5-17 IAN Anderson Ranch Dam Security

 Dams in the news again and not in a good way. I’m David Sparks and I’ll have that story next. First of all, we all know that dams hold water and water is the key to life let alone the single most important element to any crop producer. So we store water in dams in an effort to supply water when needed. Here’s a horrific scenario. Anderson Ranch Reservoir is formed by Anderson Ranch Dam which is part of the Boise Project. This 7.4 square mile (4,730-acre) reservoir is managed by the Boise National Forest. The reservoir is approximately 14 miles long, a mile wide, with depths to 315 feet, and 50 miles of shoreline. Below it is Arrowrock Reservoir formed by Arrowrock Dam also a part of the Boise Project and managed by the Boise National Forest.  ,This 18 mile narrow canyon reservoir of 3,150-acres has limited access to 60 miles of shoreline. Below that is the Lucky Peak Reservoir and Dam.  

 The Bureau of Reclamation wants public comment on its $705,000 plan to raise the crest of the Anderson Ranch dam and build a single-lane road meant to better protect the structure against terrorist attack. If the Anderson Dam blew it would be a cascading sunami and would wipe out Boise to say nothing of water loss to farmers. The Bureau of Reclamation’s John Redding: “What the Bureau is doing is taking public safety as our number one priority and that’s why we’re pursuing this course.”  A few weeks ago I did a tongue in cheek story about the security of the Lower Deer Flat Dam near Caldwell but this situation’s more serious.