Oroville >> Will there be a viewing platform where the public can watch work being done on the Oroville spillway?

That’s the plan, according to Cindy Messer, Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Water Resources.

• The “green spot” on the dam, will that cause the dam to fail? That’s another question that has been circulating through people’s minds in Oroville.

The green spot is from rain, said Christy Jones, deputy director of statewide emergency preparedness and security for DWR.

“When the rain falls, the grass grows. There is no leak in the dam,” she said.

DWR has looked at this green spot many times, continued Joe Royer, an engineer with the department.

• When will officials know what went wrong with the spillway?

Hopefully by next fall. But first, a “forensics” teams is going to look at what could have gone wrong so that a bad design will not be copied when a replacement spillway is built, said David Gutierrez, also of DWR.

These and many other questions were asked during a public forum that took place in Oroville Tuesday night, part of a series of meetings DWR is hosting throughout the Sacramento Valley.

• Who will pay for repairs? How much will it cost?

So far, $274 million has been spent, and a contract has been made for another $275 million in repairs.

When the dam was built, bonds were issued, explained Gutierrez explained, to be repaid by water users, who are state water contractors. Normally, contractors would pay for the repairs to the spillway. However, because the spillway incident was a disaster, there’s a possibility the Federal Emergency Management Agency could pay for a “piece or a large part” of the spillway recovery, Gutierrez said.

Apology

With about 300 people in attendance, Messer began the meeting with an apology to residents.

“We are sorry. We are very sorry. I didn’t go through this, but for the disruption in your lives and for fear and anger and uncertainty you have lived with for the past several months, for all the heartache and distrust …” she said, an apology is due. She followed with a pledge to have repairs to the spillway done by Nov. 1.

“We hope we can build some degree of trust with the community. I know that’s a big ask, but that is our hope and that is our goal,” Messer said.

“We did not communicate as well as we should have at the beginning and we are trying to change that,” Jones said, including holding the series of public meetings.

The format of the meeting included a presentation about what happened and what happens next, followed by questions from the crowd.

More questions

Two men who work as fishing guides asked pointed questions about fish habitat and whether more fish could be bred at the hatchery to provide more fish are in the river. Two million additional fish was requested by Robert Dunn.

Eric See, of DWR’s Oroville field division, said there are regular conversations with state and local fish agencies about fish and habitat, but they need to wait until water levels drop to look at how much gravel remains and come up with a plan. As for cold water for fish, one of the questions raised by the men, increased flows this year should mean colder water flowing down the Feather River, See said.

Vince Brown, also a fisherman, asked about ponds along the waterway. Will those ponds be rebuilt and will the fish be replaced?

See, of DWR, said one of the pond locations was the only place with enough space for a large-scale excavator to move material.

“We have the intention of restoring that pond and plan to enhance and restore habitat,” See said.

What about ponds lower down in the river, Brown pressed.

See said that land doesn’t belong to DWR, and he would need to learn more to be able to answer that question.

Strong sentiments

Clearly, some in the audience do not trust DWR officials. One man stated plainly that he was “fed up with all of you.”

Tasha Levinson told the water officials that promises from way back when the dam was built have not been fulfilled, among them “tremendous economic benefits” that have never materialized. She said it would be nice if those promises would be fulfilled.

Another man, Don Blake, wanted DWR officials to pledge to keep the lake at half full to protect residents.

Officials said that wasn’t going to happen. Gutierrez said what’s needed is to provide as much time as possible for the construction crew to do their job this summer. Water managers are analyzing how best to draw down the lake to prepare for next winter.

Among the questions and comments, one woman also gave impassioned words of thanks to the “brilliant minds” at the department who she said saved lives and property. Her comments received applause from a number of people in the audience.

More meetings

Additional meetings with the public will be held by DWR. Each meeting will consist of an information session at 5:30 p.m., a presentation at 6:30 p.m. and then a question and answer period.

• Today: Marysville, Caltrans District 3, Sierra Nevada Room, 703 B St.

• Thursday: Oroville Church of the Nazarene, Fellowship Hall, 2238 Monte Vista Ave.

• Tuesday: Yuba City, Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds, Franklin Hall, 442 Franklin Ave.

• May 11: Chico Masonic Family Center, 1110 W. East Ave.

There is also a meeting scheduled for May 15 in Sacramento at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, 828 I St., beginning with an information session at 1:30 p.m., followed by a presentation at 2:30 p.m., then time for questions and answers.

Contact reporter Heather Hacking at 896-7758.