SACRAMENTO, California -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District conducted a routine high pool inspection of Terminus Dam at Lake Kaweah on May 30, 2024. The dam is operating safely, and as designed.
Sacramento District engineers and dam operators will use the observations from the high pool inspection to make informed decisions about the dam’s operation and maintenance. Terminus Dam and its reservoir, Lake Kaweah, serve as a source for flood risk management, water supply, environmental stewardship, and recreation.
USACE performs high pool inspections to ensure the safe performance and integrity of dams.
“The fact that this inspection occurred coincident with the annual observance of National Dam Safety Awareness Day is a reminder of the key role this vital infrastructure plays for flood risk management,” said Dan Vellone, the district’s Dam Safety Program Manager.
The Sacramento District’s Water Management Section continuously monitors levels of 30 reservoirs located in California, and coordinates water releases with watermasters to manage flood control space and seasonal inflows, while maintaining optimum reservoir levels for millions of water users.
National Dam Safety Awareness Day is in memoriam of the 1889 South Fork Dam failure near Johnstown, Pennsylvania that claimed the lives of more than 2,000 people. The tragedy underscores the importance of dam safety programs, continued investments in infrastructure, and emergency preparedness.
For more information about the Sacramento District’s Dam Safety Program, visit https://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Dam-Safety.
Release no. 24-008