NEWS RELEASE AS OF 10/03/2022 at 8:30 a.m.
Notice of Dam Stabilization Analysis Work Being Performed
Due to a broken drilling machine part that occurred on Saturday, the soil investigation drilling work at the upper dam is expected to continue through Monday, October 3rd.
The City and Borough of Wrangell is working with the geotechnical engineers and drilling and civil contractors on the Dam Stabilization Analysis that includes taking bore samples of the soil within and under the wall of the upper dam.
Wrangell’s dams are currently listed as a Class I HIGH HAZARD classification which is the highest (or worst) classification for Dams.
The purpose of this analysis is to gather information regarding the integrity of the dams to better help with the planning process for how to fix the dams.
Residents living between 1.6-mile Zimovia Highway and 1.9-mile Zimovia Highway are located within the inundation zone and should be advised of the work taking place above their residence.
An Inundation zone is defined as the area downstream of a dam that could be temporarily inundated with water released by a dam failure.
The City and Borough of Wrangell has been working with the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources Dam Safety Program as well as Engineers from Shannon and Wilson on how best to perform this analysis safely. The approved plan for the boring is not expected to affect the integrity of the dams however, if an emergency such as a dam failure becomes apparent you will be notified of the need to evacuate immediately.
Please reach out to the Public Works Department at (907) 874-3904 with any Questions or concerns.
Notification will be sent out once work is complete.
Original source can be found here.
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