August 14, 2020
California Natural Resources Agency to Host Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Public Meeting
The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), in accordance with Governor Newsom’s directives and to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, is hosting the fourth Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission (CAC) meeting virtually on Friday, August 21 from 10 a.m. to noon. The meeting’s agenda will focus on ongoing dam safety initiatives and current recreation access as well as planned improvements; there will also be an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions and make comments. Persons interested in participating are directed to the CAC’s website for information on how to join the meeting. Links to meeting materials will be posted on the CAC website the week of August 17.
                           
The Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission, created by Senate Bill 955 (Nielsen) in 2018, established a new public forum for discussing issues related to Oroville Dam facilities. The Commission, housed within CNRA, represents the communities surrounding Oroville Dam for the purposes of providing public input as well as receiving information from state agencies related to the Oroville Dam, its related structures, the Feather River Fish Hatchery, and the Oroville-Thermalito Complex.
PG&E Work to Close West Branch of Lake Oroville
Utility work by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) on the West Branch of the Feather River at Lake Oroville will require intermittent closure of boating from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, August 21. PG&E crews will be removing conductors from transmission lines extending over the West Branch waterway near where it joins the Feather River’s North Fork of Lake Oroville. Boat traffic will not be permitted to cross under the transmission lines until they can be safely escorted through by traffic control boats identified by flashing lights. Boaters in the Lime Saddle Marina area and those entering the West Branch are advised to prepare for temporary delays. The waterway is anticipated to reopen by 1 p.m.

August 7, 2020
California Natural Resources Agency to Host Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Public Meeting
The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), in accordance with Governor Newsom’s directives and to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, is hosting the fourth Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission (CAC) meeting virtually on Friday, August 21 from 10 a.m. to noon. The meeting’s agenda will focus on ongoing dam safety initiatives and current recreation access as well as planned improvements; there will also be an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions and make comments. Persons interested in participating are directed to the CAC’s website for information on how to join the meeting. Instructions and links to the planned webinar will be posted on the CAC website the week of August 17.

The Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission, created by Senate Bill 955 (Nielsen) in 2018, established a new public forum for discussing issues related to Oroville Dam facilities. The Commission, housed within CNRA, represents the communities surrounding Oroville Dam for the purposes of providing public input as well as receiving information from state agencies related to the Oroville Dam, its related structures, the Feather River Fish Hatchery, and the Oroville-Thermalito Complex.

Oroville Recreation Update
Lake Oroville and the North and South Forebay boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. Except for the Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area, which is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and day use areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Floating campsites and group campsites are not currently available to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For information about State Parks camping, as well as COVID-19 public health requirements while recreating, visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping. 

The Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA), including the Thermalito Afterbay, is open 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset and offers miles of trails and wildlife viewing. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay Recreation Area is open Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for boat, kayak, and other aquatic equipment rentals. Information and an interactive map of Lake Oroville and OWA recreation facilities is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains closed due to COVID-19.

Temporary Closure of Dan Beebe Trail
The portion of the Dan Beebe Trail between the Lake Oroville Visitors Center and the Oroville Dam Upper Overlook will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11 for excavation work. Signage to notify the public of the closure will be placed at the trail’s access points near the Visitors Center and the Upper Overlook. 

Installation of Piezometers at Oroville Dam 
DWR continues installation of four new piezometers at the headworks of Oroville Dam’s main, or flood control outlet (FCO), spillway. The piezometers will collect data from the FCO foundation. The data will be used to confirm drain performance, inform on-going structural modeling and analyses, and inform future improvements to the structure. The work is expected to be completed by August 21. Water used in the drilling process will be visible as it flows down the spillway.

This work is part of early implementation of the Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA), which is focused on identifying priorities and appropriate solutions to bolster the integrity and resiliency of the Oroville Dam complex to ensure public safety. A number of piezometers were originally installed in the dam fifty years ago which, as anticipated, have since stopped functioning. DWR continues its work to install additional instrumentation throughout the facility including eight new piezometers installed earlier this year at the base of Oroville Dam.

July 31, 2020
Oroville Recreation Update
Lake Oroville and the North and South Forebay boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. Except for the Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area, which is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and day use areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Floating campsites and group campsites are not currently available to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For information about State Parks camping, as well as COVID-19 public health requirements while recreating, visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping. 

The Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA), including the Thermalito Afterbay, is open 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset and offers miles of trails and wildlife viewing. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay Recreation Area is open Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for boat, kayak, and other aquatic equipment rentals. Information and an interactive map of Lake Oroville and OWA recreation facilities is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains closed due to COVID-19.

Installation of Piezometers at Oroville Dam
DWR will begin installation of four new piezometers at the headworks of Oroville Dam’s main, or flood control outlet (FCO), spillway on August 3. The piezometers will collect data from the FCO foundation. The data will be used to confirm drain performance, inform on-going structural modeling and analyses, and inform future improvements to the structure. The work is expected to be completed by August 21.

This work is part of early implementation of the Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA), which is focused on identifying priorities and appropriate solutions to bolster the integrity and resiliency of the Oroville Dam complex to ensure public safety. A number of piezometers were originally installed in the dam fifty years ago which, as anticipated, have since stopped functioning. DWR continues its work to install additional instrumentation throughout the facility including eight new piezometers installed earlier this year at the base of Oroville Dam.

Trails at Oroville Facility Offer a Variety of Scenery
The Oroville Facility Trail system features 91 miles of trails, with access to Lake Oroville, Thermalito Diversion Pool, Thermalito Afterbay, and Thermalito Forebay. Pedestrians, hikers, bikers, and equestrians can take advantage of an array of single track, fire roads, and paved trails which border beautiful natural areas, provide stunning views, and allow plentiful opportunities for wildlife viewing. Trail users can seasonally view salmon, grebes, loons, waterfowl, bald eagles, turkey vultures, snakes, frogs, and more throughout the trail network. Find area trails and their use restrictions by viewing the interactive map on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage.
Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status
DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and their toxins. There are currently no Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. 

Algal blooms continue to be present in the West Branch and the North Fork of Lake Oroville. Lab analysis of water samples from these water bodies continues to find minimal or no amounts of cyanobacteria in the algae. Sampling continues weekly and if elevated levels of cyanobacteria or toxins are found, DWR staff will work with California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board and recreation area managers to notify the public and post advisory signs at the affected waterbody. Non-toxic algal blooms can be irritating or even dangerous to pets and small children. To learn more about HABs, visit the Water Board’s website and DWR’s digital article on the DWR Updates webpage. The public is encouraged to report algal blooms on the HAB reporting webpage. 
DWR Water Education Program Educates Youth Online This Summer
Missing Summer Camp? Join DWR’s virtual Summer Camp. DWR Staff will be providing fun activities relating to DWR’s recent Water Wednesday’s videos. The family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. Each video is available on DWR’s YouTube channel and a listing of all the program’s episodes can be found by clicking the Playlists tab. Activity suggestions and information can be found in the video’s comment section as they are added each week. 

Current Lake Operations 
The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 771 feet and storage is about 1.88 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,248 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,621 over the past week. Dry conditions and warm temperatures continue this weekend and into the week of August 3. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal. 

The total releases to Feather River are 2,700 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville are at 1,550 cfs. Flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) are about 1,150 cfs for a total of 2,700 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. Throughout the week flows through the City of Oroville and the Outlet may fluctuate for fisheries purposes.

All data as of midnight 7/30/2020
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Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov

July 24, 2020
Oroville Recreation Update
Lake Oroville and the North and South Forebay boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. Except for the Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area, which is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and day use areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Floating campsites and group campsites are not currently available to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For information about State Parks camping, as well as COVID-19 public health requirements while recreating, visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping. 

The Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA), including the Thermalito Afterbay, is open 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset and offers miles of trails and wildlife viewing. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay Recreation Area is open Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for boat, kayak, and other aquatic equipment rentals. Information and an interactive map of Lake Oroville and OWA recreation facilities is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains closed due to COVID-19.

DWR Undertakes Trail Clean-up Effort
Working with the Feather River Nature Center and the City of Oroville, DWR continues efforts to address the issue of trash and debris along Old Ferry Road and the Sewim Bo Trail near the Thermalito Diversion Dam. DWR has funded contracts with crews to remove trash, clean up graffiti, clear out invasive vegetation, and perform trail maintenance. Trail users and visitors are advised to be aware of work crews and are encouraged to “pack out” what they bring in. 

