Public Meeting to Focus on Plan to Reinforce Casitas Dam
As part of an ongoing education campaign, federal officials are inviting the public to learn more about the government’s efforts to strengthen Casitas Dam and construct an emergency system to warn people should the dam collapse.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will sponsor a public meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. at the DeAnza Middle School auditorium, 2060 Cameron St. in Ventura.
The program will include a presentation on a $42-million plan to shore up the 40-year-old dam. Built largely on top of sandy soils, the dam is at risk of failure in the event of a major earthquake, federal officials say.
The public will also learn more about a plan to install a siren system along an 8-mile stretch of Coyote Creek and the Ventura River to warn west Ventura residents of a dam collapse.
Although they insist the odds of a failure are remote, federal officials agreed earlier this month to install the warning system in response to residents’ concerns. Officials are also drafting an emergency plan that will suggest preparations Ventura residents can take.
A question-and-answer session will follow the presentations; simultaneous translation of the program to Spanish will be provided. For information, call (916) 978-5105.
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