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DWR Officials Look Into Unauthorized Explosion At Oroville Spillway, Halt Blasting

Thursday, July 6, 2017 | Sacramento, CA
California Department of Water Resources

The volume of water poses no flood threat downstream and should remain within the capacity of the Feather River and other channels to handle. Oroville Dam in Butte County itself remains safe with no imminent threat to the public. Photo taken Feb. 12.

California Department of Water Resources

Blasting at the Oroville Spillway work site is halted for the time being as managers figure out what was behind a recent unauthorized explosion.

California Department of Water Resources Chief Engineer Jeanne Kuttel says Kiewit Construction is meeting with state and federal regulators to modify blasting plans.

"Currently, it looks like there was some miscommunication, that's actually what being evaluated and discussed now with the quality control plan," Kuttel says.

Managers say, despite the blasting halt, plans are still on track to have a usable spillway by the start of the rainy season.

Crews are set to hit a milestone Thursday as concrete will be poured to build the new spillway foundation.

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