Repaired spillway at nation’s tallest dam to be deployed

OROVILLE, Calif. (AP) — California officials say the flood-control spillway at the nation’s tallest dam will be deployed this week for the first time since it was rebuilt after it crumbled during heavy rains two years ago, forcing nearly 200,000 people to evacuate.

Disaster was ultimately averted during the 2017 downpours, but Oroville Dam needed repairs that totaled $1.1 billion.

The Department of Water Resources says Sunday that the massive spillway has been restored to “full functionality.”

Officials say no more than 20,000 cubic feet (566 cubic meters) per second will be released down the spillway during expected rains on Tuesday. DWR says triple that amount could be released later in the week as more water flows into Lake Oroville.

The lake level has risen to about 50 feet (15 meters) from the top.