  November 19, 2021 Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Public Meeting The California Natural Resources Agency is hosting its ninth Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission meeting on Dec. 3, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The public meeting will be held online and will include presentations and public comment. The commission will receive an overview of downstream flood management and preparedness as well as an update on the Water Control Manual from a representative of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Citizens Advisory Commission is a forum to provide public feedback from the communities surrounding Oroville Dam. For information on how to join the virtual meeting, please visit https://bit.ly/OrovilleCAC. Feather River Fish Hatchery Fall-run Chinook salmon spawning operations have successfully concluded at the Feather River Fish Hatchery. The hatchery’s spawning process collects eggs from female fish and milt from male fish to fertilize the eggs. After fertilization, the eggs are placed in incubators to develop. After the salmon reach the “fry” stage (juvenile salmon), they are transferred to long ponds filled with Feather River water called “raceways” to grow until they are large enough to be returned to the river or planted in locations further downstream to avoid predators. Steelhead (a cousin of Chinook salmon) spawning operations will begin in late December. Earlier this year, the hatchery released more than 1 million spring-run salmon, 6.3 million fall-run salmon, and nearly 450,000 steelhead in the Feather River and other locations and planted over 100,000 inland salmon this spring in Lake Oroville. The Feather River Fish Hatchery is a California State Water Project facility owned and maintained by the Department of Water Resources (DWR), which funds hatchery operations. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) operates the hatchery, including fish spawning, rearing, and stocking activities. DWR built the fish hatchery to mitigate the impact of the Oroville Dam on Chinook salmon and steelhead populations because the dam blocks access to natural spawning grounds further upstream. Photo: Incubation trays for fertilized salmon eggs at the Feather River Fish Hatchery  Lake Oroville Visitor Center The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is now open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can tour the center’s exhibits on the construction of Oroville Dam – the tallest dam in the country; the State Water Project which provides water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland; a new interactive water education exhibit, and much more. The visitor center also has a theater featuring videos on local topics and places, such as Oroville Dam and the Feather River Fish Hatchery, as well as walking and hiking trails showcasing local flora and fauna. A highlight of the visitor center is the 47-foot-high observation tower providing unsurpassed panoramic views of the lake, valley, foothills, Sierra Nevada range, and the Sutter Buttes - the smallest mountain range in the world. Visitor center guides are available to provide tours of the facility to groups and classrooms. Previously provided tours of the Feather River Fish Hatchery are not available while the main hatchery is closed to the public. The nearby Fish Barrier Dam overlook, fish ladder, and underwater viewing window - all with interpretive signage - remain open to the public. Please contact the VC Guides at (530) 538-2219 for more information. Photo: Lake Oroville Visitor Center Observation Tower  Loafer Creek Fuels Management With the firefighting season wrapping up, crews from CAL FIRE’s Butte Fire Center, along with crews from California Conservation Corps and the Butte County Sheriff Office, are performing various fuel reduction projects using heavy equipment, hand cutting, chipping, and burning of prioritized overgrown vegetative areas within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) project boundary of DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex. Hikers and equestrian users of the Roy Rogers Trail in the Loafer Creek recreation area, visitors to the area, and motorists along Highway 162 are advised to be mindful of safety when near work zones. DWR, CAL FIRE, and California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) partner on DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan and CAL FIRE’s Vegetation Management Plan to reduce wildfire risk and increase public safety around the FERC project boundary, including Lake Oroville. With help from area partners, approximately 840 acres have been manually thinned, re-thinned, grazed, and/or treated with prescribed fire since November 2012. DWR’s goal is to treat 150 acres this season. Photo: Heavy equipment clears brush at Loafer Creek Recreation Area  Oroville Recreation
Bidwell Canyon’s Stage III concrete boat ramp is now open to boaters. The single-lane gravel boat ramp at Oroville Dam’s Spillway Boat Ramp area will continue to be open as conditions permit. Boaters on the lake are advised to be aware of unexpected shallow water, obstruction hazards, and floating debris. Access to boats and houseboats at both Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle marinas should be coordinated through the marina prior to arrival by calling (530) 589-9175 or by utilizing the shuttle service at Bidwell Canyon Marina. Shuttle services to Lime Saddle Marina is not being provided at this time. The Thermalito Afterbay and Thermalito South Forebay continue to be open to power boating. Numerous Day Use Area (DUA) facilities with picnic tables and restrooms at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) are open 8 a.m. to sunset. Bidwell, Lime Saddle, and Loafer Creek recreation areas are open 24 hours. The Oroville Dam Crest Road across Oroville Dam is available 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily with the Spillway trailhead and boat launch open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The top of the dam is open to pedestrians and bicyclists 24-hours a day. DWR’s new trail maps of over 97 miles of trails available to equestrians, bicyclists, and hikers wishing to explore Oroville’s natural beauty in the cooler fall weather are available at many Oroville locations including Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) kiosks, Oroville Wildlife Area office on Oro Dam Boulevard West, the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Feather