The Sacramento State survey released Friday shows 46% favor building the controversial Auburn Dam, while 24% don’t. Sac State professor Amy Liu, who conducted the poll, says supporters think a dam will provide flood and drought control, but conservationists believe it’ll hurt the environment. 

"Maybe the result of the survey will stimulate more debate in the region given the global conditions we have maybe it’s a good thing to have a debate and to look at the decisions we made 30 or 40 years ago because we have a better understanding of the environment."

Liu says support for the dam is limited since 30% of the respondents either haven’t heard about the Auburn Dam or haven’t formed an opinion.

Work crews started building the dam back in the 1960s. They completed the foundation. But construction came to an end in 1979 because of strong opposition.