FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – The Department of Water Resources updates efforts Tuesday, at the Oroville Dam.
They called it their “last press conference” on the Oroville Dam, as DWR Officials return to regular methods of communication.
Butte County Sheriff Korey Honea says they plan to have weekly calls with the Office of Emergency Services to understand better how to coordinate resources throughout the region,
Sheriff Honea says he’s optimistic and may consider lifting the evacuation warning by next week. He’s still trying to relay the correct information to the public, and urges residents to sign up for alerts through the Butte Sheriff’s Department and monitor their Facebook and Twitter feeds – and not listen to rumor.
“There was misinformation put out last night that caused a panic, and some concern, fortunately we were able to get ahead of that.” – Butte County Sheriff Korey Honea.
DWR Director Bill Croyle emphasized the spillway is working and elevations in their target range even as storms continue to hit the area.
“We have been working very diligently to develop contingency planning and gain better maps of affected areas to narrow zones where we have evacuation warnings in place, and we are working to deal with that as quick as possible.” – DWR Director Bill Croyle.
“We anticipate that our peak elevation that will come here shortly in the next 24 hours of 855 feet. What that translates to over the period of the storm we’ll see an overall reservoir change in elevation over six feet.” – DWR Director Bill Croyle.
When asked to give an estimate on the cost of repairs and updating the aging inadequate infrastructure in the state, Croyle would not speculate but said it will be the public that will pay for future improvements.
“Ultimately, we’re all taxpayers.” – DWR Director Bill Croyle.
Click below to listen to the story by KMJ’s Liz Kern
