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After Teton Dam Had Failed

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After Teton Dam Had Failed The first and only failure of a cropland. Although most of the Reclamation dam with loss of endangered cropland was un­ life, destruction of property, and damaged or untouched by the disruption to the thousands of flood itself, the crops were in victims weighs heavily upon the danger of burning up due to Reclamation program and all widespread destruction of ca­ those associated with it. nals, diversion from the river, But if the character of organi­ pumping plants, and the like. zations, like people, can best be Thanks to a remarkable effort by judged by their actions in a time engineers and a support staff of crisis, the Bureau of Reclama­ recruited from throughout Rec­ tion and its employees deserve lamation-and outstanding co­ the highest praise for their re­ operation and prompt action by sponse to the Teton Dam dis­ numerous organizations and aster. individuals-we were able to This edition of the Reclamation restore service to practically the Era is dedicated to telling the entire acreage within a few story of how the Bureau of weeks. Reel amation reacted to this In July, following authorization tragic event. by the Congress to pay for direct In the wake of the dam failure, damages from the flood, people one of the immediate problems from throughout the Bureau facing the Bureau was the again responded as a team to restoration of irrigation service set up the unusual and difficult to some 427,000 acres of good 1 by Gilbert G. Stamm Commissioner of Reclamation claims program, which is con­ other by a group of professionals tinuing. representing various Govern­ Special credit and apprecia­ ment agencies. Final reports tion is due also to the other from these two investigations are Federal, State, and local agen­ not expected before the end of cies mentioned in the stories that the year 1976. follow which assisted in the dis­ The Bureau is eager to find the aster relief operation, and espe­ reason for this tragedy, and to cially to the Mormon Church, that end we are cooperating fully which conducted a well-orga­ with all investigative groups in a nized humanitarian effort to aid thorough analysis of the facts. flood victims. We hope that a cause can be We do not yet know why the pinpointed so the engineering dam failed. The cause of the community, and the people it failure is the object of two major serves all over the world, can investigations-one by an inde­ pendent panel of distinguished engineers and a geologist from outside the Government, and the 2 benefit from this unhappy expe­ of I ife can be traced directly to rience and take steps to prevent the development, conservation, it from ever happening again. regulation, and management of In the introspection following its limited water supplies for the Teton, we must not lose sight of benefit of people. all that the Reclamation program The failure of Teton Dam was has done for the people of the a tragedy unprecedented in the West and of the Nation through­ history of Reclamation. Yet it out its 74-year history. would be an even greater During those years Reclama­ tragedy, in my opinion, if those tion has earned a worldwide who have traditionally opposed reputation for engineering skill water resource development in the planning, design, and programs should succeed in construction of dams and a using the Teton disaster as a · multitude of associated water political weapon to stop all fur­ structures. Much of the West's ther development. Such an ex­ economic vitality and its quality ploitation of the Teton disaster would, if successful, deny the proven benefits of water re­ source development to millions of people for generations to come. ma 3 It was a beautiful, sunny Sat­ After taking a quick shower near the toe of the right abut­ urday morning-the 5th of June and changing my clothes, I drove ment, something not too unusual 1976. The agenda for the Wade the 9 miles to the Federal Build­ during the first fill of a reservoir. household, near Boise, was a ing and U.S. Courthouse in Steve went to get the water full day of yard work. But it was downtown Boise. My 15-year-old to make a pot of coffee. to be shattered by events taking son, Steve, had talked his way Within a few minutes we re­ shape some 300 miles to the into accompanying me to the ceived another call from Teton east, along the Teton River near office. His "pitch" was that he Project Engineer Robert Robi­ the Idaho-Wyoming border. would be able to make a pot of son. The situation had worsened. The first call came at approxi­ coffee and otherwise help us. It was a few minutes after 11 mately 9:30 a.m. from Glenn My snap judgment was that we o'clock and Robbie reported, Barker of the Bureau's regional might be at the office for several "We have a small hole opening office, Power Division, who hours answering media inquiries, about two-thirds up on the fill wears a second hat as regional and Steve could be of help to us. near the right abutment and a facilities security officer. He We arrived at about 10:45 a.m. whirlpool has developed on the called to say, "We have a prob­ On board were Stivers, decked reservoir side." lem at the Teton Dam. Thought out in his golfing shorts; Barker; My first question to Robbie you ought to know in case you and Brent Carter, our regional was, "Have the news media and begin to get some media geologist. I was quickly filled in the local authorities been noti­ inquiries." on the situation. Teton Dam had fied of the problem?" He assured About 30 minutes later the tele­ a leak in the rock canyon wall us they had. phone rang again. Assistant It was obvious we weren't go­ Regional Director Harry Stivers ing to be much help to him 300 was calling. The Teton situation miles away, so we asked if he had deteriorated. I told Harry I needed us there. He said, "Yes, would meet him at the office as I think I can use some help soon as I could get cleaned up. answering media inquiries." Stephen G. Wade is Regional 4 Public Affairs Officer for the Bureau's Pacific Northwest Region, Boise, Idaho. The Fi The Wilford Canal inlet dike in Teton River D by Stephen G. Wade The conversation with Robbie were only a few minutes beyond Within minutes we could see was short and to the point. We Idaho Falls when I sensed there it-a gaping hole in the 307­ had no sooner hung up the was something wrong. As I foot-high Teton Dam with water phone when Stivers was calling looked toward Rexburg and pouring from the partially Bill Ryder, one of two pilots for Sugar City, there appeared to be emptied reservoir as from a the region's Aero Commander. an area of sand dunes with trees giant pitcher. It was approxi­ Take-off time to Idaho Falls was growing out of them. I said to mately 2 p.m. There was stunned set for 1 p.m. Bill, " Is that water?" silence aboard Commander That allowed us time to get Bill replied, "It sure is." We N618. home and throw a few clothes realized the worst had happened. By this time, flying in the area in a suitcase before meeting at I turned to alert the others. had become treacherous. Light the airport. Stivers was taking a catnap. aircraft were flying in all direc­ Steve unplugged the coffeepot, Barker and Carter were enjoying tions, and Ryder and I were still cold, and we were off for the otherwise uneventful ride. I spending our full time spotting home. There I received the first media inquiry-from the Asso­ ciated Press. Bureau Chief Bob Leewright was calling about "a problem at Teton." I told him what we knew about it and our assessment of the current situa­ tion. I told Leewright we were on our way to Teton and would report back to him later that afternoon. I kissed my wife and boys goodby at the airport and climbed into the right pi lot's seat of Commander N618. As we approached the Idaho 5 Falls area, we decided to swing up around Teton Dam to see tapped Stiver's knee and he Below Teton Dam what we could from the air. We received what was probably the most startling arousing of his whole life. As he opened his eyes he could see the small town of Sugar City and its sur­ rounding farmlands-flooded. Teton Dam nearing completion, September 26, 1975 and avoiding them. We stayed In a few minutes we were on It was an eerie feeling travel­ above most of the traffic, about the ground at Fanning Field in ing north on U.S. Highway Idaho Falls arranging for a rental 6 8,000 feet above ground. 20/191. What traffic there was car. We made contact by tele­ was headed south. Checkpoints, phone and radio relay with stationed every few miles, were ''We have a problem Robbie Robison through our manned by State and local Palisades Project-on the South authorities. Our picture ID's, al the Teton Dam.'' Fork of the Snake about 50 miles identifying us as employees of south and slightly east of the Bureau of Reclamation, con­ The current of the water Teton-and made arrangements vinced the officers that we had dumped out of the reservoir, to meet him in Rexburg.
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