Nature proposes to be kind this week while men are working day and night to mitigate the problems that already built up due to poor planning and maintenance. Thus, Lake Oroville’s infrastructure disaster is a bit less disastrous today. Water flows on the primary spillway were shut down February 27th when the lake level was 63 feet below full (838 feet). This allowed the Department of Water Resources to evaluate damage to the primary spillway and begin to dredge debris from the river channel.
An estimated 1.7 million cubic yards of debris had accumulated in the channel at the base of the spillway and blocked water movement downstream. The lack of flow upstream of the spillway created high water at the base of the dam that prohibits use of the Hyatt Powerhouse and associated water releases from the dam base. We’ve been lucky to have a break in the rains, thus a reduction of water inflows to the lake. As of yesterday, March 2, inflows had raised the lake water level to 846 feet and about 110,000 cubic yards of debris have been removed. The lake is full and water will flow uncontrolled over the emergency spillway if the water level goes over 901 feet.
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Once the powerplant is operational, 14,000 cfs of water will be released at the base of the dam. Another rain storm is predicted to begin later today (Friday) and continue through Wednesday. DWR hopes to begin using the powerplant today to help with the increased inflows anticipated from this next storm series. Debris removal will continue. Water needs to be released into the river channel below the spillway and dam for survival of fish.
Flows necessary to meet environmental requirements in the Feather River down stream of the dam are being maintained at 2,500 cfs through use of water stored in the Diversion Pool and Thermalito Forebay and Afterbay. DWR and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife continue to survey the Feather River downstream of Oroville Diversion Dam and rescue fish that might become stranded in pools as the river level falls. [...]
Lake Oroville is not expected to rise above 860 feet elevation while spillway flows are halted. That lake level would be 41feet below the level of the emergency spillway. The current lake level is 846 feet elevation. Inflows are roughly 19,000 cfs, which has resulted in a three-foot rise in lake elevation since yesterday.
If Hyatt Power Plant function is not restored within several days, DWR will use the flood control spillway again to regulate reservoir levels.
Some perspective on the primary spillway’s size and the extent of damage from the release of 100,000 cfs of water to relieve the threat of disaster due to erosion on the emergency spillway. I previously provided background information on the events leading to the erosion of both the primary and emergency spillway.
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