On Site Independent Inspectors-representing the public
March 2007
To: Schoharie County Board of Supervisors
From: Dam Concerned Citizens, January 2007
The year 2007, is one of planning and design for the Gilboa Dam. Emergency repairs to the 80 year old dam included the installation of 80 post tensioned anchors. These anchors greatly reduced the risk of a sliding failure of the 1,134 long spillway structure of the 2000' long Gilboa Dam. The installation of the post tensioned anchors, the four massive siphons and the cutting of the 220' long X 5.5' deep "notch" in the spillway was accomplished in 2006. Thus, the immediate risk of a catastrophic failure of the Gilboa Dam has been lowered to a satisfactory level, for the short term. The FOS (factor of safety) now stands at 1.7 for normal or full pool levels of 1,130' above sea level and 1.4 for 50% of the probable maximum flood (PMF). This is a great improvement in the FOS compared to what it was a year ago at the Gilboa Dam/Schoharie Reservoir.
Major engineering evaluations and design are now underway regarding the next long and complex regime of "rehab" and reconstruction of the Gilboa Dam. During this lull in major reconstruction activity, it is important for DCC to pursue the creation of a position of Full Time, Professional, Onsite Inspector to be present at the next major phase of reconstruction at the Gilboa Dam work site, which is scheduled to begin in 2008. Several events experienced during the initial phase of repairs at Gilboa have made the need for on site observation and inspection of repairs, the results of which would be reported directly to the public, an absolute necessity. Last year, rumors occasionally came to the attention of DCC regarding certain problems and situations at the Gilboa Dam work site. Among the earliest of these rumors, which by the way was proven to be true, was a report of water and compressed air traveling from one hole (that had been previously bored in the concrete face and top of the dam) to another that was in the process of being drilled. Such "communication" between borings in a concrete monolith indicates fractures on the interior of the dam spillway structure. Also, as grout was being pumped into anchor holes, displacing air and water in these deep and large diameter holes, 230' x 16" in some cases, turbidity and bubbling was observed on the upstream face of the Gilboa Dam, on the surface of the Schoharie Reservoir. This was indicative of not only fractures within the dam spillway itself, but, also the weak, fractured nature of the bedrock, such as it exists beneath the Gilboa Dam and Schoharie Reservoir. This information did not come to the attention of the public via DEP and their offices of public relations, nor did it arise from a routine, orderly inspection process. Instead, it came to the attention of the public by what amounted to the efforts of well intentioned "whistle-blowers". Late in the summer of 2006, rumors began to circulate of a "gag-rule" being put into effect at the Gilboa Dam work site. This type of rumor is very difficult to substantiate as to both origin and authenticity. What is abundantly clear, is that it is terribly unfair for the public to be forced to rely upon hearsay evidence and gossip in order to be informed of problems encountered during the repairs taking place at the Gilboa Dam.
DCC knows that unforeseen difficulties have occurred and will continue to arise at Gilboa. This is typical of most construction projects. DCC has never engaged in rumor mongering or making statements not borne out by fact But, we believe that the public is entitled to know the facts as events unfold on the construction site. We will not be content with crumbs of information that are thrown to the public from time to time or with glitzy press releases that look at the world through "rose colored" glasses. The public deserves and demands the truth, as it happens. To bring matters up to date in this regard, rumors began to surface in December of 2006 of an oil spill occurring on the surface of the Schoharie Reservoir, immediately upstream from the face of the Gilboa Dam. It appears that nontoxic vegetable oils are required for hydraulic equipment used anywhere near water at the Gilboa Dam work site. Based on a reliable source, petroleum based hydraulic fluid leaked from a tug boat being used as a drilling platform for taking core samples of bedrock beneath the Schoharie Reservoir. There was a marked "flurry of activity" and the installation of a yellow containment boom on the Schoharie Reservoir, upstream from this alleged spill took place when the water level in the Schoharie Reservoir was below the 1,124.5' "notch" height, so probably little or no oil flowed northward over the dam spillway. Such a release is potentially problematic for the Village of Middleburgh which gets its water from an infiltration gallery adjacent to the Schoharie Creek. That a spill occurred at Gilboa, on the Schoharie Reservoir, is factual. The exact details seem shrouded in mystery.
It is unfair to workers on the job site to be placed in the awkward position of "tattling" about irregularities they see. They might put their employment at risk, as whistle-blowers are seldom popular with management, be it private or public. This is the year 2007. If every governmental agency from OSHA, FERC, DEP, DEC as well as private contractors and engineers can have inspectors on the Gilboa Dam work site, then the general public and the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors are entitled, no better yet, compelled to insist upon independent on site inspectors answerable to them, as to the truth of what is happening, reported in a timely manner. It is unthinkable that those living downstream of the Gilboa Dam be the last to know of problems as they arise, and arise they will, on the work site. To quote H.L. Menken, the great journalist who wrote for the Baltimore Sun in the early 20th century, "Sunlight is a good disinfectant!".