Eyewitnesses say it was a wall of water
over five feet high when a dam upstream
from USDA's part, Colorado, broke, the
town was hit by over 260 million
gallons of water.
One is dead. Three others are missing,
including a Texas woman.
The 70 year old earthen dam had been
reported leaking in nineteen seventy
seven, but unsafe dams aren't
limited to Colorado.
But we, too, have a problem with dams.
In fact, the Corps of Engineers has ruled
a two hundred thirty three of them right
here in the state of Texas are unsafe.
Six of them are right here in the
Metroplex. The unsafe dams in Tarrant
County are Lake Como,
Lake Worth, Luther Lake
and Dallas County, Lake, Cliff
Lake, June and Tisia Lake.
What makes them unsafe is their lack of
adequate spillways to handle the heaviest
rainfall imaginable.
Rainfall then would flow into the streams
and would overtop the dam,
would exceed the capacity of the spillway
and actually force the dam itself away.
This spring's rain was only a shower
compared to what the Corps of Engineers
is talking about.
But if it ever hits, it could be a
killer. If they failed, they would
cause a danger to loss of life to people
downstream.
The state auditor, Richland Hills
subdivision to drain its lake because it
was a safety hazard and the state has
been in contact with the owners of these
six hazardous lakes.
They want the dams in good shape
if the big rain ever hits.
Dan White, Channel 5, Action News.