June 24, 2022

Apprentice Opportunities
​The Department of Water Resources (DWR) paid apprenticeship program exams will be available June 24 to June 30 for those interested in applying for electrician, operator, mechanic, or utility craftsworker positions in California’s hydroelectric industry. Most apprenticeship positions have education requirements of equivalent to graduation from high school and knowledge of basic arithmetic and algebra, electrical fundamentals, and mechanical principles.
The online exams are currently posted on DWR’s CalCareers webpage with links to the individual exams for Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) Electrician Apprentice, HEP Mechanic Apprentice, HEP Operator Apprentice, and Utility Craftsworker Apprentice. Applying for more than one apprenticeship position is permitted but interested persons are reminded the online exams will only be available Friday, June 24 through Thursday, June 30. Passing applicants will be ranked and those with scores higher than 70 will be placed on the position’s eligible for hire list and can then apply for the apprenticeship program’s position openings. More information is available on the DWR Updates webpage.
DWR has eight hydroelectric powerplants in the State Water Project, three of which are in the Oroville-Thermalito Complex – Edward Hyatt Powerplant, Thermalito Diversion Dam Powerplant, and Ronald B. Robie Thermalito Pumping-Generating Plant.

FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS
​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. The morning at the airport will be filled with an airplane “fly-in”, pancake breakfast, car show, and airplane rides.
Viewers are encouraged to observe the fireworks show from their homes, if possible, or higher locations throughout the City of Oroville and surrounding area. The Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area will close at sunset on Sunday, July 3 and remain closed until 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 5. The Nelson Avenue Sports Complex will be open but the pool will be closed. The Oroville Wildlife Area and Thermalito Afterbay will also maintain normal operating hours on July Fourth: 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Information on morning activities at the airport, suggested viewing locations for the fireworks, and other event information is available on the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce website. 

WATER QUALITY WORKING GROUP
​In November and December 2020, a multi-agency task force comprised of the State Water Resources Control Board and Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board; Butte County Department of Public Works; California Department of Water Resources; California Department of Fish and Wildlife; California Department of Parks and Recreation; and Governor’s Office of Emergency Services came together as the ‘Watershed Working Group’ to address water quality concerns in the North Complex Wildfire burn area and downstream. In 2021, the burn area of the Dixie Wildfire was added for monitoring, and additional partner agencies were added to the working group.
Widespread testing of surface waters throughout these burn scars in Butte and Plumas counties has been completed. Sampling results over the winter of 2021-22 revealed that while contaminant levels were slightly elevated in some instances, they did not exceed primary drinking water contaminant thresholds, and did not adversely impact drinking water treatment facilities or the quality of drinking water they deliver to their communities.
The working group’s agencies will now transition to routine water quality monitoring, which includes monitoring for issues such as Harmful Algal Blooms. Building on the success of the collaboration, this working group will continue to meet to discuss watershed health and be ready for the upcoming fire season. The public is reminded to always treat surface waters before drinking or cooking when recreating outdoors. Homeowners with wells in burn scar areas should review their well construction and consider contacting their county Environmental Health Division for information about testing well water.

BLUE GREEN ALGAE MONITORING
​The Department of Water Resources (DWR) environmental scientists regularly monitor for blue-green algae and their toxins during the  summer months. There are currently no harmful algal bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, Upper Feather River lakes, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. Water samples are taken at various locations regularly from Memorial Day through Labor Day and sent to a lab for toxin analysis.
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 HAB is present and report the possible HAB immediately.
If elevated levels of cyanobacteria toxins are found while testing, 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.

OROVILLE RECREATION
​The Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) is open for boating, camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and much more. The four main paved boat ramps at Lime Saddle, Bidwell Canyon, Spillway, and Loafer Point are open, along with the Lime Saddle and Bidwell Canyon marinas, and campground reservations can be made by visiting the CA Parks LOSRA website.
Restrooms, potable water, and fish cleaning stations are not in service at the Spillway Boat Ramp area but portable toilets are provided – please plan visits accordingly.
The Thermalito Forebays and Afterbay also provide a wide range of water recreation opportunities along with hiking trails, the Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation area for Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) (south of Oroville Airport), and the 11,000 acres of prime wildlife viewing in the Oroville Wildlife Area. The OWA is administered for DWR by the CDFW and information about the 11,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area is available on the CDFW webpage. The Forebay Aquatic Center in the North Forebay Recreation Area is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday to Sunday with kayaks, paddle boards, and other watercraft available for rent. The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
An interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Visitors are encouraged to be fire smart, bring plenty of sunscreen, stay hydrated, avoid leaving valuables in visible areas, be prepared for cold water temperatures, and be mindful of personal safety and the safety of those around you.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 761 feet elevation and storage is about 1.78 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 50 percent of its total capacity and 66 percent of historical average. Extreme heat above 100 degrees is expected to continue through the weekend and temperatures are forecasted to drop to the upper 90s next week.
The Feather River releases were increased last week and are currently at 3,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Currently, flows down the low flow channel will be ramping down beginning on Saturday and by Monday, flows through the City of Oroville are planned to be at 650 cfs with 2,850 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 3,500 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. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
 All data as of midnight 6/23/2022

