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Fact check: KCRA investigates Oroville Dam rumors

KCRA Updated: 10:42 AM PDT May 15, 2019

Emily Maher

Reporter

OROVILLE, Calif. (KCRA) —

Lake Oroville was 95 percent full on Tuesday, and that’s right where the California Department of Water Resources wants it.

But posts on social media are igniting a flurry of concern.

KCRA 3 spoke with county, state and federal leaders about the rumors.

CLAIM: The spillway is about to fail, again.

Findings: This claim is false. According to the Department of Water Resources, the spillway is fine.

“There are no issues with the dam or spillway,” said Erin Mellon, a spokesperson for the department.

The spillway was used in April to release water from the reservoir and “performed as designed,” according to Mellon.

That was the first time the spillway was used since repairs were made after it deteriorated in 2017, forcing the evacuation of more than 180,000 people.

CLAIM: The wet winter and melting snowpack will lead to too much water in the reservoir.

Findings: This claim is false. According Mellon, the water supply is being closely monitored.

“There’s about 200,000 acre-feet of storage remaining in the reservoir, which is a lot of water,” Mellon said.

She said water is being released as necessary.

“Just because we’re not using the spillway doesn’t mean we’re not releasing water from the reservoir,” she said. “Right now, Hyatt Powerplant is releasing about the same amount of water that’s coming from the snowpack.”

CLAIM: There was an earthquake in Oroville that could have disrupted the dam.

Findings: This claim is false. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, an earthquake has not disrupted the Oroville Dam.

A spokesperson for the USGS said a magnitude 7.5 earthquake near Papua New Guinea, on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, registered on equipment located in Oroville.

“Just because a seismometer near the Oroville Dam records an earthquake, it does not mean that the earthquake was near the Oroville Dam. USGS instruments are very sensitive, so we can see earthquakes far away,” wrote Paul Lausteen, of the USGS, in a statement.

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//www.kcra.com/article/oroville-dam-rumors-fact-check/27474872

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