(AP) - Elected officials in Northern California are warning in a letter to the governor that they don't believe the Oroville Dam is reliable or flexible enough to provide flood protection to communities downstream - and they're not confident the state would protect them if it fails.
They say this winter's emergency highlights that those who have the most to lose from the dam's failure "have little or no say in the construction, operation or maintenance of that structure."
The mayors of seven communities, county leaders, lawmakers and others signed the letter. It comes after both spillways failed at the nation's tallest dam in February, forcing the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people.
Spokespeople for Gov. Jerry Brown and the state Department of Water Resources did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
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