  May 21, 2021 Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Public Meeting The California Natural Resources Agency is hosting its seventh Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission (OCAC) meeting on Friday, May 28 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The public meeting will be held online and will include presentations and public comment. The Commission will receive an update on dam safety and presentations on risk assessment. The Citizens Advisory Commission is a forum to provide public feedback and be a voice for the communities surrounding Oroville Dam. For information on how to join the virtual meeting, please visit the OCAC website. Over 65 Acres Treated Around Lake Oroville This Season Fuel reduction work around Oroville continues to improve forest health and reduce fire risk. In partnership with Butte County Fire Safe Council, Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), the California Conservation Corps (CCC), CA State Parks, and CAL FIRE, DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP) work has thinned approximately 25 acres of overgrown vegetation and trees, as well as cut, piled, and chipped approximately 40 acres of dead and dying hazardous fuels (trees and vegetation) from the North Complex wildfire burn scar at Loafer Creek. CAL FIRE and CCC crews are continuing to work within the North Complex wildfire burn scar using heavy equipment and hand crews to cut, pile, and chip burnt vegetation and trees. The piles will be burned this fall when conditions are safe for burning. BCSO crews are continuing to chip cut vegetation near the Equestrian Camp at Loafer Creek. Green Mountain Contractors, Inc. just completed a 13-acre thinning and chipping project along Highway 162 and the entrance to Loafer Creek Recreation area. FLMP efforts will be winding down as hotter and drier conditions elevate risk of accidental ignitions. Photo: CA Conservation Corps crew clearing North Complex wildfire burn scar at Loafer Creek  Blue Green Algae Monitoring Begins for Recreational Season 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. Algal blooms can make the water appear green, blue, or brown in color. Seeing colors, mats, foam, scum, or paint-like streaks in the water may indicate a bloom is present. Keep animals and children away from the water when a suspected harmful algal bloom (HAB) is present and report the possible HAB immediately. DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, Upper Feather River lakes, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for blue-green algae and their toxins. In past years, algal blooms have been found in the upper reaches of all forks of Lake Oroville and in Upper Feather River lakes. Water samples are taken at various locations regularly from Memorial Day through Labor Day and sent to a lab for toxin analysis. There are currently no HAB advisories for Lake Oroville, Upper Feather River lakes, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. 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 affected waterbodies. To learn more about HABs or to report a HAB visit the Water Board’s website. Photo: DWR environmental scientists collect algal bloom samples for testing  Oroville Recreation
The Lime Saddle, Bidwell Canyon, and Spillway boat ramps are open for use, along with the newly opened Loafer Point Stage II boat ramp facility. The California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) has opened their reservations for campgrounds around Lake Oroville, including the Lake’s floating campgrounds. Lime Saddle group camping remains closed. Summer access hours of 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily are now in effect for the Spillway Boat Ramp Area - gates close at 11 p.m. Hours of access for motorists to Oroville Dam Crest Road is 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round; it is accessible to bicyclists, joggers, and walkers 24 hours per day. Please note that overnight parking in the lot above the main spillway is not permitted. Trails and day use facilities at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) are open 8 a.m. to sunset, except for Bidwell, Lime Saddle, and Loafer Creek, which are open 24 hours. The Lake Oroville Visitor Center remains closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Visit the California Parks LOSRA webpage for current information on facility status, campground reservations, and to find current requirements to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information can also be found on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Photo: Floating campsite on Lake Oroville Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 718 feet elevation and storage is about 1.40 million acre-feet -- 40 percent full and 47 percent of historical average. Currently, in the Northern Sierra Basin, rainfall is below average, at 47 percent of normal for this time of year and snowpack is also below average at five percent of normal. Slight cooling over the weekend with warm and dry conditions next week. Currently, flows down the low flow channel through the City of Oroville are at 650 cfs and 1,850 cfs is being released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 2,500 cfs downstream of the Outlet. Current releases are for meeting downstream water quality and flow requirements and are re-assessed on a daily basis. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. Lake Oroville is identified as “ORO”. All data as of midnight 5/20/2021 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to [email protected].  