Oooops!!!

For Immediate Release
7/21/2010

Nikki Ripley
City of Tempe
Communication and Media Relations Director
480-350-8846 nikki_ripley@tempe.gov

Tempe Town Lake dam breach press conference set for 10 a.m. Wednesday

Tempe officials will brief members of the media at 10 a.m. Wednesday about the breach of a section of the west dam of Tempe Town Lake. They also will discuss the city's plans for replacing the affected dam section and restoring Town Lake water levels.

Mayor Hugh Hallman and city officials will discuss the incident and how the city will move forward to recover one of the state's most valued recreation destinations. The briefing will take place at the west dam near the Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway.

Additionally, city representatives will be available from 5-7 a.m. Wednesday near the west dam to provide information recapping overnight activities.

Just before 10 p.m. Tuesday, one of four large rubber bladders forming the west dam failed for reasons that are yet unknown. Tempe Police are investigating the breach.

Tempe had been working to replace the bladders for the the last year because they were determined to be reaching their life span earlier than anticipated. Bridgestone, the manufacturer of the bladders, had delivered two of the four replacement sections of the west dam. But the city and its contractor had been working to replace the sections but efforts were hampered in recent months by upstream water flows from snow melt and rain in other parts of the state.

Tempe Town Lake, which opened in 1999, holds about 1 billion gallons of water. Most of the lake's water is projected to be lost because of this breach. Some areas of the lake may be left with about three feet of water. The average lake depth is about 16 feet. At the peak of the flows Tuesday night, the water was estimated to be flowing over the west dam at a rate of 15,000 cubic feet per second.

When the city learned of the breach, it immediately worked to ensure that the Salt River bed west of the dam was clear of any people. The city also removed docks to accommodate the water flow. The lake is now officially closed to classes and boaters until further notice..

To find out more about the programs, services and amenities that makes our city great please visit:
http://www.tempe.gov/newsroom/.

---------- This list is a public service of the City of Tempe, Arizona

there was very little water in the "lake." Oops indeed!