California Releases Water from Oroville Dam Spillway to Avoid Flooding
In preparation for snowmelt and to avoid flooding, California officials have released water from the main spillway at Oroville Dam.
The dam’s spillway, which was rebuilt in 2018, was opened for a flood control release for the second time in four years.
The State Department of Water Resources is monitoring water levels in Lake Oroville, which is currently at 75% capacity, above average for this time of year.
The department estimates that 20,000 to 40,000 cubic feet of water per second will come into the lake in the next few days, depending on how the storms materialize.
To prevent the lake from overflowing, 15,000 cubic feet of water per second will be moved out of Lake Oroville while the main spillway is open.
