This is clearly not a damned if you do or damned if you don't. Back in mid January the Sierra snow pack was at near record levels. That was ignored by DWR. Oroville Dam was built as a direct reaction to the devastating floods in Yuba City in 1955. There was considerable loss of life and great loss of personal property. When Oroville was built flood protection was the number one priority. Today that has been replaced by water needs from the environment and massive water contracts to San Joaquin Valley farmers which can never be met even in years like this. Therefore they try to save every last drop of water and to hell with those of us who live below the dam.

There used to be definite guidelines for flood protection as to what to do when the lake reached certain levels. Those are long gone in history somewhere. They were no where to be found this winter and certainly not followed. This was a very purposeful management of the lake level that totally ignored the snowpack and flood protection to meet the two above listed demands. Nobody anywhere in the news seems to be questioning what DWR has done. Pathetic!!!!

We are now totally at the mercy of Mother Nature since DWR has lost all control of the dam since water is now going over the emergency spillway. Supreme stupidity and lack of concern for personal property and safety of those who live below.

Dick Dorn