Cost to Repair Oroville Dam to Be Over $1 Billion

By Pacey on September 5, 2018

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Officials said Wednesday that the cost of the crisis at the Oroville Dam spillway and auxiliary spillway has climbed to $1.1 billion.

Both spillways at the half-century-old Oroville Dam gave way in February 2017, forcing 200,000 people downstream to be evacuated. The feared uncontrolled release of massive amounts of water over the top did not happen, and residents were allowed to return home days later.

Previous cost estimates to repair the spillways were in the $870 million range.