"Oroville Dam Repair Costs Will Top $500M - Nearly 2x Initial Estimate"

"OROVILLE, Calif. — The costs to repair the nation's tallest dam after a nearly catastrophic failure of the spillways will top $500 million, nearly double the original estimate of $275 million, a California Department of Water Resources official said Thursday.

The $500 million figure reflects only the work by the main construction contractor, Kiewit Corp., to repair the spillways at the 770-foot Oroville Dam, said Erin Mellon, a spokeswoman for the state water agency.

It excludes the costs of other contractors and the emergency response in the immediate aftermath of the spillway failure, which prompted fears of massive flooding. Nearly 200,000 were ordered to evacuate, but disaster was averted."

Jonathan J. Cooper reports for the Associated Press October 19, 2017.

SEE ALSO:

"Oroville Dam: Flood Plan Calls For Keeping Lake Lower Than Usual" (Chico Enterprise-Record)