WEBVTT

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(upbeat music)

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- [Mike] Being able to control the water flowing

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out of Lake Guajataca is critical to completing repairs

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to the dam spillway damaged by Hurricane Maria.

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Below the surface of the 11 billion gallon reservoir,

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intake gates hold the key

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to safely lowering the level of the reservoir.

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So those repairs can continue to move forward.

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- Gate C and Gate B are the main intakes

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for the

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intake structure,

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and Gate A has been permanently closed intentionally.

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It's at a much lower elevation,

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and so Gate B and Gate C are critical to the release

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of outflow from the dam structure

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to try and bring the reservoir down

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to a safer level for dam safety.

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- The thing we gotta do now

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is bring the level of the water down.

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So that we can start to make repairs.

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- [Mike] The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority

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which owns and operates the dam,

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called in a diver to get a better look at the gates

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controlling the water flowing from the reservoir,

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and that's where the U.S Army Corps of Engineers expertise

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in assessing was solved.

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- We were aiding in technical assistance

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in oversight

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of the diver operation, and just looking over his shoulder,

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and trying to gather information from the diver

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as they set divers in the water.

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We were on a fact finding sort of mission

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for the diving operation.

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- [Mike] Keeping in constant contact

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with the support team above the surface,

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the diver was guided on exactly what to look for

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as examined in scape.

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- [Man] Right in there, could be a guide through the gate.

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- [Diver] That's a negative.

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- [Mike] The nearly two hour operation helped discover

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that there is damage to at least one of those gates.

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- Our assessments today will help make decisions

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for how we evaluate the risk associated with the dam,

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and what strategies we may use in order

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to implement the permanent and phase two repairs,

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and then phase three repairs moving forward.

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- [Mike] By drawing down the reservoir now,

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it will keep the spill away from having to be used

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if any significant rainfall occurs

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while repairs are being made.

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Mike Glasch, U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Puerto Rico.