The National Weather Service and Cal Fire have issued evacuation orders due to the imminent failure of the Oroville Dam Auxiliary Spillway.  Immediate evacuations are underway from Oroville to the Sutter County line, including Ovoville, Palermo, Gridley, Themalito, South Oroville, Oroville Dam, Oroville East and Wyandotte.  Also, Yuba County Office of Emergency Services has ordered the evacuation of Marysville and all of Yuba County.  Yuba County residents , including from Hallwood, Olivehurst, Linda, and Plumas Lake are urged to drive east, south or west..do NOT travel north towards Oroville.

Sutter County Office of Emergency Services has also ordered evacuations of the communities of Live Oak, Yuba City, Nicolaus, and residents along the Feather River.

Oroville Dam itself is not compromised, and is not considered at risk.  It is the auxiliary spillway that is a risk of failure due to erosion.

Expect heavy traffic into Nevada County from Yuba County residents evacuating to the East on Highway 20.

As of 7pm, the water level at Oroville Dam is trending down.  However, water is still spilling over the Dam’s second, or auxiliary spillway because it is at 101 percent of capacity. Calfornia DWR states in a news conference that a hole has developed in the auxiliary spillway which could cause its failure.  Efforts are underway to fill the hole with gravel and rock.

Emergency officials insist that all should evacuate along the low areas near the Feather River.  This is NOT A DRILL!