New Trail Signage Informs Area Visitors
DWR and CA Parks staff have installed new trail signposts and new trail marker icons in numerous locations around Lake Oroville and the Thermalito Diversion Pool to help area visitors identify the activity (hiking, biking and/or horseback riding) allowed on the trails. New signposts also provide directions to newly realigned trails with more sign and icon installations planned for other areas including the Oroville Wildlife Area. 

The Oroville Facility Trail system features 91 miles of trails, with access to Lake Oroville, Thermalito Diversion Pool, Thermalito Afterbay, and Thermalito Forebay. The trails consist of an array of single track, fire roads, and paved trails which border beautiful natural areas, provide stunning views, and allow plentiful opportunities for wildlife viewing. Trail users can seasonally view salmon, grebes, loons, waterfowl, bald eagles, turkey vultures, snakes, frogs, and more throughout the trail network. Find area trails on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage’s interactive map
Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status
DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and their toxins. There are currently no Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. 

Algal blooms continue to be present in the West Branch and the North Fork of Lake Oroville. Lab analysis of water samples from these water bodies continues to find minimal or no amounts of cyanobacteria in the algae. Sampling continues weekly and if elevated levels of cyanobacteria or toxins are found, DWR staff will work with California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board and recreation area managers to notify the public and post advisory signs at the affected waterbody. Non-toxic algal blooms can be irritating or even dangerous to pets and small children. To learn more about HABs, visit the Water Board’s website and DWR’s digital article on the DWR Updates webpage. The public is encouraged to report algal blooms on the HAB reporting webpage. 

CAL FIRE Forebay Control Burns Postponed
The CAL FIRE/Butte County Fire Department has postponed a scheduled a series of four control burns of about 245 acres of grassland at different locations around the North and South Forebay due to increased Northern California fire activity and the number of Butte Unit resources assisting those fires. This important vegetation management project (VMP) will take place when weather and Butte Unit staffing permits. The project is planned in cooperation with DWR and CA Parks to clear the area around the Forebays of thick grass, which reduces fire risk and benefits vernal pool habitat. 

DWR Water Education Program Educates Youth Online This Summer
Missing Summer Camp? Join DWR’s virtual Summer Camp. DWR Staff will be providing fun activities relating to DWR’s recent Water Wednesday’s videos. The family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. Each video is available on DWR’s YouTube channel and a listing of all the program’s episodes can be found by clicking the Playlists tab. Activity suggestions and information can be found in the video’s comment section as they are added each week. 

Current Lake Operations 
The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 776 feet and storage is about 1.9 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,577 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,313 over the past week.

Dry conditions and warm temperatures continue this weekend and into the week of July 27. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal.
The total releases to Feather River are 2,700 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville are 950 cfs. Flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) are about 1,750 cfs for a total of 2,700 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet.

All data as of midnight 7/23/2020

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Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.

July 10, 2020


Oroville Recreation Update
Lake Oroville and the North and South Forebay boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. The Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. with other Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and day use areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Floating campsites and group campsites are not currently available to reduce the spread of COVID-19. To make a reservation, visit www.ReserveCalifornia.com or call 800-444-7275. For more information about camping, visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping. 

California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) encourages visitors to practice physical distancing and avoid congregating with people outside their immediate household. The state now requires face coverings indoors and outdoors when you cannot maintain a safe 6-foot distance from people outside of your immediate household. Additional information regarding public health practices and requirements is available on the LOSRA webpage.

The Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA), including the Thermalito Afterbay, is open 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset and offers miles of trails and wildlife viewing. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay Recreation Area is open Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for boat, kayak, and other aquatic equipment rentals. Information and an interactive map of Lake Oroville and OWA recreation facilities is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains closed due to COVID-19.

Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status
DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for blue-green algae and their toxins. There are currently no Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay.

A large bloom has been identified in the West Branch of Lake Oroville. Samples have been sent to the lab for analysis. If elevated levels of cyanobacteria toxins are found, DWR staff will work with California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board and recreation area managers to notify the public and post advisory signs at the affected waterbody. To learn more about HABs, visit the Water Board’s website and DWR’s digital article on the DWR Updates webpage.