May 14, 2021 Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Public Meeting The California Natural Resources Agency is hosting its seventh Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission (OCAC) meeting on Friday, May 28 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The public meeting will be held online and will include presentations and public comment. The Commission will receive an update on dam safety and presentations on risk assessment. The Citizens Advisory Commission is a forum to provide public feedback and be a voice for the communities surrounding Oroville Dam. For information on how to join the virtual meeting, please visit the OCAC website. Loafer Point Stage II Boat Ramp Opens Boaters are using the newly completed Loafer Point Boat Ramp facility at the Loafer Creek Recreation Area. The six-lane boat ramp has 180 trailered parking spaces and provides immediate access to the open waters of Lake Oroville. This Stage II facility provides boat launch capability when lake elevations go as low as 707 feet above sea level. As lake levels are anticipated to drop further due to drought conditions, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is planning to extend the ramp to lower lake elevations this fall and winter. The Loafer Point Stage I boat ramp was completed in 2020 and added three new boat launch lanes from a full lake down to 805 feet and a new parking area. The new restroom facilities will be in service when Stage I is in use. Both boat ramps are adjacent to the Loafer Creek Recreation Day Use Area and Campground, rounding out a full-service recreation destination with nearby trails, campgrounds, boating, and marina. Photo: Loafer Point Boat Ramp Stage II Facility  Oroville Recreation
The Lime Saddle, Bidwell Canyon, and Spillway boat ramps are open for use, along with the newly opened Loafer Point Stage II boat ramp facility. The California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) has opened their reservations for campgrounds around Lake Oroville, including the Lake’s floating campgrounds. Lime Saddle group camping remains closed. Summer access hours of 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily are now in effect for the Spillway Boat Ramp Area - gates close at 11 p.m. Hours of access for motorists to Oroville Dam Crest Road is 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round; it is accessible to bicyclists, joggers, and walkers 24 hours per day. Please note that overnight parking in the lot above the main spillway is not permitted. Day use facilities and trails at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) are open 8 a.m. to sunset, except for Bidwell, Lime Saddle, and Loafer Creek, which are open 24 hours. The Lake Oroville Visitor Center remains closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Visit the California Parks LOSRA webpage for current information on facility status, campground reservations, and to find current requirements to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information can also be found on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Photo: Floating campsite on Lake Oroville Upper Feather Lakes Open for Recreation Many Plumas National Forest recreation sites in the Frenchman Lake and Lake Davis Recreation Areas are open. Lower water levels may affect placement of boat docks and limit what size boats may be launched. Information about campground availability and reservations can be found at www.Recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777. Campgrounds along Caribou Road in the Feather River Canyon (Highway 70) are also open; however, Lakes Basin and Gold Lake campgrounds remain covered in snow and will open later in the season. Visit Plumas National Forest’s recreation webpage for information. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 723 feet elevation and storage is about 1.44 million acre-feet -- 41 percent full and 49 percent of historical average. Currently, in the Northern Sierra Basin, rainfall is below average, at 47 percent of normal for this time of year and snowpack is also below average at six percent of normal. Continued warm and mainly dry conditions is forecast with the possibility of light precipitation over the weekend and in the middle of next week. Because of continued warm temperatures and dry conditions, flows had been increased to meet Bay-Delta water quality and outflow. On May 8, flows were increased from 1,200 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 2,500 cfs. Then, on May 12, flows were reduced to 2,300 cfs. Currently, flows down the low flow channel through the City of Oroville are at 650 cfs and 1,650 cfs is being released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 2,300 cfs downstream of the Outlet. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. Lake Oroville is identified as “ORO”. All data as of midnight 5/13/2021 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to [email protected].   May 7, 2021 Loafer Point Stage II Boat Ramp Opens The newly completed Loafer Point Boat Ramp facility is now open for use. The six-lane boat ramp has 180 trailered parking spaces and provides immediate access to the open waters of Lake Oroville. This Stage II facility will provide boat launch capability when lake elevations go as low as 707 feet above sea level. As lake levels are anticipated to drop further due to drought conditions, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is planning to extend the ramp to lower lake elevations this fall and winter. The Loafer Point Stage I boat ramp was completed in 2020 and added three new boat launch lanes from a full lake down to 805 feet and a new parking area. The new restroom facilities will be in service when the water levels rise above elevation 805 feet. Both boat ramps are adjacent to the Loafer Creek Recreation Day Use Area and Campground, rounding out a full-service recreation destination with nearby trails, campgrounds, boating, and marina. Photo: Loafer Point Boat Ramp Facility - Stage I in background, Stage II in foreground with Bidwell Canyon Marina in distance on right Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee to Meet The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee (ORAC) met May 7. 