OROVILLE, Calif. - The flood-control spillway at the nation’s tallest dam will be deployed this week for the first time since it was rebuilt after it crumbled during heavy rains two years ago, forcing nearly 200,000 people to evacuate, California officials said Sunday. Disaster was ultimately averted during the 2017 downpours, but Oroville Dam needed repairs that totalled $1.1 billion. No more than a relatively gentle 20,000 cubic feet (566 cubic meters) per second will be released down the spillway during expected rains on Tuesday, the statement said. Triple that amount could be released later in the week as more water flows into Lake Oroville. Article Continued BelowThe dam was releasing water at around 50,000 cubic feet (1,416 cubic meters) per second in February 2017 when a giant crater erupted in the main spillway.

Source: thestar March 31, 2019 21:45 UTC