June 10, 2022

Protecting Against Quagga and Zebra Mussels
​As boating season kicks off, The Department of Water Resources (DWR), California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW), and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) urge boaters to always remember to clean, drain, and dry their boats before entering and leaving lakes, rivers, and other waterways to help prevent the spread of quagga or zebra mussels.
These two non-native freshwater mollusks – quagga and zebra mussels – pose a serious threat to California’s aquatic ecosystems. Quagga and zebra mussels are small, invasive species that colonize on hard surfaces, such as boat hulls and pontoons, docks and pilings, rocks, concrete, plastics, and even discarded bottles and cans. DWR’s Oroville Field Division biologists regularly sample Lake Oroville -for indicators the mollusks are present and, to date, none have been found.
Quagga and zebra mussels can be spread to new waterbodies when attached to boats as adults, or as microscopic juveniles in water in motors, bilges, and livewells. They are smaller than a dime, and juvenile mussels may even be difficult to detect with the naked eye. Despite their small size, they can cause major damage to water delivery systems, hydroelectric facilities, and watercraft engines.
When boating, make it a habit to do the following:

• Remove all plants and animal material from your boat, trailer, and equipment
• Wash the hull of your boat or other watercraft thoroughly, preferably with high-pressure hot water
• Clean your gear before entering and leaving the recreation area
• Drain bilge, ballast, wells, and buckets before you leave the area
• Inspect all exposed surfaces -- small mussels feel like sandpaper to the touch
• Dry equipment before launching into another body of water
• Allow at least a seven to eight day dry-out period before entering another body of water

Report any mussels you find to the local marina and the CDFW hotline at (866) 440-9530.

SOUTH FOREBAY CLOSED
​The California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) announced today the South Forebay and the Nelson Bridge Day Use Area will be closed from 8 a.m. Saturday, June 11 to 8 a.m. Monday, June 13 for a private boat racing event. Entrances to the South Forebay at Grand Avenue, Nelson Avenue Bridge Day Use Area and behind Poplar Avenue Elementary School will be closed, including the levee system to the east and south of the forebay. CA Parks has closed these areas to public use, entry, or occupancy.

CAL FIRE CONTROL BURNS
​In cooperation with DWR and CA Parks, CAL FIRE conducted control burns around the North Forebay, the Nelson Sports Complex, and along Grand Avenue this past week. The vegetation management-control burns have multiple beneficial impacts for the natural environment and public safety.
Around the Thermalito Forebay are many seasonal wetlands called vernal pools which support a high diversity of California native plants and animals, including rare and endangered species and species endemic to California (i.e., found nowhere else in the world). Fire from carefully controlled burns is the most powerful tool to combat invasive plants and dry invasive grass buildup called ‘thatch’ within these grasslands and vernal pools, as well as from grassland adjacent to private property and near high-use areas.
Additional plots may be burned over the next two weeks at Loafer Creek Recreation Area as weather conditions allow. Smoke will be visible at times in the Kelly Ridge and Greater Oroville areas throughout the duration of the project.

May 27, 2022

CAL FIRE Control Burns
In cooperation with the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks), CAL FIRE conducted control burns of around 185 acres this past week at South Forebay near Grand Avenue (~65 acres), near Wilbur Road and Tres Vias Road (~120 acres), and at the Loafer Creek Recreation Area (~55 acres). The vegetation management-control burns have multiple beneficial impacts for the natural environment and public safety.
Around the Thermalito Forebay are many seasonal wetlands called vernal pools which support a high diversity of California native plants and animals, including rare and endangered species and species endemic to California (i.e., found nowhere else in the world). Fire from carefully controlled burns is the most powerful tool to combat invasive plants and dry invasive grass buildup called ‘thatch’ within these grasslands and vernal pools, as well as from grassland adjacent to private property and near high-use areas.
The control burn at Loafer Creek Recreation Area removed fuels such as brush and dry grasses from several plots totaling around 55 acres. Prescribed fires, when conducted on a regular basis, help to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires on area landscapes and surrounding communities by reducing the amount of fire hazardous vegetation. Previous CAL FIRE prescribed fires, and vegetation management reduction work in the Loafer Creek area done through DWR’s Fuel Load Management Program, as credited with slowing the North Complex Fire in 2020 enough for firefighters to gain the upper hand, establish a successful fire line, and prevent further forward progression of the fire.
Additional plots may be burned over the next two weeks at Loafer Creek as weather conditions allow. Smoke will be visible at times in the Kelly Ridge and Greater Oroville areas throughout the duration of the project.