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 [email protected]. Upper Feather Lakes Open for Recreation Many Plumas National Forest recreation sites in the Frenchman Lake and Lake Davis Recreation Areas are now open. Lower water levels may affect placement of boat docks and limit what size boats may be launched. Information about campground availability and reservations can be found at www.Recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777. Campgrounds along Caribou Road in the Feather River Canyon (Highway 70) are also open; however, Lakes Basin and Gold Lake campgrounds remain covered in snow and will open later in the season. Visit Plumas National Forest’s recreation webpage for information.  CAL FIRE Announces Wildfire Prevention Week at Loafer Creek CAL FIRE chose the Loafer Creek Recreation Area as one of three locations in California to kick off their annual “Wildfire Preparedness Week”. The CAL FIRE events are held to raise awareness and encourage the public to take a hands-on approach in wildfire preparedness. The event also highlighted how CAL FIRE is preparing for the 2021 fire season, including using prescribed fire and vegetation management programs such as their partnership with DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP) to reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest health in areas around Lake Oroville. CAL FIRE continues hazardous fuels reduction activities at Loafer Creek within the North Complex wildfire burn scar. Crews are using heavy equipment and hand crews to cut, pile, and chip burnt vegetation and trees. The piles will be burned this fall when conditions are safe for burning. The project is visible to motorists on Highway 162. The public is advised to use caution around work activities and reduce speeds around crews and equipment. Photo: Before and after photos showing removal of overgrown vegetation and hazardous fuels at Bidwell Canyon recreation area.  Oroville Recreation The Lime Saddle, Bidwell Canyon, and Spillway boat ramps are open for use, along with the newly opened Loafer Point boat Stage II launch facility. The California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) has opened their camping reservations for camping areas around Lake Oroville, including the Lake’s floating campgrounds. Lime Saddle group camping remains closed. Summer access hours of 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily are now in effect for the Spillway Boat Ramp Area - gates close at 11 p.m. Hours of access for motorists to Oroville Dam Crest Road is 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round; it is accessible to bicyclists, joggers, and walkers 24 hours per day. Please note that overnight parking in the lot above the main spillway is not permitted. Day use facilities and trails at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) are open 8 a.m. to sunset, except for Bidwell, Lime Saddle, and Loafer Creek, which are open 24 hours. The Lake Oroville Visitor Center remains closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Visit the California Parks LOSRA webpage for current information on facility status, campground reservations, and to find current requirements to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information can also be found on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage.  Oroville Wildlife Area Habitat Project
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. Managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for DWR, the OWA also includes DWR’s Thermalito Afterbay reservoir, a prime habitat for migrating waterfowl and several endangered species. CDFW farms over 300 acres of grains, grasses, and flowering plants in the OWA to provide food (forage), shelter, and nesting cover for migratory and native birds, including 60 acres in various locations around the Thermalito Afterbay were planted with sunflowers and safflowers. Read more about CDFW’s 50 years of using dry-land farming techniques to add diversity to the area’s wildlife habitat on the DWR Updates webpage. DWR will be tracking the success of these 60 acres over the summer and photos can be found on DWR’s photo shelter page “Pixel” by using the search term “Oroville Wildlife Area Planting”. Photo: Plowing and seeding at Oroville Wildlife Area near the Thermalito Afterbay Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 728 feet elevation and storage is about 1.48 million acre-feet -- 42 percent full and 51 percent of historical average. Currently, in the Northern Sierra Basin, rainfall is below average, at 48 percent of normal for this time of year and snowpack is also below average at 10 percent of normal. Warm and dry conditions are forecast for the foreseeable future. Because of warmer temperatures and dry conditions, additional flows are needed to meet Bay-Delta water quality and outflow. Flows to the Feather River increased from 800 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 1200 cfs on May 5 and May 6. Current flows down the low flow channel through the City of Oroville are at 650 cfs and 550 cfs is being released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 1,200 cfs downstream of the Outlet. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. Lake Oroville is identified as “ORO”. All data as of midnight 5/6/2021 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to [email protected].  