The domino effect is no longer accurate?
On June 29th, 2010 at a special meeting with the BPW, GZA, DPW, The Friends, and Essex Partnership, both GZA and BPW conceded that the worst-case scenario of a 500-year storm and a dam failure would not happen. (The worst case states that GZA said would so flood the Middle Roberts reservoir that it would create a ‘domino effect’ and take out additional dams, endangering everyone in Leeds). The fact is , there is significant acreage for floodplain and the distance between the two bodies of water which will slow any flood of water and would not create the calamity that was stated by GZA. This echoes the findings of other engineers who are asking that the BPW revisit this scenario. Once changed, it makes sense to request a reduction in hazard class (which will save money for decades to come). In addition, BPW and GZA conceded that any 500-year flood would cause the Mill River to inundate Leeds, without any change in the Upper Roberts Dam.