DWR to Install Additional Piezometers at Oroville Dam 
Next week, DWR will begin work to install four new piezometers at the headworks of Oroville Dam’s main, or flood control outlet (FCO), spillway. The piezometers will continuously collect data from the FCO foundation. The data will be used to confirm drain performance, inform on-going structural modeling and analyses, and to inform future improvements to the structure.

This work is part of early implementation of the Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA), which is focused on identifying priorities and appropriate solutions to bolster the integrity and resiliency of the Oroville Dam complex to ensure public safety. Work to improve access to the headworks structure from the lakeside will begin on July 13. A type of scaffolding will be installed inside the gate structures to protect worker safety. Installation of the piezometers is anticipated to begin in early August.

A number of piezometers were originally installed in the dam fifty years ago which, as anticipated, have since stopped functioning. Including the four headworks piezometers, and the eight new piezometers installed earlier this year at the base of Oroville Dam, DWR continues its work to install additional instrumentation throughout the facility.

New Trail Signage Informs Area Visitors
DWR and CA Parks staff have installed new trail signposts and new trail marker icons in numerous locations around Lake Oroville and the Thermalito Diversion Pool to help area visitors identify the activity (hiking, biking and/or horseback riding) allowed on the trails. New signposts also provide directions to newly realigned trails with more sign and icon installations planned for other areas including the Oroville Wildlife Area.

The Oroville Facility Trail system features 91 miles of trails, with access to Lake Oroville, Thermalito Diversion Pool, Thermalito Afterbay, and Thermalito Forebay. The trails consist of an array of single track, fire roads, and paved trails which border beautiful natural areas, provide stunning views, and allow plentiful opportunities for wildlife viewing. Trail users can seasonally view salmon, grebes, loons, waterfowl, bald eagles, turkey vultures, snakes, frogs, and more throughout the trail network. Find area trails on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage’s interactive map.

An American Icon Calls Lake Oroville Home
Did you know that seven nesting pairs of bald eagles call Lake Oroville home? This year they are successfully raising nine young eaglets, many of whom have grown their feathers and are now able to fly. Lake Oroville provides prime habitat for bald eagles with tall trees and access to one of their primary food sources – fish. Discover how DWR Environmental Scientists help protect our Oroville eagles on the DWR Updates webpage.

DWR Water Education Program Educates Youth Online This Summer
Missing Summer Camp? Join DWR’s virtual Summer Camp. DWR Staff will be providing fun activities relating to DWR’s recent Water Wednesday’s videos. The family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. Each video is available on DWR’s YouTube channel and a listing of all the program’s episodes can be found by clicking the Playlists tab. Activity suggestions and information can be found in the video’s comment section as they are added each week.

Current Lake Operations
The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 790 feet and storage is about 2.08 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,296 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 1,607 over the past week.

Dry conditions and very warm temperatures continue this weekend and into the week of July 13. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal.

The total releases to Feather River are 3,300 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville are about 950 cfs and flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) are about 2,350 cfs to achieve 3,300 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet.
 
All data as of midnight 7/9/2019


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Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.

July 3, 2020


Local Recreation Areas Plan for Busy Holiday Weekend    
Lake Oroville and the North and South Forebay boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. The Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. with other LOSRA boat ramps open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and Day Use Areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Floating campsites and group campsites are not currently available to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Additionally, Lake Oroville’s boat-in campsites are not available for camping until Sunday, July 5. To make a reservation, visit www.ReserveCalifornia.com or call 800-444-7275. For more information about camping, visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping. 

For July 2nd – July 5th only, trailered boat launching is restricted at the Larkin Road Boat Ramp, and only launching of car-top boats is allowed. The Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, is open 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset, including the 4th of July weekend. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains closed to protect public health. Information and an interactive map of Lake Oroville and OWA recreation facilities is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage.

California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) encourages visitors to practice physical distancing and avoid congregating with people outside their immediate household. The state now requires face coverings indoors and outdoors when you cannot maintain a safe 6-foot distance from people outside of your immediate household. Additional information regarding public health practices and requirements is available on the LOSRA webpage.

Oroville to Celebrate Fourth of July with Fireworks Display
The City of Oroville’s Noon Rotary Club fireworks will begin at approximately 9 p.m. on July Fourth and will be launched from the Oroville Airport. A Red Flag (severe fire danger) Warning from the National Weather Service for July Fourth will cancel the display.

