OROVILLE UPDATE: Final 2017 Construction Plans for Lake Oroville Spillways Project Approved (with video).
Today, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) provided an update on construction work on the Lake Oroville Spillways Emergency Recovery Project.
DWR received authorization to proceed with its final 2017 construction plan from the California Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on July 13 and 15 respectively.
The independent Board of Consultants (BOC) also approved DWR’s construction plans last month pending final approval from FERC.
The first phase of construction includes: Removal and reconstruction of 2,270 feet of the main spillway.
The remaining construction will be completed in 2018, which will also need federal and state approval, includes: Addition of structural concrete to the entire main spillway.
Construction of a roller-compacted concrete buttress (sloped wall) and splashpad on the emergency spillway to dissipate the energy of any waterflows.
The current lake level at Lake Oroville is 800 feet, and reservoir releases into the Feather River are now at 6,500 cfs.
DWR this week finished hosting its second round of community meetings to update residents about the Lake Oroville Spillways project.
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OROVILLE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: Lake Oroville Spillways Work Continues, Updates on Related Activities.
In the past two weeks, Kiewit has focused on removing the lower 2,000 feet, or lower chute, of the gated flood control spillway (also known as the main spillway.)
Kiewit, last week, began preliminary foundation preparation work where portions of the new lower chute will be constructed.
Kiewit continues to use controlled blasting to break away rock and concrete from the portions of the chute that will be removed and replaced this year.
Board of Consultants (BOC) Memo 6 The sixth BOC memo was transmitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Lake levels update DWR will manage observed and forecasted reservoir inflow with necessary releases to achieve a safe and reasonable lake level into the fall that takes into account the needs for public safety first and foremost.
The lake level was 825 feet.
In 2015 there were 25,300 visitors and the lake level was 740 feet.
Siren for construction emergencies installed DWR on Friday tested a siren installed near the main spillway to alert workers on site of a construction-related emergency.
DWR is committed to informing the surrounding communities and the general public about the work being done to repair the spillways at Lake Oroville and related impacts to roads, recreation, public access and surrounding infrastructure and ecosystems.

THIS JUST IN … Fifth Memo from Board of Consultants on Oroville Spillways Available.
From the Department of Water Resources: The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today posted the fifth memo prepared by the independent Board of Consultants (BOC) regarding the spillways at Lake Oroville.
Following prior protocol set for the release of all BOC documents, the memo has been released with Critical Energy Infrastructure Information (CEII) redacted.
The BOC is tasked with providing feedback and oversight on DWR’s design and construction plans for recovery of the Lake Oroville spillways.
The BOC uses an iterative process to collect and provide this feedback, and this is the fifth memo prepared for DWR in that process.
The fifth memo from the Board of Consultants is posted here: http://www.water.ca.gov/oroville-spillway/bocreports.cfm Along with the redacted memo, DWR has also posted a summary of the memo.
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OROVILLE UPDATE: Spillway Work Continues, Construction Update.
The following is an update from the Department of Water Resources (DWR) about construction-related activities on the Lake Oroville Spillways Recovery project.
DWR is committed to informing the public about the work being done to repair the damaged spillways and related impacts to roads, recreation, public access and surrounding infrastructure.
DWR is improving construction access to the gated (main) spillway for construction activities by using controlled blasting to remove portions of the exposed rock.
These releases will lower Lake Oroville levels and continue making space for expected snowmelt.
The gates are anticipated to close between May 20-25 to allow for critical construction work on the main spillway.
This is expected and will not delay construction.
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DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: Silicon Valley’s mission to save California ag; North Coast lawmakers urge Brown to declare statewide salmon disaster; Fluctuating Feather hurting fish habitat; States move to roll back environmental rules in Trump’s wake; and more ….
; USBR awards funds for fish passage solutions; States move to roll back environmental rules in Trump’s wake; and more … In the news this weekend … Silicon Valley’s mission to save California ag from dying of thirst: “When George McFadden sits at his computer to analyze crop photos, he looks like a doctor pointing out trouble spots on an X-ray.
… ” Read more from the Appeal-Democrat here: Fluctuating Feather hurting fish habitat The state of our dams: “From their homes, San Joaquin County residents cannot see the dozen-plus large dams that stand between them and a mammoth melting snowpack.
“The drought is over, but that doesn’t mean the end of calamity for Northern California.
… ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: The drought is over.
USBR awards funds for fish passage solutions: “The US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) has awarded prizes totaling $20,000 to four submissions as part of its downstream fish passage at tall dams’ prize competition.
… ” Read more from Bay Nature here: Sharks are dying by the hundreds in San Francisco Bay San Joaquin County river levels expected to remain high: “High water levels along rivers and in reservoirs are keeping emergency management teams on alert.
… ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: San Joaquin County river levels expected to remain high Merced River to start receding in Yosemite, but some flooding still possible: “Minor flooding continued in Yosemite National Park Saturday as the Merced River rose above flood stage in one stretch, the result of melting snow in the Sierra.
… ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Merced River to start receding in Yosemite, but some flooding still possible Mammoth snowmelt making rivers so dangerous that ‘if you fall in, you’re done’: “The deaths of five people in two Tulare County rivers in less than a month are prompting officials to warn the public about the dangers of rushing water fed by the heavy snowpack now melting in the Sierra.
Maven’s Notebook where California water news never goes home for the weekend

