page_title: Lake Oroville
section_title: Spillway emergency
hierarchical_section_title: Lake Oroville / Hydrology / Spillway emergency
caption_attribution_description: English: Aerial view from the west of Lake Oroville, the Oroville Dam, Thermalito Forebay and Thermalito Afterbay, and vicinity
context_page_description: Lake Oroville is a reservoir formed by the Oroville Dam impounding the Feather River, located in Butte County, northern California. The lake is situated 5 miles northeast of the city of Oroville, within the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area, in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Known as the second-largest reservoir in California, Lake Oroville is treated as a keystone facility within the California State Water Project by storing water, providing flood control, recreation, freshwater releases assist in controlling the salinity intrusion Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and protecting fish and wildlife.
  The lake is a popular nationally renowned bass fishing location, while coho salmon are stocked from the Feather River Fish Hatchery. This hatchery is a main component of Lake Oroville.
context_section_description: In February 2017, extreme precipitation and high spillway releases caused significant damage to the main concrete spillway. Due to this damage, releases were cut back and lake level increased to 101% of capacity, causing the emergency spillway to overflow for the first time in the Lake's history. Below the emergency spillway, severe erosion was noticed, and fear of a failure of the emergency spillway prompted an evacuation of downstream residents.
  Phase 1 of emergency spillway repairs was completed in 2017, and phase 2 is underway in 2018.
caption: Aerial view from the west of Lake Oroville, the Oroville Dam, Thermalito Forebay and Thermalito Afterbay, and vicinity
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