Viewers are encouraged to observe the show from their homes, if possible, or higher locations throughout the City and surrounding area. Participants must abide by physical distancing and face covering requirements to protect public health. The Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area will close at sunset on Friday, July 3 and remain closed until 8 a.m. Sunday, July 5. The OWA will also maintain normal operating hours on July Fourth: 1.5 hours before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset. Please visit the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce website for information.

An American Icon Calls Lake Oroville Home
Did you know that seven nesting pairs of bald eagles call Lake Oroville home? This year they are successfully raising nine young eaglets, many of whom have grown their feathers and are now able to fly. Lake Oroville provides prime habitat for bald eagles with tall trees and access to one of their primary food sources – fish. Discover how DWR Environmental Scientists help protect our Oroville eagles on the DWR Updates webpage.

“New’ Trails Around Thermalito Diversion Pool
Trails on the north side of the Thermalito Diversion Pool, previously closed for the Oroville Dam Spillways Reconstruction Project, are open for hikers and bikers, including from Burma Road to the Spillway Boat Ramp area and North Fork Trails. A new trail access parking lot has been constructed west of the Kelly Ridge Power Plant on the south side of the Diversion Pool. The graveled parking lot is accessible from Oro Powerhouse Road (off Oro Dam Boulevard East) and provides access to hiking, biking, and fishing opportunities. Boating is not allowed in this upstream area of the Diversion Pool, but boating is allowed on the Diversion Pool further downstream, with access from the Burma Road car-top boat launch off of Cherokee Road. Boating is limited to kayaks, canoes, and other non-gas-powered boats.

Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status
DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for blue-green algae and their toxins. There are currently no Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. If elevated levels of cyanobacteria toxins are found, DWR staff work with California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board and recreation area managers to notify the public and post advisory signs at affected waterbodies. To learn more about HABs, visit the Water Board’s website and DWR’s digital article on the DWR Updates webpage.

DWR Water Education Program Educates Youth Online This Summer
Missing Summer Camp? Join DWR’s virtual Summer Camp. DWR Staff will be providing fun activities relating to DWR’s recent Water Wednesday’s videos. The family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. Each video is available on DWR’s YouTube channel and a listing of all the program’s episodes can be found by clicking the Playlists tab. Activity suggestions and information can be found in the video’s comment section as they are added each week.

Current Lake Operations
The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 796 feet and storage is about 2.15 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,625 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,242 over the past week.

Dry conditions and very warm temperatures continue this weekend and into the week of July 6. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal of year.

The total releases to Feather River are 3,300 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville are about 650 cfs for and flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet.

All data as of midnight 7/2/2019

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Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.

June 26, 2020


Lake Oroville State Recreation Area Opens Individual and Horse Campgrounds
California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) announced camping is available at all individual family campsites at the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA), including equestrian campgrounds at Loafer Creek. Floating campsites and group campsites are not currently available to reduce the spread of COVID-19. To make a reservation, visit www.ReserveCalifornia.com or call 800-444-7275. For more information about camping, visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping. 

CA Parks encourages visitors to continue to practice physical distancing and avoid congregating with people outside their immediate household. The state now requires face coverings indoors and outdoors when you cannot maintain a safe 6-foot distance from people outside of your immediate household. Additional information regarding public health practices and requirements is available on the LOSRA webpage.

Lake Oroville and the North and South Forebay boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. The Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. with other Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and Day Use Areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains closed to protect public health. Information and an interactive map of Lake Oroville recreation facilities is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage.

Oroville to Celebrate Fourth of July with Fireworks Display
The City of Oroville’s Noon Rotary Club fireworks will begin at approximately 9 p.m. on July Fourth and will be launched from the Oroville Airport. Viewers are encouraged to observe the show from their homes, if possible, or higher locations throughout the City and surrounding area. Participants must abide by physical distancing and face covering requirements to protect public health – especially if unable to maintain a six-foot distance from others not in your household. Information can be found on the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce website. A Red Flag (severe fire danger) Warning from the National Weather Service for July Fourth will cancel the display.

