April 9, 2021
DWR Begins Monitoring Vernal Pools
Some grasslands, including areas around Butte County, have an underlying impervious layer of rock or clay that causes rainwater to pond in the winter and spring, creating seasonal wetlands called vernal pools. Although vernal pools are only a small component of our local grasslands in terms of area, they support a remarkably high diversity of plants and animals, including rare and endangered species and species endemic to California (i.e., found nowhere else in the world).

Vernal pool organisms and plants are highly specialized to their unique environment and to the Mediterranean-type climate found in California. They have adapted to living in pools that fill in the winter but are completely dry by the summer, as well as adapting to the sometimes-extreme variability in temperature and rainfall between years. Vernal pools are important targets for conservation because most vernal pools in California have been lost to development, agriculture, and habitat degradation from invasive plants.
 
Vernal pools often support spectacular wildflowers that bloom from March to May. Each spring, Department of Water Resources (DWR) Environmental Scientists from the Oroville Field Division monitor hundreds of vernal pools around the Oroville area and make assessments on how protection measures for these valuable environmental resources are succeeding.
Photo: Native flower "tidy tips" in vernal pool area
Additional Campgrounds Open at Lake Oroville
The California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) has opened up reservations for the Bloomer Point, Bloomer Knoll, and Bloomer Cove boat-in campgrounds, the Foreman Creek boat-in campground, and the floating campgrounds located around Lake Oroville. Group camping at Loafer Creek Recreation Area opens on April 15. Lime Saddle group camping remains closed. 

Reservations for camping can be made online by selecting the ‘Reservations’ tab on the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) webpage. The reservations system needs 48 hours’ notice to process reservations. “Day-of” access to campgrounds is possible if campsites are available.  

April 2, 2021
DWR April Snow Survey
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted the fourth snow survey at the Phillips Station snow course (El Dorado County) on April 1. The manual survey recorded 49.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent (SWE) of 21 inches, which is 83 percent of average for this location. The SWE measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. April 1 is typically when California’s snowpack is the deepest and has the highest SWE.
 
While the Southern Sierra remains well below average for both rain and snow, the picture is somewhat different in the Northern and Central part of the state where California typically receives 75 percent of the state’s annual precipitation. The few storms that impacted California this year have been colder, bringing more snow than rain. Colder systems are good for the Sierra snowpack, which accounts for 30 percent of California’s fresh water supply in an average year.
For Water Year 2021, the snowpack in the Northern and Central Sierra peaked at 70 percent of average; however, rain is below 50 percent of average, which ties this year for the third driest year on record. The amount of water expected to enter California’s reservoirs when the snowpack melts is projected to be just 58 percent of average. The full news release is available on DWR’s website.
Photo: DWR staff at April Snow Survey Phillips Station
DWR Adjusts State Water Project Allocation    
As California experiences a second consecutive dry year, DWR announced on March 23 an adjustment to its initial State Water Project (SWP) allocation for the 2021 water year. The Department now expects the SWP to deliver 5 percent of requested supplies this year, down from the initial allocation of 10 percent announced in December.

Allocations represent the amount of SWP water that DWR will deliver to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland for the year and are reviewed monthly based on several factors, such as water in storage, environmental requirements, and rain and snowmelt runoff projections. 

Drought conditions have a significant impact on the state’s water supply. Lake Oroville storage is only at 53 percent of its historical average. Beginning April 6, outflows to the Feather River will be further reduced to conserve storage while maintaining the Feather River flows necessary for fishery, environmental, and water delivery needs. More information on the allocation change is available in the DWR News Release.
Additional Campgrounds Open at Lake Oroville
The California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) has opened up reservations for the Bloomer Point, Bloomer Knoll, and Bloomer Cove boat-in campgrounds, the Foreman Creek boat-in campground, and the floating campgrounds located around Lake Oroville. Reservations for camping can be made online by selecting the ‘Reservations’ tab on the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) webpage. Group camping sites remain closed due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

March 26, 2021
DWR Adjusts State Water Project Allocation    
As California experiences a second consecutive dry year, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) has announced an adjustment to its initial State Water Project (SWP) allocation for the 2021 water year. The Department now expects the SWP to deliver 5 percent of requested supplies this year, down from the initial allocation of 10 percent announced in December.

Allocations represent the amount of SWP water that DWR will deliver to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland for the year and are reviewed monthly based on several factors, such as water in storage, environmental requirements, and rain and snowmelt runoff projections. 

