Oroville Dam, Embankment dam in Butte County, United States.
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.
Groundbreaking took place in May 1957 with relocation of the Western Pacific Railroad tracks through the Feather River Canyon. The Burns-Porter Act authorizing the State Water Project passed on November 8, 1960, and the embankment was topped out in 1967, with the project ready for use in 1968. In February 2017 both spillways threatened to fail, prompting evacuation of 188,000 people; the main spillway was rebuilt by November 1, 2018.
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.
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