DWR Water Education Program Educates Youth Online This Summer
Missing Summer Camp? Join DWR virtual Summer Camp starting the week of July 29. As part of the virtual Summer Camp, DWR Staff will be providing fun activities relating to each Water Wednesday’s video, starting with “Home Sweet Home: Where the Native Fish Roam”.

The family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. Each video is available on DWR’s YouTube channel and a listing of all the program’s episodes can be found by clicking the Playlists tab. Activity suggestions and information can be found in the video’s comment section as they are added each week.

‘New’ Trails Around Thermalito Diversion Pool
Trails on the north side of the Thermalito Diversion Pool, previously closed for the Oroville Dam Spillways Reconstruction Project, are open for hikers and bikers. Visitors are now able to travel from Burma Road to the Spillway Boat Ramp area and North Fork Trails. Partnering with CA Parks, DWR has improved and re-aligned trails in the area, both on the north and south sides of the Diversion Pool, including sections of the Brad Freeman Trail. This trail ‘switchbacks’ up a new hill made from rock and dirt left over from the spillways project, providing beautiful views of the Valley, Table Mountain, and the Diversion Pool.

On the south side of the Diversion Pool, DWR constructed a new trail access parking lot west of the Kelly Ridge Power Plant. The graveled parking lot is accessible from Oro Powerhouse Road (off Oro Dam Boulevard East) and provides access to hiking, biking, and fishing opportunities. Boating is not allowed in this upstream area of the Diversion Pool, but boating is allowed on the Diversion Pool further downstream, with access from the Burma Road car-top boat launch off of Cherokee Road. Boating is limited to kayaks, canoes, and other non-gas-powered boats.

Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status
DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for blue-green algae and their toxins. There are currently no Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. If elevated levels of cyanobacteria toxins are found, DWR staff work with California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board and recreation area managers to notify the public and post advisory signs at affected waterbodies. To learn more about HABs, visit the Water Board’s website.

Current Lake Operations
The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 802 feet and storage is about 2.22 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,279 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,481 cfs over the past week. 

Dry conditions and very warm temperatures continue this weekend and into the week of June 29. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal of year.

Recently DWR increased flows through the City of Oroville from 650 cfs to 1,250 cfs for fisheries purposes. During the week of June 29, flows through the City of Oroville will be reduced from 1,250 cfs to 650 over the course of a couple of days. As flows are reduced through the City of Oroville, flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) will be increased to 2,650 cfs. The total release to the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet will remain at 3,300 cfs to meet environmental requirements in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
  
All data as of midnight 6/25/20
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Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.

June 19, 2020


Lake Oroville State Recreation Area
Lake Oroville and the North and South Forebay boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. The Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. with other Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and Day Use Areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Lake Oroville recreation information is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage and the LOSRA webpage.

California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) staff are working closely with Butte County health officials to develop procedures to open LOSRA campgrounds this summer. All campgrounds - including floating campsites, and the Lake Oroville Visitors Center remain closed to protect public health. CA Parks encourages visitors to maintain a physical distance of six feet or more and that gatherings, picnics, and parties are not allowed if physical distancing cannot be maintained. State health officials now require face coverings outdoors when you cannot maintain a safe 6-foot distance from others who are not members of your household. Visit the “State Parks COVID-19 Resource Center” website or the Butte County website for additional information on how to protect public health.  

‘New’ Trails Around Thermalito Diversion Pool
Trails on the north side of the Thermalito Diversion Pool, previously closed for the Oroville Dam Spillways Reconstruction Project, are open for hikers and bikers. Visitors are now able to travel from Burma Road to the Spillway Boat Ramp area and North Fork Trails. Partnering with CA Parks, DWR has improved and re-aligned trails in the area, both on the north and south sides of the Diversion Pool, including sections of the Brad Freeman Trail where visitors will ‘switchback’ up a new hill made from rock and dirt left over from the spillways project, providing beautiful views of the Valley, Table Mountain, and the Diversion Pool.

On the south side of the Diversion Pool, DWR constructed a new trail access parking lot west of the Kelly Ridge Power Plant. The graveled parking lot is accessible from Oro Powerhouse Road (off Oro Dam Boulevard East) and provides access to hiking, biking, and fishing opportunities. Boating is not allowed in this upstream area of the Diversion Pool, but boating is allowed on the Diversion Pool further downstream, with access from the Burma Road car-top boat launch off of Cherokee Road. Boating is limited to kayaks, canoes, and other non-gas-powered boats.

