oroville dam

Where Levees Fail In California, Nature Can Step In To Nurture Rivers

6:57pm March 29, 2017

by Lauren Sommer

After devastating floods, California is looking to spend billions on dams and levees. Some are calling for a new approach to flood control, one that mimics nature instead of trying to contain it.

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Almost 200,000 people were ordered to evacuate after a hole in the emergency spillway in Northern California's Oroville Dam threatened to flood the surrounding area. Climate change could be a factor of extreme flooding in California.

With Climate Change, California Is Likely To See More Extreme Flooding

9:12am February 28, 2017

by Lauren Sommer

Dams and levees across California are straining to handle winter storms. The state's water system was designed a century ago, before climate change was an issue. Now, the system is being rethought.

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Chart: Oroville Dam reservoir storage in 2017 compared to 2000-2016 (in acre feet)

Oroville Dam Reached Capacity Faster Than Previous 16 Years

2:09pm February 17, 2017

The Oroville dam is the tallest in the country and has a capacity of 3,537,577 acre feet. It went over capacity last week causing massive evacuations and bringing attention to its damaged spillways.

The Oroville Dam's main spillway as seen on Feb. 14. Crews working round the clock since Sunday have made progress stabilizing this and another spillway damaged by water.

Oroville Dam Evacuations Lifted As Officials Say Structure Can Withstand Next Storm

11:14am February 15, 2017

by Rebecca Hersher

People who live downstream of the Northern California dam were allowed to return to their homes more than two days after the structure's concrete spillways suffered serious water damage.

Water released so far by emergency spillways at Oroville Dam in Northern California washed away roadways, eroded the landscape and flooded communities downstream.

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With More Rain Forecast, Crews Work To Reinforce Oroville Dam

1:38pm February 14, 2017

by Rebecca Hersher

Water damage to an emergency spillway on the Oroville Dam in Northern California prompted the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people from the area. More rain is forecast for the region this week.

In this scene from Saturday, water is seen flowing over the auxiliary spillway at Oroville Dam, after the lake level exceeded 901 feet above sea level. The water carved a path to the Feather River, in the distance.

Signs Of Hope At Oroville Dam, After Overflow Sparked Large Evacuation Sunday

9:22am February 13, 2017

by Bill Chappell

Lake Oroville's water level has finally dropped below its record high, after residents scrambled to comply with an evacuation order Sunday.

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Water flows over the emergency spillway at Oroville Dam Saturday in Oroville, Calif.

Officials Order Evacuation For Residents Below Damaged California Dam

10:34pm February 12, 2017

by The Associated Press

Thousands of Northern Californians near Oroville were told to leave their homes Sunday, as an emergency spillway below the country's tallest dam was in danger of unleashing uncontrolled flood waters.