Oroville Dam: A Case Study in Dam Safety
A near-catastrophe averted
In February 2017, heavy rainfall damaged Oroville Dam's main and emergency spillways, prompting the evacuation of more than 180,000 people downstream. This was one of the most serious dam safety incidents in the United States, and it raised important questions about the safety of our aging dam infrastructure.
What happened?
The Oroville Dam is a concrete arch dam built in the 1960s. It is the tallest dam in the United States, and it impounds the Feather River, which provides water to millions of Californians. In February 2017, heavy rainfall caused the water level in the reservoir behind the dam to rise rapidly. The dam's main spillway was unable to handle the increased flow of water, and it began to erode. The emergency spillway was also damaged, and there were concerns that it could fail, which would have sent a wall of water downstream.
Evacuation and response
State officials ordered the evacuation of more than 180,000 people downstream of the dam. The evacuation was orderly, and there were no reports of injuries or deaths. The dam's operators worked around the clock to repair the spillways, and the situation was stabilized within a few days. However, the incident raised important questions about the safety of our aging dam infrastructure.
Lessons learned
The Oroville Dam incident was a wake-up call for dam safety officials. It showed that even the largest and most well-maintained dams can be vulnerable to failure. In the aftermath of the incident, dam safety officials have taken steps to improve the safety of dams across the country. These steps include:
- Increasing dam inspections
- Repairing damaged dams
- Developing new dam safety regulations
- Educating the public about dam safety
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