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.