Oroville Dam

Oroville Dam stretches 2109 meters (about 6900 feet) across the canyon of the Feather River, forming Lake Oroville in Northern California. The structure consists of a tall earthfill embankment, spillways and an underground powerhouse at the base.

Construction began in 1961 under the California Department of Water Resources and finished in 1968 as part of a statewide water project. The facility underwent extensive repairs in 2017 after heavy rainfall damaged the main spillway.

The name Oroville references the Spanish word for gold, pointing to the mid-19th-century rush that brought thousands of prospectors to this region. Today visitors and residents use the reservoir for fishing and boating throughout the warm months.

Viewing areas along the roadway offer views of the structure, while the reservoir itself has multiple access points for recreation. Parking and information stations are available at several locations around the water.

The spillway damage in February 2017 prompted the evacuation of about 188000 people from downstream communities, the largest such action in California history. Repairs continued into 2019 and involved completely rebuilding both spillway channels.

Location: Butte County

Inception: 1961

Official opening: 1968

Length: 2,109 m

Website: http://water.ca.gov/Programs/State-Water-Project/SWP-Facilities/Oroville

GPS coordinates: 39.53890,-121.48600

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:03