California dam under repair after cracking, prompting flood warning

A Northern California dam is under repair after it cracked Sunday and prompted nearby residents to panic as officials issued a flash-flood warning.

The National Weather Service issued the warning, which has since been canceled, after a portion of the Twain Harte Dam in Tuolumne County cracked and began leaking about 10:45 a.m.

But the cracks prompted concerns among residents who reported hearing a loud boom, according to Fox40.

Water had been leaking through the cracks, so officials began releasing about 2,000 gallons of water per minute from the lake, according to a Tuolumne County statement.

At the same time water from the 600-acre-feet capacity Phoenix Lake Reservoir was also released, so that it can take on new supplies from the lake, which is 20 to 25 deep and has 142-acre-feet capacity.

Officials said the release was necessary because water levels must be reduced to 10 feet in elevation, where the leak has occurred.

The operation will take two days to complete.

Officials advised residents living along Sullivan and Twain Harte creeks to avoid the waterways, which will be abnormally high due to the release.

For breaking news in Los Angeles and throughout California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA. She can be reached at veronica.rocha@latimes.com.