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Isabella dam: Ground zero
| Saturday, Jun 17 2006 8:20 PM
Last Updated: Saturday, Jun 17 2006 8:24 PM
Ground zero
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If Isabella Dam collapsed tomorrow -- a highly unlikely scenario -- residents in the Lake Isabella area could be the first inundated by 130 billion or so gallons of water currently stored in the reservoir.
Bonnie Myers said her home on Driftwood Avenue is on relatively high ground.
"I am in a risky spot, but nothing like the center of town," she said.
She takes a nearly mile-long walk along the auxiliary dam every day. She sees no point in worrying all the time.
Dam officials don't seem terribly concerned, she said, with their talk about years needed to study the problem followed by years to construct a fix.
"If they can do things out in the ocean," she wondered, "why can't they fix this?"
Eileen Chose, who lives on Crestview Avenue closer to the heart of town, said she's deeply concerned about the dam.
"I pray a lot," Chose said. "That's about the best I can do."
Complaining about it would just make her worry. Instead, she focuses on people who do "a wonderful job on it," hoping compliments and prayers hasten good answers their way.
Olin Brock, meanwhile, hasn't given the issue a second thought.
"I'm not worried about that dam," he said. "You're put on this earth to live so long, and there ain't nothin' you can do about it."
Since 1966, 85-year-old Brock and his wife have lived in their home on Canal Road -- where they'll be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary June 29.
Brock's only concern has been heavy water releases that cracked the westbound land of Highway 178 last month.
Other than that, life in the Brock household is smooth sailing.
"I enjoy life," he said. "Especially if I got a cold beer."