In the News
Butte County aims for DWR accountability regarding dam
OROVILLE — In its latest efforts to hold the California Department of Water Resources accountable regarding Lake Oroville, Butte County representatives met with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission officials last month to discuss the Oroville Dam relicensing process.
The county issued a statement Monday regarding both the process and the lack of benefits faced by local residents regarding the Lake Oroville reservoir…
September 4, 2026 | Chico Enterprise-Record
Butte County seeks Oroville Dam compensation, recreation benefits after FERC DC meetings
Butte County officials are pressing federal regulators for greater compensation and improved recreational benefits tied to Oroville Dam, following a trip to Washington, D.C., earlier this month to meet with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
The county said the meetings with FERC were productive and provided guidance on how Butte County and its residents can participate in the federal relicensing process for the Oroville Dam project…
September 1, 2026 | KRCR Chico-Redding
Butte County pushes for Oroville Dam accountability
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. — Butte County representatives met with leadership and staff from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in Washington, D.C., earlier this month to discuss accountability surrounding the Oroville Dam license.
County officials said the meetings were productive and provided guidance on how the county and residents can participate in the federal relicensing process…
August 31, 2026 | Action News Now
Bill Connelly responds to DWR’s statement about Oroville Dam
“DWR conceded noncompliance and submitted a revised plan in 1990 proposing no new facilities, citing ‘lower demand than projected,’” Connelly said. “DWR failed to build the recreation they promised, used the lack of visitors caused by that failure to justify scaling the plan back and now they try to declare victory for completing a fraction of the original commitment.”
“This justification is completely at odds with the philosophy they used to sell the project,” continued Connelly. “They claimed that if they built recreation facilities, tourists would flock to the area. It’s hard to attract millions of visitors to facilities that were never built.”
June 2, 2026 | Chico Enterprise-Record