April 30, 2021 Summer Hours In Effect at Spillway Summer access hours of 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily are now in effect for the Spillway Boat Ramp Area, Spillway Day Use Area, Potter’s Ravine, and North Fork Trails. While overnight parking for lake users is permitted in this parking lot, no egress is allowed from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Hours of access to Oroville Dam Crest Road for motorists is 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round and accessible to bicyclists, joggers, and walkers 24 hours per day. Please note that overnight parking in the lot above the main spillway is not permitted. CAL FIRE to Conduct Rescue Training Exercise A confined space rescue training will be held at the Edmund Hyatt Hydroelectric Powerplant on May 6 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The training will involve numerous CAL FIRE personnel and equipment which will be visible to the public in different locations around Oroville Dam and the Hyatt Powerplant. The public is advised this is a training exercise to provide participants with “real-time” rescue experiences to learn and refresh skills related to emergency preparedness and response. Oroville Wildlife Area Habitat Project 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. Managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for DWR, the OWA also includes DWR’s Thermalito Afterbay reservoir, a prime habitat for migrating waterfowl and several endangered species. CDFW farms over 300 acres of grains, grasses, and flowering plants in the OWA to provide food (forage), shelter, and nesting cover for migratory and native birds. Recently, 60 acres in various locations around the Thermalito Afterbay were planted with sunflowers and safflowers. Read more about CDFW’s 50 years of using dry-land farming techniques to add diversity to the area’s wildlife habitat on the DWR Updates webpage. DWR will be tracking the success of these 60 acres over the summer and photos can be found on DWR’s photo shelter page “Pixel” by using the search term “Oroville Wildlife Area Planting”. Photo: Plowing and seeding at Oroville Wildlife Area near the Thermalito Afterbay  Thousands of Salmon Released Into Lake Oroville On April 23, CDFW released 100,800 triploid fall-run ‘inland’ Chinook fingerling salmon into Lake Oroville at the Spillway Boat Ramp. These inland Chinook about 4 to 5 inches in length were raised at the Feather River Fish Hatchery to support recreational fishing opportunities at Lake Oroville. Triploid fish are infertile, or unable to reproduce. This allows the fish to grow larger instead of putting energy into reproducing. Hatchery operations mitigate impacts to Feather River fish migration resulting from the construction of Oroville Dam. DWR built, maintains, and funds the Feather River Fish Hatchery in partnership with CDFW staff who conduct fish spawning, rearing, and stocking activities at the hatchery. The Hatchery’s fish planting program has been in operation since 1968. A virtual tour of the Hatchery can be viewed on DWR’s YouTube channel and additional information can be found on the CDFW website. Photo: Inland Chinook salmon released into Lake Oroville  Loafer Creek Fuels Reduction Work In partnership with Butte County Fire Safe Council (BCFSC), DWR has removed overgrown and hazardous vegetation from 13 acres along Highway 162 and Loafer Creek Road as part of DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP) to reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest health in areas around Lake Oroville. In another project, work crews from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) are chipping previously cut and piled underbrush near the Loafer Creek Loop trail on the west side of the Loafer Creek Recreation Area. Work will continue for the next several weeks and may be visible and audible to the public. CAL FIRE continues hazardous fuels reduction activities at Loafer Creek within the North Complex wildfire burn scar. Crews are using heavy equipment and hand crews to cut, pile, and chip burnt vegetation and trees. The piles will be burned this fall when conditions are safe to burn. Both projects are visible to motorists on Highway 162. The public is advised to use caution around work activities and reduce speeds around crews and equipment. To date, DWR’s FLMP has treated approximately 700 acres around the Lake Oroville area. DWR has the goal of treating and/or retreating an additional 1,000 acres over the next five years. Photo: Crews perform brush clearing work at Loafer Creek Recreation Area  Oroville Recreation
The Lime Saddle, Bidwell Canyon, and Spillway boat ramps are open for use. The California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) has opened their camping reservations for camping areas around Lake Oroville, including the Lake’s floating campgrounds. 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. All day use facilities at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) are open. The Lake Oroville Visitor Center remains closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. DWR and CA Parks invite outdoor enthusiasts to visit the area’s 91 miles of trails, including the 41-mile long Brad Freeman Trail. Mountain bikers, hikers, equestrians, and bicyclists can find trail information on DWR’s interactive map on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Visit the California Parks LOSRA webpage for current information on facility status as well as current requirements to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. For information about the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Photo: Floating campsite on Lake Oroville Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 728 feet elevation and storage is about 1.48 million acre-feet -- 42 percent full and 52 percent of historical average. Currently, in the Northern Sierra Basin, rainfall is below average, at 48 percent of normal for this time of year and snowpack is also below average at 23 percent of normal. Warm and dry conditions are forecast for the foreseeable future. DWR continues to reduce releases to conserve water while maintaining flows to meet Bay-Delta water quality needs and outflow requirements. Flows to the Feather River decreased from 1,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 800 cfs on April 29. Current flows down the low flow channel through the City of Oroville are at 650 cfs and 150 cfs is being released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 800 cfs downstream of the Outlet. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. Lake Oroville is identified as “ORO”. All data as of midnight 4/29/2021 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to [email protected]. |
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