Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • State Government
  • Environment
  •  

After Storms, Oroville, Brown Proposes Almost $500M In Flood Upgrades

  •  Ben Bradford 
Friday, February 24, 2017 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
@CA_DWR / Twitter
 

@CA_DWR / Twitter

In response to this year’s storms and the emergency at Oroville Dam, California Governor Jerry Brown wants to expedite a half-billion dollars in funding for flood repairs and upgrades.

If approved by lawmakers, the plan would only marginally increase the total amount of money for water infrastructure, but use already set-aside funds more quickly. That includes spending $400 million from the water bond voters approved in 2014 for local flood control projects over the next two years.

Other funding, including $50 million from designated in this year's budgets to catch up on levee maintenance, would instead be used to update emergency response plans, make immediate repairs in areas still at risk of flooding this season, and assess risks at levees.

The governor also called for new, deeper inspections of state and federal dams, after the near-collapse of Oroville Dam’s emergency spillway. Still, Brown rejects criticism that the state should have caught problems that led to the crisis.

Environmental groups warned a decade ago that unless the earthen spillway was reinforced with cement, it could erode in a flood.

"What about PG&E and their gas pipes? Everywhere you look, the bridge (the new Bay Bridge), this is what happens," Brown said. "And we try to correct and we try to do the best that we can. But if we want to guard against any problem 100 percent, you’d have to quadruple the spending, and that wouldn’t make any sense."

Brown has proposed $3 million for deeper inspections of spillways and outlets at state-owned dams, and asked the federal government to do the same.

Outside the press conference room where Brown announced his proposal, Kathryn Phillips of the Sierra Club said she agrees all infrastructure has risks.

"I think it makes it that much more important when organizations or individuals point out a real problem, that you should take that real problem seriously," Phillips said.

The proposal Brown announced Friday would seek to address near-term flood challenges, but the governor says the state has about $50 billion in long-term flood needs and lacks funds for them.

The Brown Administration projects damage from rains and floods this winter, including the Oroville Dam spillway, will cost upwards of $1 billion.

Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    More about Oroville Dam

  • Oroville Dam

 jerry brownfloodingOroville Dam

Ben Bradford

Former State Government Reporter

As the State Government Reporter, Ben covered California politics, policy and the interaction between the two. He previously reported on local and state politics, business, energy, and environment for WFAE in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Read Full Bio 

 @JBenBradford Email Ben Bradford

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More State Government Stories

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

Let’s make a deal: What to know about the California budget

June 29, 2022

AP Photo/Haven Daley

California’s change to concealed carry permits would reduce wide variations among counties

June 30, 2022

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

Deal pulls California plastic trash measure from ballot

June 30, 2022

Most Viewed

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 cases are increasing globally

Job cuts are rolling in. Here's who is feeling the most pain so far

The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. Here's what it means for California.

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 cases are increasing globally

Job cuts are rolling in. Here's who is feeling the most pain so far

The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. Here's what it means for California.

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.