  Blue-Green Algae Monitoring Department of Water Resources (DWR) environmental scientists continue to monitor for blue-green algae and their toxins within the Oroville-Thermalito Complex. Monitoring occurs during the summer months with water samples taken at various locations regularly, which are sent to a lab for toxin analysis. There are currently no harmful algal bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. 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 bloom is present and report blooms immediately to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. 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 Dam Citizens Advisory Commission The California Natural Resources Agency is hosting its 17th Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission meeting on Friday, August 2 from 10 a.m. to noon. The virtual public meeting will include presentations and public comment. Presentations will include: an annual dam safety project update from the California Department of Water Resources; an overview of a recent independent assessment of the State Water Project Dam Safety Program; a briefing on the role of the state’s Division of Safety of Dams; and a report from the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency on the process to update local inundation maps. The Citizens Advisory Commission is a forum for questions and feedback from the communities surrounding Oroville Dam. For more information about the meeting, please visit the Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission website.  Nesting Grebes Receive Help From DWR During the summer months, a unique bird makes its home in the waters around the Oroville-Thermalito Complex, with a little help from the Department of Water Resources (DWR). The Western and Clark’s grebes are aquatic birds with distinctive red eyes and pointed yellow beaks. During the summer, they arrive from the Pacific Ocean to nesting areas around the Thermalito Afterbay in Oroville. The grebes nest in shallow waters, attaching their floating nests to aquatic vegetation. Unfortunately, fluctuations in water levels at reservoirs can either leave nests stranded, more susceptible to predators, or flooded. Every year since 2004, DWR has established a goal of keeping Thermalito Afterbay water levels within a targeted range until the end of the birds’ breeding and nesting season in September. DWR biologists have observed active grebe nesting at the Thermalito Afterbay. Watercraft users are advised to remain alert for floating nests and to motor/paddle around them to leave nests undisturbed. DWR is conducting grebe surveys to estimate adult and young populations at the Afterbay through early October.  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. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services including a convenience store, gas, boat rentals, and more. Below the Oroville Dam, the Thermalito Afterbay and the Feather River offer additional excellent fishing opportunities. 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. Staffed by knowledgeable guides, the Lake Oroville 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. Upstream migrating fish totals through the Feather River Fish Monitoring Station between January 1 and July 21 are:
Current Lake Operations Lake Oroville is at 861 feet elevation and storage is approximately 2.85 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 83 percent of its total capacity and 118 percent of the historical average. Updates to Lake Oroville’s storage capacity went into effect on July 1. Feather River flows are at 1,500 cfs through the City of Oroville with 6,500 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total Feather River release of 8,000 cfs downstream. DWR continues to assess Feather River releases daily. Releases from Oroville Dam’s main spillway ceased earlier this summer, but water is still being released through the Hyatt Powerplant for power generation, water deliveries, and environmental requirements. When the main spillway is not in use, water may still be seen on the main spillway outlet as the seals on the eight radial gates are not designed to be watertight. The gate seals do not play a role in the structural integrity of the gates. Visitors to Oroville Dam may also notice minor amounts of water flowing from drains built into the emergency spillway. This is normal and expected given 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 7/25/2024. California Department of Water Resources
715 P Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Call our general information line at 916-820-8142 or email us at [email protected]
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 Nesting Grebes Receive Help From DWR During the summer months, a unique bird makes its home in the waters around the Oroville-Thermalito Complex, with a little help from the Department of Water Resources (DWR). The Western and Clark’s grebes are aquatic birds with distinctive red eyes and pointed yellow beaks. During the summer, they arrive from the Pacific Ocean to nesting areas around the Thermalito Afterbay in Oroville. The grebes nest in shallow waters, attaching their floating nests to aquatic vegetation. Unfortunately, fluctuations in water levels at reservoirs can either leave nests stranded, more susceptible to predators, or flooded. Every year since 2004, DWR has established a goal of keeping Thermalito Afterbay water levels within a targeted range until the end of the birds’ breeding and nesting season in September. DWR biologists have observed active grebe nesting at the Thermalito Afterbay. Watercraft users are advised to remain alert for floating nests and to motor/paddle around them to leave nests undisturbed. DWR is conducting grebe surveys to estimate adult and young populations at the Afterbay through early October.  