Around 3:00 am on July 25, 2018, a rockslide in the geologically unstable Feather River canyon created a puncture in a DOT-111 tanker carrying diesel fuel. The resultant puncture sent 200 gallons of toxic diesel fuel into the waters of the Feather River, upstream from Reservoir Oroville, the primary source of water for California's State Water Project.
The Feather River: California's Source Watershed
In 2010, the United State Geological Service estimated that California consumed 42,000,000 acre feet1 of water. Of this, 20,783,196 acre feet2 came from fresh water surface diversions. The Feather River drains into Lake Oroville, the major reservoir supporting California’s State Water Project. In 2010, deliveries from Lake Oroville totaled 2,778,774 acre feet, or 13.37% of all fresh surface water consumed by Californians. The water from this reservoir supports 29 state water contractors which supply water to over 25 million Californians. Contamination of this resource would compromise these downstream communities which are reliant on these waters.
Geologically Unstable Feather River Canyon
The California Public Utilities Commission has classified the Feather River route is classified as a “High Hazard area” due to frequent rock and mud slides. The Land and Resource Management Plans for Plumas and Lassen National forests both acknowledge the geologic instability within the region and one representative from Pacific Gas and Electric has stated that there have been 44 rock slides requiring heavy machinery since October of 2015.
History of derailments in the Feather River Canyon
June 30, 2007
A 24 car derailment near Storrie, California sent 20,000 gallons of cooking oil and 30,000 gallons of ethanol into the Feather River.
January 25, 2014
A fallen boulder struck the fuel tank of a Union Pacific train releasing 3,200 gallons of diesel into the north fork Feather River.
November 25, 2014
A Union Pacific freight train hauling corn derailed, sending eleven cars downslope and into the Feather River.