Drought conditions have a significant impact on the state’s water supply. Lake Oroville storage is only at 53 percent of its historical average. Beginning April 1, outflows to the Feather River will be further reduced to conserve storage while maintaining the Feather River flows necessary for fishery, environmental, and water delivery needs. More information is available in the March 23 DWR News Release.
Reducing Climate Change Impacts at Thermalito Powerplant
An old electricity-generating turbine at the Ronald B. Robie Thermalito Pumping-Generating Powerplant (Thermalito Powerplant) has been replaced with a new energy efficient model that will help DWR achieve its goal of using 100 percent zero-emission resources by 2045.

The new Kaplan turbine allows more clean hydropower to be generated from the same water releases and deliveries, an increase in efficiency from 86 percent to 93 percent, providing even more clean energy to California’s electrical grid. It will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 1,000 metric tons per year, helping DWR further reduce its carbon footprint.

The Thermalito turbine project is partially funded by California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work. Learn more about how the new turbine at the Thermalito Powerplant is helping California meet its clean energy goals by watching our new video and reading the latest DWR Update. For more information on DWR’s renewable energy initiatives, visit our clean energy webpage.
Photo: New Kaplan turbine (foreground) at the restored Ronald B. Robie Thermalito Pumping-Generating Powerplant

March 19, 2021
Trail Closure at Loafer Creek
A one-mile portion of the Roy Rogers Trail in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area will be closed Monday through Friday starting March 22 and extending to April 30. The four-mile equestrian and hiking trail will be fully open Saturdays and Sundays only.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) and California State Parks (CA Parks) are partnering with CAL FIRE’s Vegetation Management Program to clear hazard trees and fire-prone underbrush from the North Complex Wildfire burn scar in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area. CAL FIRE work crews will hand cut and use heavy equipment in the northeastern portion of Loafer Creek; crews may be visible or audible to visitors in the Recreation Area.

This collaborative effort to aid in recovery from impacts caused by the 2020 North Complex wildfire will continue for the next several years.
Temporary Closure of Brad Freeman Trail   
A small section of the Brad Freeman Trail near the Thermalito Diversion Pool across from Oroville Dam’s main spillway will be closed Monday, March 22 through Thursday, March 25 for electrical work. Signage directing trail users to a temporary trail around the closure have been installed. 
Temporary Closure Protects Eaglet
A section of the Wyandotte Campground in the Plumas National Forest is temporarily closed to protect a bald eagle nesting territory in the vicinity of Little Grass Valley Reservoir northeast of Oroville. The remainder of the campground is not affected by the closure which is in effect until July 15, 2021.

The closure has been in effect for almost two decades and has helped a bald eagle pair to successfully nest and raise young, contributing to the sustained recovery for this species. Bald eagles are particularly sensitive to disturbances during their nesting phase.

Information about the closure may be found on the U.S. Forest Service website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/plumas/alerts-notices.  
Photo: Bald Eagle and eaglet in Plumas Nat’l Forest territory May 2018

March 12, 2021
Monument Hill Facility
Improvements at the Monument Hill Boat Ramp and Day Use Area’s boat ramp and beach have been completed. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) placed 45 cubic yards of sand on the public beach, repaired storm erosion, and corrected movement of the boarding float at the boat launch. The Monument Hill facility on the Thermalito Afterbay is off Highway 162 near State Route 99.

The Thermalito Afterbay, part of the Department’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex, is a large water supply and hydropower generation reservoir in the Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA). The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) manages the wildlife resources of the OWA for DWR. 
Photo: Laying new sand for Monument Hill Day Use Area beach
Reopening Additional Area at Thermalito Diversion Pool
During the recovery from the 2017 Oroville Spillways Incident, the exclusion zone and buoy line in the Thermalito Diversion Pool below Oroville Dam was temporarily extended approximately one-half-mile downstream. The exclusion zone has been reduced and the buoy line moved back upstream to its historical location just below the spillway, reopening additional area for public access. 

The Thermalito Diversion Pool provides opportunity for non-motorized water sports including kayaking, canoeing, and swimming. A car-top boat launch is available off of Cherokee Road. The upper end of the Diversion Pool near the spillway and dam, while open for fishing from the southern shoreline, excludes watersports, including swimming, wading, and paddle sports. Access to this area is available from the Brad Freeman Trail as well as from the new parking area off Oro Powerhouse Road (Oroville Dam Boulevard East towards Kelly Ridge, turn onto Oro Powerhouse Road and make immediate left before reaching the Hyatt Powerplant entrance gate). 