Camping at Lake Oroville The summer months invite everyone to get outside and enjoy the benefits of longer daylight hours. However, summer heat can make recreating outdoors tiring, which makes Lake Oroville the perfect place for your next camping adventure. The Lake Oroville State Recreation Area boasts 167 miles of shoreline and numerous tent, trailer or boat camping sites operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks). With the lake a short distance away, campers can cool off in the refreshing water one minute and grill some burgers on a barbecue the next. Lake Oroville is also home to floating campsites and boat-in campgrounds for those looking to spend more time on the water. Reserve a camping site at https://reservecalifornia.com or contact State Parks at (800) 444-7275.  Recreation Facilities Closed Following Thompson Fire Several trails and recreation facilities remain closed within Lake Oroville’s State Recreation Area following the Thompson Fire. DWR and State Parks continue to assess fire impacts to recreation facilities and long-term closures of some facilities are anticipated for repairs and hazard tree removal. State Parks has reopened all campgrounds, the North Thermalito Forebay, and most day use areas. The Spillway boat ramp and day use area remains open with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) kiosk staffed daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Closures remain in effect at the following locations for damage assessment and repairs:
 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. 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. Below the Oroville Dam, the Thermalito Afterbay and the Feather River offer additional excellent fishing opportunities. Staffed by knowledgeable guides, the Lake Oroville 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. Upstream migrating fish totals through the Feather River Fish Monitoring Station between January 1 and July 14 are:
Current Lake Operations Lake Oroville is at 869 feet elevation and storage is approximately 2.97 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 87 percent of its total capacity and 119 percent of the historical average. Updates to Lake Oroville’s storage capacity went into effect on July 1. Feather River flows are at 1,500 cfs through the City of Oroville with 6,500 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total Feather River release of 8,000 cfs downstream. DWR continues to assess Feather River releases daily. Releases from Oroville Dam’s main spillway ceased earlier this summer, but water is still being released through the Hyatt Powerplant for power generation, water deliveries, and environmental requirements. When the main spillway is not in use, water may still be seen on the main spillway outlet as the seals on the eight radial gates are not designed to be watertight. The gate seals do not play a role in the structural integrity of the gates. Visitors to Oroville Dam may also notice minor amounts of water flowing from drains built into the emergency spillway. This is normal and expected given 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 7/18/2024. California Department of Water Resources
715 P Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Call our general information line at 916-820-8142 or email us at [email protected]  Recreation Facilities Closed Following Thompson Fire Several trails and recreation facilities remain closed within Lake Oroville’s State Recreation Area following the recent Thompson Fire. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) continue to assess fire impacts to recreation facilities and long-term closures of some facilities are anticipated for repairs and hazard tree removal. State Parks reopened all campgrounds, the North Thermalito Forebay, and most day use areas last week. On Thursday, the Spillway boat ramp and day use area was reopened with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) kiosk staffed daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Closures remain in effect at the following locations for damage assessment and repairs:
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.  Water Safety During a Heat Wave With temperatures in July remaining in the triple digits, Lake Oroville and the Feather River are an enticing draw for staying cool. However, it’s important to keep water safety in mind when recreating in local waterways. Even with average rain and snowfall this past winter, water in California lakes and rivers can be cold and fast moving. Here in the Feather River, water flow in the low-flow channel through the City of Oroville remains at 1,500 cubic feet per second (cfs), with higher flows than average this time of year. It’s hard to imagine freezing when it’s hot outside, but cold water reduces body heat 25 to 30 times faster than air does at the same temperature and can lead to hypothermia. Someone with hypothermia usually is not aware of their condition because the symptoms often begin gradually. Even water temperatures as high as 75- and 80-degrees Fahrenheit can be dangerous since the average human body temperature is 98-degrees Fahrenheit. Any temperature extreme that changes this average by 3-degrees can be dangerous to the body and lead to hypothermia with symptoms including uncontrollable shivering, slurred speech, drowsiness, confusion, and loss of consciousness. Cold and fast-moving water can be dangerous for swimmers who don’t take the necessary precautions. Here are basic water safety tips you can follow:
