New report details what caused near disaster at Oroville Dam

ByABC7 News KGO logo
Friday, January 5, 2018
National dam safety experts say long-term and systemic failures by officials in California and elsewhere caused last year's near-disaster at the nation's tallest dam.
National dam safety experts say long-term and systemic failures by officials in California and elsewhere caused last year's near-disaster at the nation's tallest dam.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- National dam safety experts say long-term and systemic failures by officials in California and elsewhere caused last year's near-disaster at the nation's tallest dam.

The report released Friday comes from experts appointed to investigate the causes of spillway collapses at California's Oroville Dam.

Both spillways at the half-century-old dam gave way in February 2017, forcing evacuation orders for nearly 200,000 people downstream.

VIDEO: Oroville Dam emergency spillway at risk of failing

Nearly 200,000 people are still under mandatory evacuation orders Monday night over fear the Oroville Dam emergency spillway could fail.

The independent panel of dam experts says the dam had inherent design and construction weaknesses.

The report faults California's Department of Water Resources and other regulators for allegedly failing to recognize and address those problems.

Click here for more of ABC7 News' photos, video and stories on the Oroville Dam.