Oroville to Celebrate Fourth of July with Fireworks Display
The City of Oroville’s Noon Rotary Club fireworks will begin at approximately 9 p.m. and will be launched from the Oroville Airport. Viewers are encouraged to observe the show from their homes, if possible, or higher locations throughout the City and surrounding area. Viewers are also encouraged to abide by physical distancing and face covering requirements to protect public health, especially if unable to maintain a six-foot distance from others not in your household. Information can be found on the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce website.

Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status
DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for blue-green algae and their toxins. There are currently no Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. If elevated levels of cyanobacteria toxins are found, DWR staff work with California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board and recreation area managers to notify the public and post advisory signs at affected waterbodies. To learn more about HABs, visit the Water Board’s website.

Online Water Education Program Goes Live on DWR YouTube Channel
Join us for Water Wednesdays at 1 p.m. on DWR’s YouTube channel. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. Recent and upcoming ‘episodes’ discuss where our water comes from: reservoirs, snowpack, and groundwater. Interested participants can pre-register through Zoom; this will allow participants to pose questions to that week’s speaker.

Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Previous episodes of Water Wednesdays are available on DWR’s YouTube channel.

Current Lake Operations
The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 808 feet and storage is about 2.2 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 98 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 1,745 cfs over the past week. 

Dry conditions and warm temperatures are forecasted this weekend with continued dry conditions and warm temperatures during the week of June 22. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 31.7 percent of normal of year.

On Thursday, June 18, and on Friday, June 19, DWR increased the flow by 300 cfs each day through the City of Oroville to 1,250 cfs for fisheries purposes. The flow released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) will be at 2,050 cfs. The total release to the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet remains at 3,300 cfs to meet environmental requirements in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
 
All data as of midnight 6/19/20

June 12, 2020

Lake Oroville State Recreation Area
Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. The Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. with other LOSRA boat ramps open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and Day Use Areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Lake Oroville recreation information is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage and the LOSRA webpage. The Thermalito Diversion Pool and the North Forebay Recreation Area are also open to the public. Additionally, the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, recently changed its operating hours to 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset.

Other local recreation facilities are also open, including both the Bidwell Canyon and Lake Oroville (Lime Saddle) Marinas and the Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay Recreation Area which is open Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for boat, kayak, and other aquatic equipment rentals.

California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) staff are working closely with Butte County health officials to develop procedures to open LOSRA campgrounds this summer. At this time, all campgrounds - including floating campsites, and the Lake Oroville Visitors Center remain closed to protect public health. CA Parks encourages visitors to maintain a physical distance of six feet or more and that gatherings, picnics, and parties are not allowed if physical distancing cannot be maintained. Local health officials also recommend face coverings, especially when you cannot maintain a safe 6-foot distance from others. Please visit the “State Parks Covid-19 Resource Center” website or the Butte County website for additional information on how to protect public health. 

DWR and Partners Reduce Fire Risk
DWR has successfully completed their 2019-2020 fuels reduction season. Approximately 180 acres around the Oroville Facilities Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project boundary was treated through DWR’s Fuel Load Management Program (FLMP). The FLMP, administered by DWR in coordination with federal, state, and local fire and resources management agencies, aims to reduce wildfire risk, improve public safety, and enhance forest health around Lake Oroville.

Work typically starts in the fall when rainy weather arrives and continues through the winter and spring months. Treatment methods such as thinning, pile burning, grazing, lop and scatter, and prescribed burning are used to achieve fuels reduction. DWR and partners CAL FIRE, California Conservation Corps, Butte County Sheriff Office, Butte County Fire Safe Council, and private contractors are currently developing plans to start work again this fall when weather conditions allow.


Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status
DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for blue-green algae and their toxins. There are currently no Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. If elevated levels of cyanobacteria toxins are found, DWR staff work with California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board and recreation area managers to notify the public and post advisory signs at affected waterbodies. To learn more about HABs, visit the Water Board’s website.

Online Water Education Program Goes Live on DWR YouTube Channel
Join us for Water Wednesdays at 1 p.m. on DWR’s YouTube channel. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. Recent and upcoming ‘episodes’ discuss where our water comes from: reservoirs, snowpack and groundwater. Interested participants can pre-register through Zoom; this will allow participants to pose questions to that week’s speaker.

Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Previous episodes of Water Wednesdays are available on DWR’s YouTube channel.

Current Lake Operations
The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 813 feet and storage is about 2.35 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,597 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,487 cfs over the past week. 

Dry conditions and mild temperatures are forecasted this weekend with continued dry conditions and warming temperatures during the week of June 15. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal, and snowpack is significantly below average, measuring 7 percent of normal for this time of year.

On Thursday, June 11, the total releases to Feather River were increased from 3,000 cfs to 3,300 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville are about 650 cfs and flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) are about 2,650 cfs to achieve 3,300 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet.
 
All data as of midnight 6/11/20

June 5, 2020

Lake Oroville State Recreation Area Resumes Summer Hours
Lake Oroville boat ramp areas are now open along with all Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) facility parking lots and day use areas. While the Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., remaining Lake Oroville boat ramps are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and Day Use Areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Lake Oroville recreation information is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage and the LOSRA webpage.

The Bidwell Canyon and Lake Oroville (Lime Saddle) Marinas are open providing shuttle service, restrooms, and fuel. The Thermalito Diversion Pool and the North Forebay Recreation Area are also open to the public. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay facility is now open Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for boat, kayak, and other aquatic equipment rentals. LOSRA campgrounds, including floating campsites, and the Lake Oroville Visitors Center remain closed to protect public health.

California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) encourages visitors to maintain a physical distance of six feet or more, to keep moving, and to be mindful of congestion on one-way trails. Gatherings, picnics, and parties are not allowed if social distancing cannot be maintained. The Butte County Health Officer recommends face coverings, especially when you cannot maintain a safe 6-foot distance from others. Information on LOSRA facility status can be obtained on the “State Parks Covid-19 Resource Center” website. Information on local health requirements can be found at http://www.buttecounty.net/publichealth/buttereopens.

Siren Testing at Oroville Dam
Sirens at Oroville Dam will be tested on Tuesday, June 9. This test begins monthly soundings at noon every second Tuesday of the month lasting for three minutes. The 121-decibel level sounding will be audible to neighboring residents, to motorists on Oro Dam Boulevard East, and to visitors of recreation areas around Oroville Dam – including the Diversion Pool, Spillway Boat Ramp area and Oroville Dam Crest Road. The sirens are in place to notify persons near Oroville Dam’s main spillway when water releases are about to begin. Monthly testing allows DWR to confirm the sirens' operational status.

Algal Blooms in Lake Oroville’s North and Middle Forks
Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) is a natural component of ecosystems. Under certain conditions, including warmer temperatures and increased nutrient loads, algae can grow rapidly causing “blooms.” Algal blooms sometimes produce toxins that can be harmful to people and animals.

DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for blue-green algae and their toxins. Algal blooms have been found in the upper reaches of Lake Oroville’s North and Middle Forks. Recent water samples sent for analysis tested negative.

There are currently no Harmful Algal Bloom advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. If elevated levels of cyanobacteria toxins are found, DWR staff work with California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board and recreation area managers to notify the public and post advisory signs at affected waterbodies. To learn more about harmful algal blooms (HABs), visit the Water Board’s website.

Online Water Education Program Goes Live on DWR YouTube Channel
Join us for Water Wednesdays at 1 p.m. on DWR’s YouTube channel. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The first five topics feature Delta wildlife including fish, plankton, birds, reptiles, and invasive species. Interested participants can pre-register through Zoom which will allow posting of questions to that week’s speaker.

Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Previous episodes of Water Wednesdays are available on DWR’s YouTube channel.

Current Lake Operations
The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 817.9 feet and storage is about 2.40 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 2,312 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,814 cfs over the past week. 

Temperatures are forecasted to cool this weekend with a chance of rain in the Feather River Basin. During the week of June 8, temperatures are expected to warm with dry conditions. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal, and snowpack is significantly below average, measuring 5 percent of normal for this time of year.

On Monday June 1, the total releases to Feather River were increased from 2,500 cfs to 3,000 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. In addition, on June 2, DWR increased flow through the City of Oroville to 950 cfs for fisheries purposes. Flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) are about 2,050 to achieve 3,000 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet.
 
All data as of midnight 6/4/20