 Oroville Recreation Staffed by knowledgeable guides, the Lake Oroville 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. 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. Below the Oroville Dam, the Thermalito Afterbay and the Feather River offer additional excellent fishing opportunities. Upstream migrating fish totals through the Feather River Fish Monitoring Station between January 1 and July 7 are:
Current Lake Operations Lake Oroville is at 877 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3.08 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 90 percent of its total capacity and 120 percent of the historical average. Updates to Lake Oroville’s storage capacity went into effect on July 1. Feather River flows are at 1,500 cfs through the City of Oroville with 6,500 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total Feather River release of 8,000 cfs downstream. DWR continues to assess Feather River releases daily. Releases from Oroville Dam’s main spillway ceased earlier this summer, but water is still being released through the Hyatt Powerplant for power generation, water deliveries, and environmental requirements. When the main spillway is not in use, water may still be seen on the main spillway outlet as the seals on the eight radial gates are not designed to be watertight. The gate seals do not play a role in the structural integrity of the gates. Visitors to Oroville Dam may also notice minor amounts of water flowing from drains built into the emergency spillway. This is normal and expected given 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 7/11/2024. California Department of Water Resources
715 P Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Call our general information line at 916-820-8142 or email us at [email protected]  The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has resumed normal operations at Oroville Field Division (OFD) while continuing to monitor the Thompson Fire in Oroville. Evacuation orders by the Butte County Sheriff have been lifted for State Water Project facilities including the Hyatt Powerplant, OFD’s main office on Glen Drive, the Lake Oroville Visitor Center in Kelly Ridge, and Oroville Dam Crest Road to the main spillway overlook area. DWR resumed Hyatt Powerplant and Oroville-Thermalito Complex operations around 2 p.m. on July 3 following localized power outages. Oroville Dam’s main spillway remains closed with water being released through the Hyatt Powerplant for power generation, water deliveries, and environmental requirements. DWR staff have performed initial assessments of State Water Project facilities and found minor damage to nonessential infrastructure such as fencing or equipment. While the Thompson Fire burnt grasses along the face of Oroville Dam and near the main spillway, there was no damage to the dam or spillway structure and Oroville Dam remains safe. The California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) has reopened the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area for public use, although restrictions remain in some areas. All campgrounds have reopened along with most day use areas and the North Thermalito Forebay. Closures remain in effect at the following locations for damage assessment and repairs: Spillway boat ramp and day use area, all trails and access points around the Diversion Pool (Dan Beebe and Brad Freeman Trails), and the Potter’s Ravine and North Fork Trails. DWR has also reopened the Lake Oroville Visitor Center to the public. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has closed the Hatchery to the public until further notice. The facility closure also includes the lower parking lot and fish ladder viewing window. DWR is assessing impacts to State Water Project facilities on an ongoing basis. DWR would like to recognize our partners at CAL FIRE, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), State Parks, Butte County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, CDFW, City of Oroville, and local law enforcement partners in fire response and community safety efforts. Our sympathies are with those impacted by the Thompson Fire, particularly those who have lost their homes or businesses. DWR values the strength and compassion of Butte County communities and salutes the heroic efforts of state and local first responders. Lake Oroville is at 885 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3.2 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 93 percent of its total capacity and 121 percent of the historical average. Updates to Lake Oroville’s storage capacity went into effect on July 1. Feather River flows are at 1,500 cfs through the City of Oroville with 6,500 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total Feather River release of 8,000 cfs downstream. DWR continues to assess Feather River releases daily. All data as of midnight 7/4/2024. California Department of Water Resources
715 P Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Call our general information line at 916-820-8142 or email us at [email protected] |
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