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Lake Perris Emergency Release Facility, Perris Ca

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Lake Perris Emergency Release Facility, Perris Ca

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Perris Dam, located in Riverside County about 60 miles east of Los Angeles. It provides water supply for recreation, fish and wildlife enhancements also millions of Californians. The dam was constructed from 1970 to 1974 by the California Department of Water Resources

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Construction Begins on Lake Perris Emergency Release Facility Project

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Furthering efforts to modernize California’s water infrastructure and improve public safety, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is starting construction on the Lake Perris Emergency Release Facility project this month in Riverside County.

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Efforts to modernize California's water infrastructure and safeguard public safety in the event of an earthquake are taking center stage as the state's Department of Water Resources (DWR) begins construction on the Lake Perris Emergency Release Facility (ERF) project this month in Riverside County.

This ambitious initiative, taking place about 60 miles east of Los Angeles, aims to protect local communities and vital infrastructure by enabling safe water redirection in case a major earthquake or other emergencies occur.

The ERF project, part of the broader Perris Dam Modernization Program, includes building new levees, bridges and a local drainage system downstream from the dam.

These upgrades will allow water to be diverted safely away from Lake Perris through a series of levees and channels to the Perris Valley Channel in the event of a severe earthquake or extreme weather.

David Sarkisian, manager of dam safety services in DWR's Division of Operations and Maintenance, told Newsweek: "With Perris Dam identified as a high-priority state-owned dam for seismic improvements due to its proximity to nearby earthquake faults and large downstream communities, DWR began the Perris Dam Modernization Program in 2005."

"Without the program, Perris Dam would be less resilient to major earthquakes."

The lake itself sits near several seismic faults, according to the DWR, heightening the risk to 80,000 people who call Perris, the town that has arisen around the reservoir, home.

Notably, the project will protect a school, Interstate 215 and a nearby water treatment plant.

The construction, set to continue through 2027, is a big task. It will involve localized noise and traffic modifications, all while maintaining access to the Lake Perris State Recreation Area and fairgrounds.

The recreation area covers some 8,800 acres, incorporating the reservoir itself and the surrounding landscape.

Once complete, should a major earthquake strike and damage the dam infrastructure, the water in the lake will be quickly and safely lowered using the new system.

"In addition to serving DWR's needs with respect to Perris Dam, the ERF project helps build out local drainage infrastructure for the community," Sarkisian said.

"The channel to be constructed as part of the ERF project will help reduce localized flooding within the City of Perris through the conveyance of local storm waters to the Perris Valley Channel."

The project is slated to cost $62 million, according to Sarkisian.

Around a million visitors a year flock to the lake's beaches, according to California State Parks, a state agency.

Water levels in Lake Perris are at 1,578 mean feet above sea level, around 23 feet below its full level, according to the website Lakes Online.

The ERF project is part of a three-phase modernization effort for Lake Perris, which is the southernmost reservoir in California's State Water Project. Built in the 1970s, the lake provides water to millions of Californians, supports recreation and serves as the terminus for the East Branch of the California Aqueduct.

The first phase, the Perris Dam Remediation Project, strengthened the dam's foundation and was completed in 2018. The final phase, the Outlet Tower Improvements Project, scheduled for completion in 2029, will further enhance the lake's ability to manage water releases during emergencies.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about Lake Perris or earthquakes? Let us know via science@newsweek.com. Update 12/12/24 4:13 a.m. ET: The article was updated with comments from David Sarkisian.

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How California is trying to earthquake-proof a lake

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State officials have begun work to protect communities near a reservoir in the event of a severe quake.

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Aims to safely redirect water in case of emergency. Such as earthquakes as it protects the downstream communities

Project includes building new leeves, bridges, and a local drainage system drown stream from the dam

It's design will protect one nearby school also the interstate 215 and a water treatment plant

The main goal is to protect community and to reassure the dams reliability

* The construction will cause noise and lots of increased activities

A new parking area will be available to replace the parking area used for construction.

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I choose this project because I actually live 20 mins from this Lake. Growing up my family and I used to go down to this lake. Over the summers we would walk around and spend our days there. While I was doing some research about project I thought it would be very interesting to see what kind of projects they're doing where I lived. I came across this one and I was shocked to find out that they were starting new construction in this lake. Notably, this construction strives towards keeping the city safe. Reading these articles made me more aware that the city is planning on helping and upgrading the lake. While I read these articles I was shocked to find out that natural occurrences such as earthquakes could greatly impact the community. It was nice to read that the city was taking action to ensure its people safety. With that being said, I had never before paid much attention to the cities planning. In the past I paid more attention to the new exciting stores they were opening up like the new places to eat and the new places to shop. Nevertheless, this project definitely opened up my eyes and helped me see that my city does a lot more than simply adding new attractions; they truly care about the city and they strive towards keeping the whole community safe.

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Video: Lake Perris Emergency Release Facility

The video highlights how the Lake Perris dam area has changed over time — and how it will change in the future. The area in which the dam sits has grown significantly. Neighborhoods surrounding the dam have become densely populated areas. And, as a result of the dam, they are potentially vulnerable areas. Large earthquakes or extreme weather can affect the dam. The video, then, highlights a years-long, multi-phase project to improve performance of the dam during seismic shaking, and develop new levees and a new channel in case the lake needs to be lowered during an emergency. This part of the project has the additional benefit of collecting and conveying stormwater from nearby Perris and Moreno Valley — protecting and aiding against local flooding. Collectively, this project improves safety and ensures more reliable water supply to the community.

Article: How California Is Trying to Earthquake-Proof a Lake

This article highlights the sheer number of people that could be affected by a dam failure in the event of a major earthquake. Almost 80,000 people in nearby Perris could be affected — as would a school, an interstate, and a water treatment plant. Without the years-long modernization efforts started in 2005, the Perris Dam would be far less resilient to major earthquakes. The construction is a large undertaking, yet they hope to avoid affecting local businesses and maintain access to the Lake Perris State Recreation Area and fairgrounds. Further, the article serves as an additional reminder of how important infrastructure projects like the Perris Dam are: millions of Californians get their water from the reservoir the dam creates. Any failure could have massive impacts on these individuals, too.

Article: Construction Begins on Lake Perris Emergency Release Facility Project

This informational news release provided by the State of California Department of Water Resources discusses one important aspect of major infrastructure projects, like the Perris Dam improvements: the countless impacted individuals and groups. Projects materially impact countless people, and, as we’ve discussed at some length in this class, public meetings are an essential step of any undertaking of this size. But those impacted go beyond just the community, as the news release notes: the county, city, utility companies, and fairgrounds have all been involved with meetings going back as far as 2013 to discuss the project and the impact its construction will have.

Personal reflection

The personal reflection makes it clear just how personal this project is to you and your life. This project is occurring in your backyard and can have material impacts on your life. Arguably most importantly, though, as you note, is the reality that this project — like so many others we encounter in our daily lives — exists in the background. The completion of this project (and, more so, failure to complete this project) could have severe consequences in the event of earthquakes or other events that affect the safety of the dam. But, as you note in your reflection, it goes unnoticed: by you, but also, likely, many others in your community.

Your reflection serves as a reminder of all the projects that occur around us — most of which we will never pay attention to, but that greatly impact our lives. We never think about dams when they don’t fail, but countless planners and engineers did and do. It may not be flashy (it’s not, as you allude to, a new business opening up, which may be more exciting), but it is very important, nonetheless.