[iframe id=”https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKCRA3%2Fvideos%2F10155022492371514%2F&show_text=0&width=560″]
video of Lake Oroville “Emergency Spillway” being used for first time in its 48 year history
skip to 21:00 in the video to see the hillside and road about to be affected
Lake Oroville is 100% full for the first time in its 48 year history and is currently using its “emergency spillway” for the first time in its 48 year history. Water just began to pour over the “emergency spillway” at about 8am PST and is only forecast to increase throughout the day today.
News Release: Oroville Dam’s Auxiliary Spillway Begins Flowing https://t.co/u805KR12bt @CALFIRE_ButteCo @CountyofButte @ButteSheriff pic.twitter.com/WD5YwrNZ5T
— CA – DWR (@CA_DWR) February 11, 2017
Carnage will soon ensue. The “emergency spillway” is a hillside full of trees, rocks, bushes, a road, and natural terrain that will all be affected once the water really starts pouring over it.
89,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water is currently coming into Lake Oroville while only 55,000cfs is being released. Hence the filling up of the lake and the need to use the “emergency spillway”. Yesterday, Oroville was filling at 101,000cfs and releasing around 40,000cfs.
Flow over auxiliary spillway between 6,000 and 12,000 cfs. No danger to dam or people. #OrovilleSpillway pic.twitter.com/DEetbZP9LV
— CA – DWR (@CA_DWR) February 11, 2017
Lake Oroville’s regulated spillway has been nearly completely destroyed due to the huge amounts of water running down it. On Tuesday a gaping 250′ long and 40′ deep hole appeared in the spillway that lead to its demise.
#OrovilleSpillway update: Still no threat to dam or the public. https://t.co/dpbiJTJXpv @CALFIRE_ButteCo @ButteSheriff pic.twitter.com/VCtyqWNinV
— CA – DWR (@CA_DWR) February 11, 2017
Lake Oroville is the 2nd largest reservoir in California behind Lake Shasta.
The California Dept of Water Resources says that the volume of water coming down from the Oroville dam isn’t expected to pose a threat to downstream area. They’re also saying that the dam is safe and that there’s no imminent threat the public in this region.
We’ll see…
CALIFORNIA DEPT OF WATER RESOURCES PRESS RELEASE:
February 11, 2017
Released 9:40 a.m.
Oroville Dam’s Auxiliary Spillway Begins Flowing
Oroville, California – The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) said the auxiliary
spillway at Lake Oroville started spilling water at 8:00 am today. This occurred when the lake level
exceeded 901 feet elevation above sea level.
DWR officials said the flow over the auxiliary spillway will range between 5,000 and 10,000 cubic feet
per second (cfs). This will combine with the flow from the primary spillway, which is currently at
55,000 cfs, and this will result in a total flow to the Feather River between 60,000 to 70,000 cfs.
This flow to the Feather River is expected to be about half the downstream flood system capacity and
consistent with releases made at this time of year in wet years such as this.
The volume of water is expected to pose no flood threat downstream and should remain well within
the capacity of the Feather River and other channels to handle. Oroville Dam itself remains safe and
there is no imminent threat to the public.
DWR and CAL FIRE crews in past days have been clearing trees and brush from the path water is
taking in the auxiliary spillway, which is an unlined hillside. The auxiliary spillway flows are expected
to wash soil and debris into the Feather River.
Lake Conditions including lake levels, inflows, and outflow can be obtained at:
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cdecapp/resapp/resDetailOrig.action?resid=ORO
2 thoughts on “VIDEO: Lake Oroville, CA is FULL & Using “Emergency Spillway” For First Time in 48-Year History”