BOR to investigate Fresno Dam

The Bureau of Reclamation is going to conduct geotechnical investigations at Fresno Dam from later this month to early October.

According to a press release from BOR, the investigation is part of their Safety of Dams Program, which is designed "to help determine embankment and foundation characteristics for use in verifying the continued safe operation of the facility."

When the investigations are conducted, they will drill several "exploratory" holes into the dam embankment and trench excavations downstream. This will cause them to have to close the dam road to a 10-foot single lane. No changes to the reservoir operations is expected.

Jack Conner of the BOR, said the inspection is fairly routine.

"We're looking for how the structure's doing at this point in time," Conner said. " ... It is going to impede traffic for a little bit."

Conner said they are not expecting to find anything wrong with the integrity of the dam, but that is what the inspection is designed to find out.