Oroville Spillways Recovery Project Overview

Topic: Oroville Spillways Recovery Project Overview
Speakers: John Yarbrough, Department of Water Resources

When: Friday, November 15th, 2019, 12 p.m.–1 p.m.
Where: University Union, Foothill Suite, 3rd Floor (3011)

November 15th, 2019 Water Seminar Series Flyer

Topic Overview

Following the Oroville Spillway incident in February 2017, a substantial recovery effort was initiated to design and construct replacement facilities. This effort was complicated by the need to have functioning spillways available during the winter and spring to manage any potential storms, which also limited the time available for design, contracting, and construction. This presentation describes the challenges and approach taken to design and reconstruct the Oroville Spillways.

About the Speaker

John Yarbrough

John Yarbrough is a Principal Hydroelectric Power Utility Engineer at the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), where he currently serves as the acting Assistant Deputy Director for the State Water Project. John has worked in a variety of roles during his 20 years with DWR, including serving in the divisions of Operations and Maintenance and Engineering as well as managing the State Water Project's energy and electric transmission needs. John was an onsite incident commander for the Lake Oroville spillways emergency response effort in March and April 2017.

John has a BS in civil engineering from UC Davis, an MS in civil engineering from CSU Sacramento, and an MBA from UC Davis. John is a licensed civil engineer.