March 5, 2021
Reopening Additional Area at Thermalito Diversion Pool
During the recovery from the 2017 Oroville Spillways Incident, the exclusion zone and buoy line in the Thermalito Diversion Pool below Oroville Dam was temporarily extended approximately one-half-mile downstream. This week, the exclusion zone has been reduced and the buoy line moved back upstream to its historical location just below the spillway, reopening additional area for public access. 

The Thermalito Diversion Pool provides opportunity for non-motorized water sports including kayaking, canoeing, and swimming. A car-top boat launch is available off of Cherokee Road. The upper end of the Diversion Pool near the spillway and dam, while open for fishing from the southern shoreline, excludes watersports, including swimming, wading, and paddle sports. Access to this area is available from the Brad Freeman Trail as well as from the new parking area off Oro Powerhouse Road (Oroville Dam Boulevard East towards Kelly Ridge, turn onto Oro Powerhouse Road and make immediate left before reaching the Hyatt Powerplant entrance gate). 
Water Wednesday Focus on the Feather River Watershed         
The Department of Water Resources Water Wednesday program just completed a series of episodes on watershed health, including a focus on the Feather River watershed that drains into Lake Oroville. Four February episodes discussed how a watershed works; wildfire impacts on watersheds and water quality; how DWR staff work to protect sensitive environments and species; and the anticipated impacts climate change may have on California’s watersheds.

Water Wednesday episodes, started in 2020 to provide online, interactive education to students, cover a wide range of ‘water-oriented’ topics of interest to many viewers and are available on DWR’s YouTube page. 

February 26, 2021
Bald Eagles Build New Nest
A nesting pair of bald eagles that lost their nest tree in the North Complex Fire have returned. Environmental scientists with the Department of Water Resources have located a newly built nest in an undamaged tree within their territory and observed nesting activity on the new nest by the pair.

Lake Oroville and the Feather River area provide ideal habitat for bald eagles. Fish are one of the eagles’ main food sources and large water bodies like Lake Oroville provide a wide variety of fish as well as other favorite food sources such as waterfowl, small birds, and mammals. The many trees and snags (tall dead trees) near water areas provide prime nesting, roosting, and hunting locations.
 
Protecting the area’s year-round bald eagle population living in the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) Oroville-Thermalito Complex jurisdiction is the responsibility of the Oroville Field Division’s Environmental Scientists. The bald eagle is a protected species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940. They were listed as an endangered species in 1978. Those protections have been successful, and the species is now federally delisted. DWR’s scientists monitor for and, if necessary, act against threats such as public intrusions, habitat loss, or other impacts to the eagles’ nesting areas.
Photo: Bald eagle nest in unburned tree near North Complex Wildfire burn scar - inside red circle
Monument Hill Facility Closure
The Monument Hill Boat Ramp and Day Use Area’s boat ramp and beach on the Thermalito Afterbay, off Highway 162 near State Route 99, will be closed March 3 and March 4 for maintenance. DWR will be improving the facilities by replacing eroded sand on the beach and addressing issues with the boarding float at the boat launch.

The nearby Wilbur Road Boat Ramp facility will be available for boat launching into the Thermalito Afterbay. Additionally, the Car-top Boat Ramp on Larkin Road remains open. The public is reminded of the 5-miles per hour boating speed limit on the portion of the Thermalito Afterbay north of the Highway 162 bridge.

The Thermalito Afterbay, part of DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex, is a large water supply reservoir in the Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA). The OWA is administered for DWR by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). 

