[abb]

This google earth view along the river south of town shows evidence of dredging in the past. Must be the area where the dam borrow was obtained.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Oroville,+CA/@39.4449541,-121.6221348,5406m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x809cb6034a842e11:0xb56919d60de28347!8m2!3d39.5137752!4d-121.556359

[EarthResearcher333]

"This google earth view along the river south of town shows evidence of dredging in the past. Must be the area where the dam borrow was obtained."

Did you notice the letters "O" "I" "L" carved in water ponds in the tailings area? (just east of the airport - note: the "O" is 582 ft by 306 ft)

Olive Trees in Oroville are well known for producing outstanding Olive Oil. Farms go back 100+ years.

These little pond/lakes must have been around for a while. Curious if dam construction crews left these letters as part of a promotion to this industry -or- if the dredgers created them & the construction crews left them undisturbed. btw- You can't carve this in the middle of a wildlife refuge nowadays.

Maybe a FReeper who has some history on this at Oroville could chime in..

1998 image:

2016 image: