VIDEO: How Quicksand Ruins a Dam View Larger Image Popular Mechanics » Dams often appear stable until they’re not. Quicksand, mainly known as a phenomena found in old movies, has a special role in the dam-building process that makes it a constant struggle for engineers. Practical Engineering takes a look at the seepage that can wreak havoc on dam sites worldwide. Michelle2018-01-12T10:57:57-08:00September 28th, 2017|California, Dams, Oroville Dam| Share This Story, Choose Your Platform! FacebookTwitterEmail Related Posts ‘A fiasco from the beginning’ — Caltrans’ costs soar on $1.1 billion San Francisco tunnels April 10th, 2019 The Boring Company: What 8 Cities Really Think of Elon Musk’s Tunnel Vision March 26th, 2019 Sea level rise could threaten California cities and ports by 2040 March 21st, 2019 Can America Still Build Big? A California Rail Project Raises Doubts February 25th, 2019 How can California capture more water? Competing interests will have to compromise February 25th, 2019 DWR doesn’t expect to use Oroville Dam spillway anytime soon — but it’s preparing if necessary February 22nd, 2019 UC San Diego’s earthquake simulator will soon give truer sense of deadly temblors October 13th, 2018 WATCH: Big rig driver tries to navigate steep curve, goes over embankment instead October 13th, 2018 Gavin Newsom says he would scale back the bullet train and twin tunnels if elected October 11th, 2018