OROVILLE — The process to recoup over $1 billion in repairs to Oroville Dam’s spillways after the 2017 crisis is receiving more federal funds.
The Department of Water Resources announced Feb. 1 that the Federal Emergency Management Agency released an additional approximately $308 million in requested funds for the Oroville Dam spillways reconstruction and emergency response. These funds are in addition to over $260 million that FEMA has already committed to for repairs to the lower portion of the main spillway and other work conducted in response to the emergency.
The additional funding request was initially rejected by FEMA but was subsequently approved last year following an appeal from DWR.
DWR Public Information Officer Ryan Endean said the appeal convinced FEMA to change its decision on funding.
“We appreciate the continued hard work of our partners at FEMA and the California (Governor’s) Office of Emergency Services, as well as our representatives in Congress, to ensure California received these funds,” said Ted Craddock, DWR deputy director of the State Water Project.
FEMA’s public assistance program reimburses applicants up to 75 percent of eligible costs associated with a federally declared disaster, through the Disaster Relief Fund appropriated annually by Congress.
According to FEMA Region Nine Public Affairs Specialist Robert Barker, FEMA had previously approved:
- $153 million (federal share) – to repair the lower spillway;
- $276,000 (federal share) – repair the emergency spillway;
- $71 million (federal share) – to fund other miscellaneous activities around the Oroville Dam complex.
The current approval is for an additional $307 million to help cover costs to repair the upper portion of the main spillway and relocation of electrical transmission lines. This brings the total reimbursement to $531.2 million.
”The dollar amount could go higher or lower depending on the actual repair expenditures,” Barker added. ”We won’t know the final amount until these projects are formally closed out.”
Technical advice
Endean said repair work has been underway since 2017 and wasn’t sure what could happen with totals if more reimbursement cannot be secured.
In total, DWR expects to be reimbursed for $630 million of the $1.2 billion cost of the spillway crisis through the public assistance program, he said. DWR continues to work with the Cal OES and FEMA to secure additional reimbursement funds for work on the emergency spillway.
Endean said this process is to secure additional repair and recovery work not yet completed, through ”other avenues” for additional funding to make up the cost through another FEMA program, Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant.
”We’re trying to reduce the cost that will be covered by the state] water project (that) any effort we can make to secure additional funding will reduce the cost burden on state water contractors,” he added.
