"Yet California officials have downplayed these concerns about the capacity of Oroville’s emergency spillway, which were raised by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Such extreme flows are a “remote” possibility, they argued in a letter last year. Therefore, further upgrades at Oroville aren’t urgently needed.
In a curt reply last month, the commission said this position was “not acceptable.” It gave the state until mid-September to submit a plan for addressing the issue.
The Department of Water Resources told The Times it would continue studying the matter. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission declined to comment."
Has the Oro emergency spillway upgrade created a viable overflow facility? What megastorm vulnerabilities does Shasta Dam have?
Hi Jim,
Tom Stokely mentioned that Ron Stork may know the answer. Also, found this: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/08/12/climate/california-rain-storm.html
From the article:
"Yet California officials have downplayed these concerns about the capacity of Oroville’s emergency spillway, which were raised by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Such extreme flows are a “remote” possibility, they argued in a letter last year. Therefore, further upgrades at Oroville aren’t urgently needed.
In a curt reply last month, the commission said this position was “not acceptable.” It gave the state until mid-September to submit a plan for addressing the issue.
The Department of Water Resources told The Times it would continue studying the matter. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission declined to comment."
Hi Jim,
Was unable to find an answer to your question but if we find it we'll pass it along.
Thanks for the questions Jim.
Found this article re: Shasta: https://walking-water.org/2019/07/31/jim-brobeck/
and will try to get an answer to your other question.