 Storage Increasing at Lake Oroville During the winter and early spring months, flood control releases from Oroville Dam ensure the safety of the City of Oroville and downstream communities by reserving storage space to capture high storm inflows while permitting controlled and coordinated releases from the dam. As the warm, summer months approach and rain and snowstorms driven by atmospheric rivers wane, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) transitions from performing flood control releases at Oroville Dam to capturing as much water in the reservoir as possible, while still meeting water delivery and environmental requirements. Throughout April, DWR has decreased total releases from Lake Oroville to account for reduced inflows into the reservoir, while optimizing storage for the benefit of water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhancement. DWR coordinates releases closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other water operators and adjusts releases as needed to maintain balance throughout the water system. The information below reflects current reservoir level estimates. Forecasts can change quickly and may affect the estimates provided.
Total releases to the Feather River amount to 4,000 cfs with 650 cfs being routed down the Low Flow Channel through the City of Oroville. An additional 3,350 cfs is being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet, located 5 miles downstream from Oroville. Total Feather River releases may be increased over the weekend to meet downstream water quality requirements. DWR continues to assess Feather River releases daily. Lake Oroville is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project, providing flood protection while supporting environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million Californians. DWR continues to monitor lake levels and mountain snow levels to optimize water storage while meeting environmental requirements and allowing for carryover storage into next year.  DWR Supports New Well for Berry Creek School Destroyed by Fire Almost four years ago, the community of Berry Creek was destroyed by the North Complex Fire leaving just a few homes standing and the local elementary school burned to the ground. Thanks to funding provided in 2022 by DWR's Small Community Drought Relief Program, construction is underway to drill a new well and install a water system to support students when they return to school in the future. Learn more about how DWR is helping the Berry Creek community: https://youtu.be/Th_e9rkmRr0 Extended Hours for Spillway Day-Use Area With the approaching summer months and extended daylight hours, the Spillway Boat Ramp and Day Use Area will be open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. starting Wednesday, May 1. All vehicles and trailers are subject to inspection by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) for security purposes. There are five other boat ramps at Lake Oroville that are open 24 hours a day and do not entail CHP inspections: Bidwell Canyon, Loafer Point, Loafer Creek, Lime Saddle, and Enterprise. Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee (ORAC) will hold a meeting on Friday, May 3 at 10 a.m. at the Southside Oroville Community Center located at 2959 Lower Wyandotte Road, Oroville, CA, 95966. ORAC was established by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review and provide recreation plan recommendations for Oroville Facilities owned by the Department of Water Resources (DWR). The 13-member committee is made up of representatives from state and local government, recreation groups, and business and community organizations.  Feather Fiesta Days For more than 70 years, Feather Fiesta Days has been Oroville’s premier hometown celebration. This year, festivities will be held Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 5 with a large variety of activities. Get the party started on Friday with the Gold Rush Car Show, Kiwanis Kiddies Day Parade, and Feather River Recreation & Park District's Concert in the Park. Then head to downtown Oroville on Saturday for a pancake breakfast, Feather Fiesta Days Parade, craft fair, and vendor and food booths. Stop by DWR’s booth in downtown Oroville between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday. We’ll be sharing information about Lake Oroville recreation areas and have a fun drawing activity. Decorate our banner with sayings or drawings that represent what you love about the Feather River. We’ll be displaying your beautiful banner artwork at the Lake Oroville Visitor Center for the next few weeks. Learn more about scheduled Feather Fiesta Days activities at visitoroville.com.  Oroville Recreation
