The California Department of Water Resources began releasing water over the spillway at the Oroville Dam on Feb. 3, directors of Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District heard in a report on Feb. 19. According to General Manager Tom Neisler, the releases are to comply with flood control requirements intended to ensure that adequate storage is available to control storm runoff at the dam in Northern California that feeds the State Water Project, an important source of water in Tehachapi and other locations. Neisler told directors that the flow over the spillway varies but has been as much as 35,000 cubic feet per second this month. 

Related article:

• California Department of Water Resources: News release: Lake Oroville update – February 21, 2025