River Recreation and Parks District. Visit the California Parks LOSRA webpage for current information on facility status and campground reservations. An interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Information about the 11,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area is available on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Photo: Boaters launching at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area's Bidwell Canyon Stage III boat ramp Lakeside Access Road Construction The Lakeside Access Road project is underway. This project will consist of a new, permanent, paved road from the west side of Oroville Dam to the Spillway Boat Ramp parking lot on the “lakeside,” or waterside, of the Oroville Dam spillways. This new road will allow a more direct route when water levels are low in Lake Oroville. The new road will include two concrete traffic lanes, wide shoulders for walking and biking, guardrails, and safety signage. Additionally, the contractor will be removing and replacing deteriorating asphalt from the Stage I Spillway Boat Ramp. Visitors to Oroville Dam can expect to see large construction equipment and material deliveries in the area through January as the contractor works to complete the project. Please use caution and respect the construction fencing and safety signage when visiting Oroville Dam or the Spillway Boat Ramp. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 670 feet elevation and storage is about 1.04 million acre-feet, which is 29 percent of its total capacity and 59 percent of historical average. The current forecast indicates mainly dry conditions through next week. Temperatures will range in the low- to mid-60s this weekend and continuing into next week. Total flows to the Feather River are at 950 cubic feet per second (cfs) for meeting downstream water quality and flow requirements. Flow in the low-flow channel, through the City of Oroville, is 650 cfs and flow through the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet is 300 cfs. Releases are assessed daily and continued release reductions are expected to conserve water. 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 11/18/2021 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to [email protected].  November 12, 2021 Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Public Meeting The California Natural Resources Agency is hosting its ninth Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission meeting on Dec. 3, 2021, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. The public meeting will be held online and will include presentations and public comment. The commission will receive an overview of downstream flood management and preparedness as well as an update on the Water Control Manual from a representative of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Citizens Advisory Commission is a forum to provide public feedback from the communities surrounding Oroville Dam. For information on how to join the virtual meeting, please visit https://bit.ly/OrovilleCAC. Lake Oroville Boating Bidwell Canyon’s Stage III concrete boat ramp is now open to boaters. Water elevations at Lake Oroville have benefited from recent precipitation events, pushing lake levels above the bottom of the ramp. The single-lane gravel boat ramp at Oroville Dam’s Spillway Boat Ramp area will continue to be open as conditions permit. The California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) order prohibiting nighttime boating is no longer in effect. As always, boaters on the lake are advised to be aware of unexpected shallow water, obstruction hazards, and floating debris. Access to boats and houseboats at both Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle marinas should be coordinated through the marina prior to arrival by calling (530) 589-9175 or by utilizing the shuttle service at Bidwell Canyon Marina. Shuttle services to Lime Saddle Marina is not being provided at this time. The Thermalito Afterbay and Thermalito South Forebay continue to be open to power boating. Photo: Bidwell Canyon Stage III boat ramp  Lake Oroville Visitor Center The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is now open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can tour the center’s exhibits on the construction of Oroville Dam – the tallest dam in the country; the State Water Project which provides water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland; a new interactive water education exhibit, and much more. The visitor center also has a theater featuring videos on local topics and places, such as Oroville Dam and the Feather River Fish Hatchery, as well as walking and hiking trails showcasing local flora and fauna. A highlight of the visitor center is the 47-foot-high observation tower providing unsurpassed panoramic views of the lake, valley, foothills, Sierra Nevada range, and the Sutter Buttes - the smallest mountain range in the world. Visitor center guides are available to provide tours of the facility to groups and classrooms. Previously provided tours of the Feather River Fish Hatchery are not available while the main hatchery is closed to the public. The nearby Fish Barrier Dam overlook, fish ladder, and underwater viewing window - all with interpretive signage - remain open to the public. Please contact the VC Guides at (530) 538-2219 for more information. Photo: Lake Oroville Visitor Center Observation Tower  Loafer Creek Fuels Management DWR, CAL FIRE, and California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) partner on DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan and CAL FIRE’s Vegetation Management Plan to reduce wildfire risk and increase public safety around the FERC project boundary, including Lake Oroville. Over the next several weeks, crews from California Conservation Corps, Butte County Sheriff Office, and CAL FIRE’s Butte Fire Center will be performing various fuel reduction projects using heavy equipment, hand cutting, chipping, and burning of prioritized overgrown vegetative areas within the FERC project boundary. Trail users and visitors to the area and motorists along Highway 162 are advised to be mindful of safety when near work zones. With help from area partners, approximately 840 acres have been manually thinned, re-thinned, grazed, and/or treated with prescribed fire since November 2012. DWR’s goal is to treat 150 acres this season. Photo: Cleared brush at Loafer Creek Recreation Area (2020) Lakeside Access Road Construction The Lakeside Access Road project began this week. This project will consist of a new, permanent, paved road from the west side of Oroville Dam to the Spillway Boat Ramp parking lot on the “lakeside,” or waterside, of the Oroville Dam spillways. This new road will allow a more direct route when water levels are low in Lake Oroville. The new road will include two concrete traffic lanes, wide shoulders for walking and biking, guardrails, and safety signage. Additionally, the contractor will be removing and replacing deteriorating asphalt from the Stage I Spillway Boat Ramp. Visitors to Oroville Dam can expect to see large construction equipment and material deliveries in the area through January as the contractor works to complete the project. Please use caution and respect the construction fencing and safety signage when visiting Oroville Dam or the Spillway Boat Ramp.  Oroville Recreation