DWR, State Parks, and CDFW maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. An interactive map of recreation facilities, including open trails and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi), is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. A paper trail map is available at various locations, including most entrance kiosks and the Lake Oroville Visitor Center. Staffed by knowledgeable guides, the Visitor Center features interpretive displays on Oroville Dam, area geology, wildlife and habitat, hydroelectric power, and cultural and historical artifacts. View videos in the theater about the construction of Oroville Dam, walk or hike along nearby trails, and visit the 47-foot-tall observation tower that provides unsurpassed panoramic views of surrounding areas. Free guided tours for school and community groups are available by reservation. Parking and admission to the Visitor Center are free. Lake Oroville is one of the State Water Project’s premier recreational destinations and one of California’s best fishing spots. The lake provides both warm-water and cold-water fisheries and is a popular destination for bass tournaments. Below the Oroville Dam, the Thermalito Afterbay and the Feather River offer additional excellent fishing opportunities. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services including a convenience store, gas, and boat rentals. Upstream migrating fish totals through the Feather River Fish Monitoring Station between Jan. 1 and April 20 are:
Current Lake OperationsLake Oroville is at 889 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3.37 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 95 percent of its total capacity and 125 percent of the historical average. Feather River flows are at 650 cfs through the City of Oroville with 3,350 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total Feather River release of 4,000 cfs downstream. Total Feather River releases may be increased over the weekend to meet downstream water quality requirements. DWR continues to assess Feather River releases daily. Visitors to Oroville Dam may also notice minor amounts of water flowing from drains built into the emergency spillway, which is normal and expected with the emergency spillway design. The dam and emergency spillway continue to operate as intended. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO.” All data as of midnight 4/25/2024. Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to [email protected].
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  Feather River Pulse Flow to Benefit Migrating Fish With warming temperatures and the mountain snowmelt season underway, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to perform required flood protection releases from Lake Oroville using the Hyatt Powerplant. Releases from Lake Oroville during the spring months help maintain storage capacity in the reservoir to capture runoff, while optimizing storage for the benefit of water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhancement. Over the past week, DWR has further decreased total releases from Lake Oroville to account for reduced inflows into the reservoir. DWR coordinates releases closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other water operators and adjusts releases as needed to maintain balance throughout the water system. The information below reflects current reservoir level estimates. Forecasts can change quickly and may affect the estimates provided.
Reductions are in anticipation of a pulse flow, a temporary increase in river flow, which is scheduled to start Tuesday, April 23. Pulse flows benefit migrating fish such as juvenile salmon and steelhead, that are traveling downstream this time of year. Pulse flows increase their survival by increasing the speed at which juvenile salmon and steelhead move downstream, reducing their exposure to predators and potential infection from pathogens. Pulse flows during the winter and spring mimic natural river hydrologic conditions that the salmon and steelhead, along with many other Central Valley riverine species, have adapted to over many eons. Pulse flows were developed in coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for the benefit of salmon migrating out of the Feather River. During the pulse flow period, the Low Flow Channel will remain at 650 cfs, while total Feather River releases will increase to 6,450 cfs. It is expected that flows will be reduced again by Saturday, April 27. Lake Oroville is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project, providing flood protection while supporting environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million Californians. DWR continues to monitor lake levels, weather forecasts, and mountain snow levels to optimize water storage while meeting environmental requirements and allowing for carryover storage into next year.  Oroville Wildlife Area Plantings Support Native and Migratory Birds The nearly 12,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA) in Butte County is a popular stopping place on the Pacific Flyway for migrating and native birds thanks to its preservation as a wildlife habitat and its proximity to the Thermalito Afterbay and Feather River. Under the management of CDFW, nearly 300 acres of grains, grasses, and flowering plants are sown yearly to provide food (forage), shelter, and nesting cover for migratory and native birds. This spring, CDFW has begun the planting season with 60 acres of sunflower and safflower seeds at 16 different locations around the Thermalito Afterbay. Growing different types of grains, grasses, and flowers provides nutrition for different varieties of birds and wildlife, and safflower and black oil sunflower seeds provide the most energy per pound of any typical birdseed. Both safflowers and sunflowers thrive best in arid climates and dry conditions like those found in the north Sacramento Valley where the OWA is located. However, planting at the OWA does present a challenge due to a lack of an irrigation system. CDFW staff instead utilize dry-land farming techniques including minimal land tilling, wider than normal spacing, and the selection of crops best suited for the environment. CDFW staff have been planting forage in the OWA for over 50 years and have a successful track record of timing the weather with their plowing and seeding activities to provide a welcome bounty of high-energy food and shelter for the Valley’s native birds and migrating visitors.  