Dead Pool

09/02/26

“What happens when a reservoir’s water level becomes so low that it stops releasing water?”

Reservoirs store water. When a reservoir drops below the minimum release connection, the downstream river stops flowing, unleashing what people call Dead Pool conditions. Reservoirs that have reached dead pool status can stop providing power, irrigation, and drinking water to communities that depend on them. Dead pooled reservoirs are more vulnerable to sedimentation because extra sediment won’t get flushed out downstream.

Pore Water Pressure

09/01/26

“What’s special about the pressure exerted by water between tiny soil particles?”

Soil particles have empty pore spaces between them. Water inside these spaces will exert pressure between the soil particles called the Pore Water Pressure. The pore water pressure absorbs a portion of the total stress applied to the soil. A higher pore water pressure lowers total soil shear strength because it reduces friction between interlocking soil particles.

Lake Mead

08/31/26

“What’s so special about the reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam?”

The Hoover Dam is one of the most famous dams in the world. Nestled near Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam provides energy to over half a million homes, water to over 1.5 million acres of land and 25 million people (including some in Los Angeles and Mexico), and flood control for the region. The reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam is so large it’s been called Lake Mead. The creation of Lake Mead involved great devastation, including the submerging of Indigenous archeological sites and multiple towns. The water level at Lake Mead is an indicator of drought in the Southwest. As of writing, the water level in Lake Mead has dropped to nearly a quarter of its capacity, its lowest ever recorded level.

Work Softening in Soils

08/30/26

“Why do some soils decrease in shear strength after a certain amount of strain?”

Soils can resist shearing forces through soil shear strength. However, the soil’s shear strength can decrease after a point of increased strain as internal structures are rearranged. This Work Softening in Soils can lead to dangerous soil failures if too much strain is reached and the soil collapses with the structure over it.

Living Shorelines

08/29/26

“How can we stabilize shorelines using nature-based methods?”

Shorelines all over the world are subject to erosion by coastal forces. One way to stabilize them is to use nature-based methods such as planting vegetation and nurturing oyster reefs. These aptly named Living Shorelines can stabilize sand, filter runoff, fortify against erosion, and provide a beautiful place for all walks of life. Living shorelines provide a useful alternative to hard gray infrastructure such as bulkheads.