Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Geophysical Infrastructure Study: Success Dam

Completed
By Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center December 21, 2018

A study site of the Geophysical Infrastructure Studies: Earthen Dams and Abandoned Mine Lands project.

Success Dam, Lake Success, Porterville, California

Success Dam is located on the Tule River outside of Porterville, California. Construction was completed in 1961. Previous USGS geophysical studies were carried out in 2006 on the downstream toe to help determine properties of the dam and its foundation after lateral heterogeneities with soft sand in the older alluvium and terrace deposits upon which the foundation rests were discovered through drilling. This study is in support of construction of a new spillway weir to increase storage capacity of Lake Success by 10 ft. The objective is to identify depth to competent bedrock with compressional- (P-) wave seismic refraction for weir design and exploratory borehole location purposes. The field campaign was conducted in December 2018.

seismic geophones on dam spillway
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Downline view of seismic P-wave geophones deployed in the northern portion of the Success Dam spillway in California. View is to the northeast.
scientists setting up seismic equipment near road
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Evan Cox (left, USGS) and Ron Galloway (right, USACE) deploying seismic equipment within the Success Dam spillway, CA. View is to the west.
scientists preparing equipment near truck
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Ron Galloway (left, USACE) and Kyle Lindsay (right, USACE) preparing the truck-mounted seismic accelerated weight drop source within the Success Dam spillway, CA. View is to the northeast.
scientists getting seismic data in field
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Left to right: Ron Galloway (USACE), Kyle Lindsay (USACE), and Evan Cox (USGS) acquiring P-wave seismic data with a sledgehammer source on the western slope above the Success Dam spillway, CA. View is to the south.
scientists getting seismic data in field
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Kyle Lindsay (left, USACE) and Lew Hunter (right, USACE) acquiring P-wave seismic data with a sledgehammer source on the eastern slope above the Success Dam spillway, CA. View is to the northeast.
dam, spillway, and lake in background
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Panoramic view to the southeast of the Success Dam spillway (foreground) and of Success Dam and Lake Success (background), California.

Return to main project page | Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

A study site of the Geophysical Infrastructure Studies: Earthen Dams and Abandoned Mine Lands project.

Success Dam, Lake Success, Porterville, California

Success Dam is located on the Tule River outside of Porterville, California. Construction was completed in 1961. Previous USGS geophysical studies were carried out in 2006 on the downstream toe to help determine properties of the dam and its foundation after lateral heterogeneities with soft sand in the older alluvium and terrace deposits upon which the foundation rests were discovered through drilling. This study is in support of construction of a new spillway weir to increase storage capacity of Lake Success by 10 ft. The objective is to identify depth to competent bedrock with compressional- (P-) wave seismic refraction for weir design and exploratory borehole location purposes. The field campaign was conducted in December 2018.

seismic geophones on dam spillway
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Downline view of seismic P-wave geophones deployed in the northern portion of the Success Dam spillway in California. View is to the northeast.
scientists setting up seismic equipment near road
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Evan Cox (left, USGS) and Ron Galloway (right, USACE) deploying seismic equipment within the Success Dam spillway, CA. View is to the west.
scientists preparing equipment near truck
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Ron Galloway (left, USACE) and Kyle Lindsay (right, USACE) preparing the truck-mounted seismic accelerated weight drop source within the Success Dam spillway, CA. View is to the northeast.
scientists getting seismic data in field
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Left to right: Ron Galloway (USACE), Kyle Lindsay (USACE), and Evan Cox (USGS) acquiring P-wave seismic data with a sledgehammer source on the western slope above the Success Dam spillway, CA. View is to the south.
scientists getting seismic data in field
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Kyle Lindsay (left, USACE) and Lew Hunter (right, USACE) acquiring P-wave seismic data with a sledgehammer source on the eastern slope above the Success Dam spillway, CA. View is to the northeast.
dam, spillway, and lake in background
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Panoramic view to the southeast of the Success Dam spillway (foreground) and of Success Dam and Lake Success (background), California.

Return to main project page | Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

Was this page helpful?