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) **BOTTOM IMAGE** OROVILLE, CA – APRIL 11, 2017: The Enterprise Bridge passes over a section of Lake Oroville on April aa, 2017 in Oroville, California.
Much of California’s landscape has turned from brown to green as California Gov.
Much of California’s landscape has turned from brown to green as California Gov.
Much of California’s landscape has turned from brown to green as California Gov.
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) **BOTTOM IMAGE** SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 10, 2017: Much of California’s landscape has turned from brown to green as California Gov.
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) **BOTTOM IMAGE** OROVILLE, CA – APRIL 11, 2017: A view of Bidwell Marina at Lake Oroville on April 11, 2017 in Oroville, California.
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) **BOTTOM IMAGE** OROVILLE, CA – APRIL 11, 2017: A view of Bidwell Marina at Lake Oroville on April 11, 2017 in Oroville, California.
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) **BOTTOM IMAGE** OROVILLE, CA – APRIL 11, 2017: A view of Bidwell Marina at Lake Oroville on April 11, 2017 in Oroville, California.
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) **BOTTOM IMAGE** OROVILLE, CA – APRIL 11, 2017: A view of Bidwell Marina at Lake Oroville on April 11, 2017 in Oroville, California.
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) **BOTTOM IMAGE** OROVILLE, CA – APRIL 11, 2017: The Enterprise Bridge passes over a section of Lake Oroville on April 11, 2017 in Oroville, California.

DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: Why Oroville Dam woes could cut into California water supplies; Melting snowpack and sinking land threaten valley communities with flooding; Joint letter pledges to develop the Temperance Flat Reservoir project; and more ….
… ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Why Oroville Dam woes could cut into California water supplies Oroville Dam documents kept secret by the state, federal officials: “Citing potential security risks, state and federal officials are blocking the public’s ability to review documents that could shed light on repair plans and safety issues at crippled Oroville Dam.
The spillway boat launch parking lot was also completely flooded.
… ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Melting snowpack and sinking land threaten valley communities with flooding The big melt: Here it comes, most reservoirs will be fine: “Reservoirs are no longer so frighteningly full, rivers are no longer flowing so fiercely, and it appears the threat of serious flooding has diminished in low-lying San Joaquin County.
… ” Read more from the Stockton Record here: The big melt: Here it comes, most reservoirs will be fine Joint letter pledges to develop the Temperance Flat Reservoir project: “A joint letter pledging collaboration to develop the Temperance Flat Reservoir project was signed by four agencies representing water users in the San Joaquin Valley at Fresno City Hall on Friday.
… ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Joint letter pledges to develop the Temperance Flat Reservoir project In commentary this weekend … California greets a bleak salmon season: The Santa Rosa Press Democrat writes, “This week’s news included warnings about potential flooding as temperatures rise and the Sierra’s mammoth snowpack begins to melt.
For several years, the district has been working to clean up and alter Almaden Lake.
If the board decides the county should cover that cost — estimated at $6.1 million — that would reverse the position it took back in November, when it agreed to act as lead agency for areas required to do groundwater planning, but only if property owners agreed to cover the costs.
… ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: San Luis Obispo County Supervisors should stay the course How much rain has Southern California received?
Maven’s Notebook where California water news never goes home for the weekend

