OROVILLE — The California Department of Water Resources has begun its nine-year project to replace the spillway gate hoists at the Oroville Dam.
Workers began the process of reverse-engineering the hoists Tuesday to open the door for replacing one per year in a project expected to be complete in 2031.
Scott Turnquist, DWR’s engineering branch manager for the Oroville field division, said the project is the result of years worth of planning in an effort to have large-scale maintenance on the dam. The construction window for reverse-engineering and eventually replacing the hoists can happen between May and October when Lake Oroville is typically at a lower water level.
The project is expected to cost $5 million.