Brad Freeman Trail Reroute Heavy rains caused slope failure along a portion of the Brad Freeman Trail near the Hyatt Powerplant, making a quarter mile long trail section unsafe for public recreation. DWR and the California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) assessed impacts to the trail with a decision ultimately made to reroute the trail for continued recreation use. DWR and State Parks opened the newly rerouted trail this week, which now runs along the north side of Oro Powerhouse Road. The trail reroute provides continuous access to the 41-mile-long Brad Freeman Trail loop, offering multi-use recreation for hiking, biking, and equestrians. The nearest access points to this trail segment are the Diversion Pool parking lot off Oro Powerhouse Road and the Upper Overlook Day Use Area on Canyon Drive. DWR, State Parks, and CDFW maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. An interactive map of recreation facilities, including open trails and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi), is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. A paper trail map is available at various locations, including most entrance kiosks and the Lake Oroville Visitor Center.  Earth Day Activities Celebrate Earth Day with DWR and the Lake Oroville Visitor Center. Our Visitor Center guides are hosting an Earth Day chalk art event this Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join our staff in creating beautiful chalk art showcasing your love for our planet and its precious resources. The event is open to all ages and chalk will be provided. Located at 917 Kelly Ridge Rd. in Oroville, the Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staffed by knowledgeable guides, the Visitor Center features interpretive displays on Oroville Dam, area geology, wildlife and habitat, hydroelectric power, and cultural and historical artifacts. View videos in the theater about the construction of Oroville Dam, walk or hike along nearby trails, and visit the 47-foot-tall observation tower that provides unsurpassed panoramic views of surrounding areas. Free guided tours for school and community groups are available by reservation. Parking and admission to the Visitor Center are free.  Oroville Recreation
Lake Oroville is one of the State Water Project’s premier recreational destinations and one of California’s best fishing spots. The lake provides both warm-water and cold-water fisheries and is a popular destination for bass tournaments. Below the Oroville Dam, the Thermalito Afterbay and the Feather River offer additional excellent fishing opportunities. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services including a convenience store, gas, and boat rentals. Upstream migrating fish totals through the Feather River Fish Monitoring Station between Jan. 1 and April 11 are:
Current Lake Operations Lake Oroville is at 881 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3.25 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 92 percent of its total capacity and 123 percent of the historical average. Feather River flows are at 650 cfs through the City of Oroville with 4,350 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total Feather River release of 5,000 cfs downstream. On Saturday, total Feather River releases will be reduced to 3,500 cfs while maintaining 650 cfs in the Low Flow Channel. Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet releases will be reduced to 2,850 cfs. DWR continues to assess releases to the Feather River daily. Visitors to Oroville Dam may also notice minor amounts of water flowing from drains built into the emergency spillway, which is normal and expected with the emergency spillway design. The dam and emergency spillway continue to operate as intended. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO.” All data as of midnight 4/18/2024. California Department of Water Resources715 P Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Call our general information line at 916-820-8142 or email us at [email protected]   Main Spillway Releases Ongoing With warming temperatures and the mountain snowmelt season underway, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to perform required flood protection releases from Lake Oroville using the main spillway and Hyatt Powerplant. Releases from Lake Oroville during the spring months help maintain storage capacity in the reservoir to capture runoff, while optimizing storage for the benefit of water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhancement. Over the past week, DWR decreased total releases from Lake Oroville to account for reduced inflows into the reservoir. DWR coordinates releases closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other water operators and adjusts releases as needed to maintain balance throughout the water system. The information below reflects current reservoir level estimates. Forecasts can change quickly and may affect the estimates provided.