“This year to date, we’ve been running at a record pace for the majority of the winter in terms of the amount of precipitation that we’ve seen in the Northern Sierra,” he said.
The average for the northern Sierra is 50” for the water year.
The January-February inflow was 4.4 MAF which is equal to the average annual inflow into Lake Oroville.
“If you recall, we’re well over 200% of average on precipitation and about 166% on snowpack, so what that tells us essentially is we’ve been seeing the volume of precip has been coming in a warmer form than would be average, so that’s why the snowpack is not keeping up with the volume in terms of precipitation.” He noted that the snowpack number is a little bit closer on the Central and Southern Sierra, and there is still a concern moving into the spring of being able to manage the snowmelt that’s going to occur on the San Joaquin basin.
“So the 50% exceedance would include all of the snowpack melt that’s occurred as of March 1st plus precipitation that would occur on average from that point forward.
“Those are all based on those inflows into those reservoirs and the Sacramento Valley.” “To date, we’re running 282% of average in terms of runoff,” he said.
“That also tells you that the storms have been warmer than average because we’re 200% of average on precipitation but we’re 282% in terms of runoff, so typically more of the precipitation would have fallen as snow than it did this year and would runoff later in the year.” With respect to where we were last year, last year there was about average precipitation but runoff was only 6.7 MAF versus the 22.1 MAF, so over three times more runoff so far this year than last year, Mr. Leahigh said.
For Delta outflows just since January 1st , 26 MAF of outflow went out the Golden Gate, so 26 Folsom Reservoirs just since January 1st of water that had to be passed through for flood control purposes in order to continue to hold that vacant storage for snowmelt and for any subsequent precipitation events that could occur from this point forward.” He said that reservoir storage on the San Joaquin system is very high right now, so they are working to create as much of a hole in the tributary reservoirs in order to absorb that snowpack when it does start to melt off a little bit later this spring.
We have some uncertainties with Lake Oroville, but in years like this, there are a lot of other flows that are coming into the Delta so that we’re much less reliant on storage from Lake Oroville in the very wet years, so we’re looking for opportunities to increase that allocation as we move forward in the spring.” To conclude, Mr. Leahigh showed a comparison of the this year’s drought monitor compared to last year at about the same time.
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PHOTO GALLERY: This weekend at Oroville Dam.
Damaged spillway returns to use; other work continues From the Department of Water Resources: By mid-afternoon on Friday March 17, 2017, the California Department of Water Resources had increased the water outflow from the gates of the Lake Oroville flood control spillway to 40,000 cubic feet per second.
Kelly M. Grow/ California Department of Water Resources Friday morning at 11 a.m., the California Department of Water Resources reopened the gates to the damaged Lake Oroville flood control spillway to bring down the lake level to accommodate the inflow waters from rain and snowmelt expected over the next week at the Butte County site.
Kelly M. Grow/ California Department of Water Resources Around noon on Friday March 17, 2017, the California Department of Water Resources had increased the water outflow from the gates of the Lake Oroville flood control spillway to 40,000 cubic feet per second.
Kelly M. Grow/ California Department of Water Resources Friday morning at 11 a.m., the California Department of Water Resources reopened the gates to the damaged Lake Oroville flood control spillway to bring down the lake level to accommodate the inflow waters from rain and snowmelt expected over the next week at the Butte County site.
Kelly M. Grow/ California Department of Water Resources The California Department of Water Resources continued to release water from the Lake Oroville flood control spillway at an outflow of 41,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) on Saturday March 18, 2017.
Ryan McKinney / California Department of Water Resources The California Department of Water Resources continued to release water from the Lake Oroville flood control spillway at an outflow of 41,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) on Saturday March 18, 2017.
Ryan McKinney / California Department of Water Resources, FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY The California Department of Water Resources continued to release water from the Lake Oroville flood control spillway at an outflow of 41,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) on Saturday March 18, 2017.
Ryan McKinney / California Department of Water Resources The California Department of Water Resources continued to release water from the Lake Oroville flood control spillway at an outflow of 41,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) on Saturday evening March 18, 2017.
Ryan McKinney / California Department of Water Resources

Flows out of the Hyatt Power Plant are at 12,900 cfs.
We’re modeling and forecasting that twice a day, rerunning our reservoir models and looking at what that might do to reservoir elevations, and that will impact when we start stepping down the reservoir from 50,000 to 40,000 and if there’s some other steps as we go down to ultimately zero about a week from now.” “The Hyatt Power Plant is running right now at 12,900, so as we step up our flows on the spillway today, we’ll start backing off on the Hyatt Power Plant.
The idea is to make sure nothing moves around while we go through this spill event.
If we have a mild cool spring, early summer, then our models suggest we can get away two spills, including this spill today, so the operation of the Hyatt Power Plant is very helpful, to not only get water out of the reservoir, but help balance downstream water conditions within the flood control system.” “In other words, with Hyatt operating, we’ll have about 13,000 cfs, any water that we can spill out of the spillway or come out of the Thermalito afterbay will help minimize these large elevation changes within the river system all the way down the system.” “We do have flood operations.
So we expect that with the 50,000 cfs, again we’ll be balancing those flows today between Hyatt Power House going to 0, discharges from the Thermalito Afterbay, and then ultimately the spill off the spillway all through the number of hours midday today.” “We expect water levels within the Feather River to move up between 10 and 15 feet depending upon the geometry within that flood control system, so an important message today is please stay out of the flood control system.
At some point, we won’t be able to get additional water over the spillway, so again that water has to come through that Hyatt Power Plant.” “The work on the emergency spillway is almost done.
So this week, a number of drill rigs have been mobilized to the site to start collecting the geotechnical information that they need to start vetting out all the information they need to kind of fine tune the corrective actions or the mitigation actions that are needed to reinforce and repair the flood control spillway and the emergency spillway.” “There are some no regrets projects that we’re moving fast on.
We need to make sure the resources are available to do one or more options.
We’re doing two because if there’s a critical flaw in any of that – schedule, resource needs, or just the design, then we can off that and choose the other option.” The latest pictures from the Department of Water Resources … Erosion control measures and dredging continues along the diversion pool below the Lake Oroville flood control spillway on March 15, 2017.
Kelly M. Grow/ California Department of Water Resources The latest video from Department of Water Resources … ——————————————– Sign up for daily email service and you’ll always be one of the first to know!