The US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) is conducting studies to assess the resistance of the Wanship dam to earthquake loading. The 53m high earth dam, located on the Weber river in Utah, was built in 1957 on an alluvial foundation of sand, silt and clay. The USBR study will investigate the liquefaction potential of the foundation materials and estimate the deformations that could occur in the dam, if the foundation materials liquefied due to earthquake loading.
The dam provides storage for irrigation water supply and hydro power development. The current USBR study is being carried out under the Safety of Dams Act of 1978 and 1984 and is considered routine for dams under federal jurisdiction.
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