Lake Oroville is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project, providing flood protection while supporting environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million Californians. DWR continues to monitor lake levels, weather forecasts, and mountain snow levels to optimize water storage while meeting environmental requirements and allowing for carryover storage into next year.  DWR JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN OROVILLE DWR has numerous job opportunities throughout the State. For those looking for positions based in Butte County, DWR is currently hiring engineers. To view more details about the positions, visit CalCareers. BRAD FREEMAN TRAIL REROUTE Heavy rains caused slope failure along a portion of the Brad Freeman Trail near the Hyatt Powerplant, making a quarter mile long trail section unsafe for public recreation. DWR and the California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) assessed impacts to the trail with a decision ultimately made to reroute the trail for continued recreation use. DWR and State Parks opened the newly rerouted trail this week, which now runs along the north side of Oro Powerhouse Road. The trail reroute provides continuous access to the 41-mile-long Brad Freeman Trail loop, offering multi-use recreation for hiking, biking, and equestrians. The nearest access points to this trail segment are the Diversion Pool parking lot off Oro Powerhouse Road and the Upper Overlook Day Use Area on Canyon Drive. DWR, State Parks, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. An interactive map of recreation facilities, including open trails and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi), is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. A paper trail map is available at various locations, including most entrance kiosks and the Lake Oroville Visitor Center.  EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES Celebrate Earth Day all April with DWR and the Lake Oroville Visitor Center. Our Visitor Center guides are currently hosting a coloring contest for kids ages 5 to 12. Pick up coloring sheets at the Visitor Center and return them or your own original Earth Day artwork by Wednesday, April 17. Winners will have their art displayed publicly in the Visitor Center’s front lobby. In addition, DWR is hosting an Earth Day chalk art event at the Lake Oroville Visitor Center on Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join our guides in creating beautiful chalk art showcasing your love for our planet and its precious resources. The event is open to all ages and chalk will be provided. Located at 917 Kelly Ridge Rd. in Oroville, the Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staffed by knowledgeable guides, the Visitor Center features interpretive displays on Oroville Dam, area geology, wildlife and habitat, hydroelectric power, and cultural and historical artifacts. View videos in the theater about the construction of Oroville Dam, walk or hike along nearby trails, and visit the 47-foot-tall observation tower that provides unsurpassed panoramic views of surrounding areas. Free guided tours for school and community groups are available by reservation. Parking and admission to the Visitor Center are free.  OROVILLE RECREATION Lake Oroville is one of the State Water Project’s premier recreational destinations and one of California’s best fishing spots. The lake provides both warm-water and cold-water fisheries and is a popular destination for bass tournaments. Below the Oroville Dam, the Thermalito Afterbay and the Feather River offer additional excellent fishing opportunities. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services including a convenience store, gas, and boat rentals. Upstream migrating fish totals through the Feather River Fish Monitoring Station between Jan. 1 and April 4 are:
CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
Lake Oroville is at 875 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3.16 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 89 percent of its total capacity and 122 percent of the historical average. Feather River flows are at 650 cfs through the City of Oroville with 6,350 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total Feather River release of 7,000 cfs downstream. DWR continues to assess releases to the Feather River daily. Visitors to Oroville Dam may also notice minor amounts of water flowing from drains built into the emergency spillway, which is normal and expected with the emergency spillway design. The dam and emergency spillway continue to operate as intended. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO.” All data as of midnight 4/11/2024.   Main Spillway Releases Ongoing As snowmelt season begins, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to perform flood protection releases from Lake Oroville using the main spillway and Hyatt Powerplant. Releases from Lake Oroville during the spring months help maintain storage capacity in the reservoir to capture runoff from mountain snowmelt, while optimizing storage for the benefit of water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhancement. DWR coordinates releases closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other water operators and adjusts releases as needed to maintain balance throughout the water system. The information below reflects current reservoir level estimates. Forecasts can change quickly and may affect the estimates provided.
