Not exactly Oroville Dam, but a major project for Arcata nonetheless. Photo courtesy Mark Andre | City of Arcata
Mad River Union
ARCATA COMMUNITY FOREST – Reconstruction of the spillway for the Jolly Giant Dam in the Arcata Community Forest is proceeding.
The project includes a number of improvements to the aging dam, which once held back a reservoir that served as Arcata's water supply. The upgrades remove the legacy dam from regulation by the state's Division of Dam Safety, saving the city between $6,000 and $8,000 each year in fees.
Safety-wise, the modifications give water three ways to escape from the dam, should the old reservoir ever fill up in a major storm event – via the present under-damn culvert, through a secondary outfall pipe midway up the dam and finally, over the new spillway.
Hikers are asked to use a bypass trail and to watch for heavy equipment on Road #8.