February 19, 2021
Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Public Meeting
The California Natural Resources Agency held its sixth Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission meeting on Feb. 19. The online public meeting included presentations on fire modernization at the Hyatt Power Plant, winter operations, and a presentation from the Yuba Water Agency on downstream flood management. Members of the public also asked questions and gained information on these and other topics. The Citizens Advisory Commission is a forum for the community to provide feedback and ask questions. The meeting transcript and presentations will be available on the Commission’s website (https://bit.ly/OrovilleCAC) in the coming weeks.  
Lake Oroville Boat Ramps
The Lime Saddle Boat Ramp is now open for use along with Bidwell Canyon and Spillway boat ramps. Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle boat ramps are open 24-hours per day and the Spillway boat ramps are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The Lake Oroville Marina at Lime Saddle is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the Bidwell Canyon Marina is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Loafer Creek boat ramps remain out of the water.
Feather River Fish Planting
Millions of fish are raised every year at the Feather River Fish Hatchery, including Chinook fall and spring run salmon, and salmon’s cousin, steelhead trout – another type of anadromous fish that migrates from their river birthplace to the ocean and back to their native river to spawn. Over the last two weeks, hatchery staff transported and released over 430,000 of the steelhead trout raised last year into the Feather River below Yuba City. Releasing the young fish further downstream improves their chances of survival by shortening their migration route to avoid predators. An additional 10,000 steelhead were also released into the Thermalito Afterbay to support that popular recreational fishery.

The Feather River Fish Hatchery is a California State Water Project facility built in the late 1960s to mitigate impacts on fish migration resulting from the construction of Oroville Dam which blocked access to spawning grounds further upstream. DWR maintains the facility and funds the hatchery operations, fish spawning, rearing, and stocking activities provided by California Department of Fish and Wildlife staff. Photos of the steelhead trout release are available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Pixel webpage – search ‘fish release’.
Photo: Dept. Fish and Wildlife release steelhead trout into the Feather River at Boyd's Boat Launch

February 12, 2021
Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Public Meeting
The California Natural Resources Agency is hosting its sixth Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission meeting on Feb. 19 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The public meeting will be held online and will include presentations and public comment. The Commission will receive an update on fire modernization at the Hyatt Power Plant, winter operations, and a presentation from the Yuba Water Agency on downstream flood management. The Citizens Advisory Commission is a forum for the community to provide feedback and ask questions. For information on how to join the virtual meeting, please visit https://bit.ly/OrovilleCAC.
Thermalito Powerplant Update
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) Thermalito Powerplant (THPP), formally named the Ronald B. Robie Thermalito Pumping-Generating Powerplant, has returned to full service after losing operational capacity when it was damaged by fire in November 2012. The powerplant has been re-constructed with modern fire and life safety features, and the plant’s electrical protection, control, and communications systems have been fully replaced. The thousands of connections in the plant’s new systems underwent the strict and rigorous ‘interconnection’ requirements of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to safely re-connect the powerplant to the state’s electrical grid.

The THPP is one of three hydroelectric powerplants in the Oroville-Thermalito Complex, capable of generating 118 megawatts – enough to power roughly 100,000 households and adding value to the approximately 714 megawatts produced by Oroville Dam’s Edward Hyatt Powerplant. Along with the Thermalito Diversion Dam Powerplant, the Oroville-Thermalito Complex is California’s State Water Project’s leading producer of clean hydro-electric power. 
Photo: Power generation turbines at restored RBR Thermalito Pumping-Generating Powerplant

February 5, 2021
Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Public Meeting
The California Natural Resources Agency is hosting its sixth Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission meeting on Feb. 19 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The public meeting will be held online and will include presentations and public comment. The Commission will receive an update on fire modernization at the Hyatt Power Plant, winter operations, and a presentation from the Yuba Water Agency on downstream flood management. The Citizens Advisory Commission is a forum for the community to provide feedback and ask questions. For information on how to join the virtual meeting, please visit https://bit.ly/OrovilleCAC.
Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee to Meet
The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee (ORAC) met on Feb. 5. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was not open to the public to protect public health. ORAC was established by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review and provide recommendations regarding the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Recreation Plan for the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area. To obtain a summary of the meeting, send a request to oroville@water.ca.gov.
Wildfire Impacts on Water Quality         
In late 2020, several members of the multi-agency “Watershed Working Group”, led by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), conducted targeted monitoring of rivers, lakes, and other surface waters in the North Complex burn area and downstream. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) collected and tested samples of surface waters throughout the North Complex Fire’s burn scar in Butte and Plumas counties. Results revealed some contaminant levels are elevated, but are lower than anticipated. The Water Board issued a news release today stating these elevated results are not impacting drinking water treatment facilities nor the quality of drinking water.

While major wildfires often lead to subsequent water quality challenges in lakes, streams and other waterways, the lower than expected levels of contaminants could be linked to the relatively dry winter months in 2020. Water testing will continue and the Watershed Working Group will report results in the weeks ahead. The Water Board will alert the public if results show water quality may be further impacted. 
Photo: DWR water quality experts collect water samples at Lake Oroville