Lake Oroville is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project, providing flood protection while supporting environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million Californians. In 2023, Oroville Dam’s main spillway passed over 2,370,000 acre-feet of water, 67 percent of Lake Oroville’s capacity, with flows as high as 36,000 cfs. The main spillway continues to perform well and operate as designed. DWR continues to monitor lake levels, weather forecasts, and mountain snow levels to optimize water storage while meeting environmental requirements and allowing for carryover storage into next year.  ABOVE AVERAGE SNOWPACK RECORDED DURING APRIL SNOW SURVEY DWR conducted the all-important April snow survey on April 2, the fourth measurement of the season at Phillips Station. The manual survey recorded 64 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 27.5 inches, which is 113 percent of average for this location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. The April measurement is critical for water managers as it’s considered the peak snowpack for the season and marks the transition to spring snowmelt into the state’s rivers and reservoirs. DWR’s electronic readings from 130 stations placed throughout the state indicate that the statewide snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 28.6 inches, or 110 percent of the April 1 average, a significant improvement from just 28 percent of average on January 1. California’s reservoirs remain in good shape thanks to state efforts to capture and store as much water as possible from record storms in 2023 and again this season. The State Water Project has increased storage by 700,000 acre-feet at Lake Oroville and by 154,000 acre-feet at San Luis Reservoir since January 1. As of April 2, statewide reservoir levels were at 116 percent of average. Read more about the April snow survey in DWR’s press release.  OROVILLE WILDFLOWER & NATURE FESTIVAL The Feather River Recreation & Park District (FRRPD) is hosting its annual Wildflower & Nature Festival at Riverbend Park in Oroville on Saturday, April 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free to the festival with activities highlighting the area’s natural resources and booths showcasing handmade Butte County products. Activities and entertainment will be available for all ages including children’s crafts, river kayak tours, live music, food trucks, and a beer and wine garden. Make sure to stop by DWR’s booth for information about the Lake Oroville Visitor Center and Lake Oroville State Recreation Area, and a craft activity for kids – making wildflower seed paper. More information about the Wildflower & Nature Festival is available on FRRPD’s website.  EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES Celebrate Earth Day all April with DWR and the Lake Oroville Visitor Center. Our Visitor Center guides are currently hosting a coloring contest for kids ages 5 to 12. Pick up coloring sheets at the Visitor Center and return them or your own original Earth Day artwork by Wednesday, April 17. Winners will have their art displayed publicly in the Visitor Center’s front lobby. In addition, DWR is hosting an Earth Day chalk art event at the Lake Oroville Visitor Center on Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join our guides in creating beautiful chalk art showcasing your love for our planet and its precious resources. The event is open to all ages and chalk will be provided. Located at 917 Kelly Ridge Rd. in Oroville, the Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  OROVILLE RECREATION
DWR, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. An interactive map of recreation facilities, including open trails and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi), is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. A paper trail map is available at various locations, including most entrance kiosks and the Lake Oroville Visitor Center. Lake Oroville is one of the State Water Project’s premier recreational destinations and one of California’s best fishing spots. The lake provides both warm-water and cold-water fisheries and is a popular destination for bass tournaments. Below the Oroville Dam, the Thermalito Afterbay and the Feather River offer additional excellent fishing opportunities. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services including a convenience store, gas, and boat rentals. Upstream migrating fish totals through the Feather River Fish Monitoring Station between Jan. 1 and March 30 are:
CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS Lake Oroville is at 873 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3.12 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 88 percent of its total capacity and 123 percent of the historical average. Feather River flows are at 1,000 cfs through the City of Oroville with 9,000 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total Feather River release of 10,000 cfs downstream. Total Feather River releases may be reduced over the weekend depending on observed storm impacts. DWR continues to assess releases to the Feather River daily. Visitors to Oroville Dam may also notice minor amounts of water flowing from drains built into the emergency spillway, which is normal and expected with the emergency spillway design. The dam and emergency spillway continue to operate as intended. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO.” All data as of midnight 4/4/2024. |
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