Oroville Dam ‘is holding up’

(“We’re cautiously optimistic.” - spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection)

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" . . . . . The weather brings more worries for communities south of Oroville Dam. Rainfall over the next seven days could total more than 12 inches.

The threat level has been reduced for residents living near the dam, but Butte County officials on Wednesday advised those returning to their homes to “remain vigilant and prepared.”

Helicopters dropped rocks and concrete into the erosion area every minute and a half late Wednesday night in “a manner that kind of glues the areas of concern,” said Bill Croyle, acting director of the California Department of Water Resources.

Erosion was a concern in three sites, officials said Thursday. The first site has been completely filled, while the other two sites are 25% and 69% filled.

“The dam is holding up, it’s structurally sound,” said Jay Smith, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The Oroville Lake level has dipped to 869 feet, 32 feet below the top. “Everything is going well,” Smith told CNN, adding that “we’re cautiously optimistic.”

But Hennen, the CNN meteorologist, said, “The next week of storms could potentially bring hundreds of billions of gallons of water into Lake Oroville, adding pressure back onto the already compromised structure of the concrete spillway and emergency spillway next to Oroville Dam.”

Source: http://ktla.com/2017/02/17/heavy-downpours-likely-to-test-repairs-to-oroville-dam-spillway/
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