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Community Building and Management

How California Is Trying to Earthquake-Proof a Lake [Video]

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.

Lake Perris, a relatively small water reservoir (131,400 acre-feet) used primarily for drinking and agriculture, is the southern terminus of …

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