We Need a Fair License

The Oroville Dam is overdue for a full license renewal. Butte County is urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reject a rubber-stamp renewal and instead initiate a full 50-year relicensing process to address key priorities. Before the next license is signed, the conditions in the first license must be met.

Priorities:

Complete the Promised Recreation Infrastructure

When DWR proposed the construction of the dam in Butte County, they employed the philosophy of "DON'T BUILD IT AND THEY WON'T COME." This approach suggested that the presence of the massive facility and robust recreation infrastructure would attract tourists to offset the financial burden they knew the dam would cause, instilling a sense of optimism in the local community about economic prosperity. However, after securing the vital power and water supply California urgently needed, the State inexplicably pointed to dwindling attendance figures as justification for abandoning the promised recreation facilities. Read that again. DWR promised to attract visitors with recreation, and then blamed a lack of visitors for not building it. You don’t blame low turnout at a concert you never held.

This broken commitment not only undermines the hopes of the community but also highlights a troubling disregard for the very people who were led to believe in a brighter future through the dam’s development. We must hold authorities accountable to ensure that the benefits promised are delivered, for the sake of both the local economy and trust in public projects.

Create a PILT (Payments In Lieu of Taxes) Agreement with the State of California

PILT are federal payments to local governments that have certain federal lands within their boundaries. PILT payments offset lost property tax revenue by helping local governments carry out vital services as firefighting and police protection, construction of public schools and roads, and search-and-rescue operations. Shasta County receives PILT from the Department of the Interior for hosting the Shasta Dam. In order to offset the estimated $20 million annual net loss due to dam-related impacts, at the bare minimum, Butte County should be compensated by the State of California for the $7 million annual loss of property tax revenue, under a similar agreement with the State.

Hold DWR Accountable for Ensuring Safety

DWR’s neglect and operational lapses of the dam led to life-threatening incidents. It is imperative that Butte County receive robust safety assurances to protect its community.