OROVILLE RECREATION
​With Memorial Day – the unofficial start of summer – just behind us, DWR invites the public to take advantage of the many recreation opportunities at the State Water Project’s Oroville Thermalito Complex.
Lake Oroville: The Spillway, Loafer Point, Bidwell Canyon, and Lime Saddle boat ramps are open 24-hours, seven days a week and car-top boat ramps are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Both the Lime Saddle and Bidwell Canyon Marinas are open and provide boat rentals. Restrooms, potable water, and fish cleaning stations are not in service at the Spillway Boat Ramp area but portable toilets are provided – please plan visits accordingly.
Thermalito Forebays and Afterbay: Visitors to the Thermalito North Forebay will find a full California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) facility with restrooms, picnic areas, a swim beach, and the Forebay Aquatic Center with kayaks, paddle boards, and other watercraft available for rent. Power boating is not allowed on the North Forebay but is permitted on the Thermalito South Forebay where the boat ramp area has a sandy beach, picnic tables, shade trees and vault toilets (no drinking water is available).
The Monument Hill and Wilbur Road boat ramp areas on the Thermalito Afterbay are open as well as the Larkin Road car-top boat ramp. The Monument Hill facility provides boat ramp access, restrooms, a picnic area, and a swim beach. The Wilbur Road boat ramp has boat launch lanes and a vault toilet. Boaters on the Afterbay are reminded of the 5-mph speed limit north of the Highway 162 bridge and that access to the Afterbay is from 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
Oroville Wildlife Area: Primarily a primitive wildlife area managed for fishing, wildlife viewing and hunting, the Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA) is accessed primarily by boat on the Feather River, by area trails, or from developed and primitive roads off Highway 162, Highway 70, and Larkin Road. The Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation area for Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs), a CA Parks facility, is located south of the Oroville Airport and the clay used to build the core of Oroville Dam was excavated from this area. The OWA is administered for DWR by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and information about the 11,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area is available on the CDFW webpage.
Lake Oroville Visitor Center and Area Trails: The Visitor Center is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. where visitors can view educational exhibits, walk area trails, and climb the 47-foot-tall viewing tower. The Lake Oroville Trails Map, which shows more than 91 miles of trails available to equestrians, bicyclists, and hikers all around the facilities mentioned above, is available at the Visitor Center, at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) kiosks, the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce, or at the Feather River Recreation and Parks office.
An interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage at https://water.ca.gov/What-We-Do/Recreation/Lake-Oroville-Recreation. Visitors are encouraged to be fire smart, bring plenty of sunscreen, stay hydrated, avoid leaving valuables in visible areas, and be mindful of personal safety and the safety of those around you.

COLD WEATHER ALERT
​With the Memorial Day holiday and warm weather starting the summer months, DWR reminds those recreating in area lakes and rivers that waters are still very cold. The Feather River below Oroville Dam is around 55 to 60 degrees. While surface temperatures of Lake Oroville can be warmer, colder water is present only a few feet below the surface. Additionally, inflows from snowmelt are feeding the upper reaches of the Feather River’s forks where cold water shock can impair breathing and heart rate after a sudden immersion.
Outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to be mindful of water temperatures and wear a life jacket if near or on the water. For more information, visit the National Weather Service’s Safety webpage.

PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST
​Several recreation sites on the Plumas National Forest have opened, including on DWR’s Upper Feather Lakes of Lake Davis, Frenchman Lake, and Antelope Lake. Recreation facilities such as day use areas, beaches, and campgrounds, are managed by the U.S. Forest Service and their contractors. For information about recreation facility locations, amenities, and current conditions and restrictions, visit the Plumas National Forest webpage.

GRAZING EFFORTS REDUCE FIRE RISK
​Drivers along Canyon Drive from Royal Oaks Drive to Oroville Dam’s Upper Overlook Parking Area will see how grazing is used in DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan to reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest health in areas around Lake Oroville. For the next couple of weeks, goats and sheep will be visible along the hillside adjacent to the roadway.
To increase the amount of vegetation removed, a mixture of goats and sheep are used by contractor Hanski Family Farms because the animals prefer different vegetation types. Goats prefer ladder fuels (shrubs, bushes, smaller trees, or tree branches near the ground) and sheep prefer grasses. When goats stand on their hind legs, they can reduce ladder fuels up to six feet high.
DWR, in partnership with Butte County Fire Safe Council, continues to use grazing as a sustainable method of fuel reduction around DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex, including Lake Oroville. To learn more, visit DWRs YouTube Channel for a video of the March 2021 Lakeland Boulevard goat grazing project.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 772 feet elevation and storage is about 1.9 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 54 percent of its total capacity and 68 percent of historical average. The forecast calls for a chance of rain over the weekend with dry conditions next week. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-to-upper-70s over the weekend and increasing to the mid-90s by the middle of the week.
The Feather River releases were increased last week and are currently at 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flow in the low-flow channel through the City of Oroville is 650 cfs and flow through the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet is currently 2,350 cfs. Flows are assessed daily.
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 6/2/2022