Taum Sauk Upper Dam Breach FERC No. P-2277: Technical Reasons for the Breach of December 14, 2005

In the contractual scope of work for each Review Panel member it was specified that the Panel should:
o Review the operational characteristics of the project including the overpumping protective systems leading up to the breach of the upper reservoir
o Perform a forensic evaluation of the breach of the upper reservoir dam to determine the specific failure mode o Submit a final report documenting the results of their forensic findings on the cause of the breach of the upper reservoir
o Continue as a panel of experts to assist the FERC staff in reviewing the analysis, design and construction of the remedial measures needed to re-establish the upper reservoir
In this report, the first three bulleted items above are addressed in detail. Reviews of the design and construction of re-establishment of the upper reservoir will be treated in subsequent Panel Reports.