 miles west of Reno, Nevada.

Prosser Creek Dam is located in a seismically active area. The drilling program will help analyze the potential loss of strength, known as liquefaction that could result in a dam failure during an extreme earthquake. Reclamation will continue drilling at Prosser Creek Dam throughout the summer of 2017 to collect additional data which will be used to assess the likelihood of liquefaction and response of the dam.

Currently, Prosser Creek Reservoir is being held at approximately 9,000 acre-feet of storage and 5701 feet of elevation for flood control purposes. The low reservoir elevation is not related to the potential dam safety concern and is expected to begin rising as the spring runoff season develops.

For additional information about the exploration program, please contact Todd Hill at 916-978-5328 (TTY 800-877-8339) or thill@usbr.gov. For additional information regarding reservoir operations, please contact Scott Schoenfeld at 775-884-8351 or sschoenfeld@usbr.gov.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.