California reservoir ordered to be drained over fears earthquake could collapse dam

As California experiences a potentially record-breaking dry February, federal regulators have ordered that a large reservoir south of San Jose be drained due to fears a dam could collapse in an earthquake, sending a torrent of water into Silicon Valley.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ordered last week that the Anderson Reservoir be completely drained by Oct. 1 due to fears the 240-foot high earthen Anderson Dam poses too great a risk of collapse if a large earthquake strikes.

“It is unacceptable to maintain the reservoir at an elevation higher than necessary when it can be reduced, thereby decreasing the risk to public safety and the large population downstream,” David Capka, director of FERC's Division of Dam Safety and Inspections, wrote in a letter Thursday to the Santa Clara Valley Water District, which owns the reservoir.

>how to die of thirst o/

https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-anderson-dam-drain-earthquake-fear-collapse-risk-santa-clara