Numerous Day Use Area (DUA) facilities with picnic tables and restrooms at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) are open 8 a.m. to sunset. Bidwell, Lime Saddle, and Loafer Creek recreation areas are open 24 hours. The Oroville Dam Crest Road across Oroville Dam is available 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily with the Spillway trailhead and boat launch open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The top of the dam is open to pedestrians and bicyclists 24-hours a day. DWR’s new trail maps of over 97 miles of trails available to equestrians, bicyclists, and hikers wishing to explore Oroville’s natural beauty in the cooler fall weather are available at many Oroville locations including Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) kiosks, Oroville Wildlife Area office on Oro Dam Boulevard West, the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Feather River Recreation and Parks District. Visit the California Parks LOSRA webpage for current information on facility status and campground reservations. An interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Information about the 11,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area is available on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Photo: Equestrian campground and day use area at Loafer Creek Recreation Area Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 667 feet elevation and storage is about 1 million acre-feet, which is 29 percent of its total capacity and 57 percent of historical average. Lake Oroville continues to show incremental storage gains. The current forecast indicates mainly dry conditions through next week. Temperatures will range in the low-70s this weekend, then low to mid-60s next week. Total flows to the Feather River are at 950 cubic feet per second (cfs) for meeting downstream water quality and flow requirements. Flow in the low-flow channel, through the City of Oroville, is 650 cfs and flow through the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet is 300 cfs. Releases are assessed daily and continued release reductions are expected to conserve water. 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 11/11/2021 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to [email protected].  November 5, 2021 Lake Oroville Visitor Center The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is now open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can tour the Center’s exhibits on the construction of Oroville Dam – the tallest dam in the country; the State Water Project which provides water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland; a new interactive water education exhibit, and much more. The visitor center also has a theater featuring videos on local topics and places such as Oroville Dam and the Feather River Fish Hatchery as well as walking and hiking trails showcasing local flora and fauna. A highlight of the visitor center is the 47-foot-high observation tower providing unsurpassed panoramic views of the lake, valley, foothills, Sierra Nevada range and the Sutter Buttes - the smallest mountain range in the world. Visitor center guides are available to provide tours of the facility to groups and classrooms. Previously provided tours of the Feather River Fish Hatchery are not available while the main hatchery is closed to the public. The nearby Fish Barrier Dam overlook, fish ladder, and underwater viewing window - all with interpretive signage - remain open to the public. Please contact the VC Guides at 530-538-2219 for more information. Photo: Visitor from Utah tests his knowledge on the Visitor Center's new interactive water globe Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee held a public virtual meeting on Friday, Nov. 5. ORAC was established by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review and provide recommendations regarding DWR’s recreation plan for the P-2100 – Oroville Facilities. The 13-member committee is made up of representatives from state and local government, sports and recreation groups, and business and community organizations. To obtain a summary of the meeting, send a request to [email protected].  Loafer Creek Fuels Management CAL FIRE/Butte County Fire Department ignited burn piles in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area this week to remove dangerous fuels collected in the North Complex wildfire (2020) burn scar area. The piles will be closely monitored and smoke may be visible at times in the Kelly Ridge and Greater Oroville areas throughout the duration of the project. DWR, CAL FIRE, and California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) partner on DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan and CAL FIRE’s Vegetation Management Plan to reduce wildfire risk and increase public safety around the FERC project boundary, including Lake Oroville. Over the next several weeks, crews from California Conservation Corps, Butte County Sheriff Office, and CAL FIRE’s Butte Fire Center will be performing various fuel reduction projects using heavy equipment, hand cutting, chipping, and burning of prioritized overgrown vegetative areas within the FERC project boundary. Trail users and visitors to the area and motorists along Highway 162 are advised to be mindful of safety when near work zones. With help from area partners, approximately 840 acres have been manually thinned, re-thinned, grazed, and/or treated with prescribed fire since November 2012. DWR’s goal is to treat 150 acres this season. Photo: Burn piles at Loafer Creek's North Complex wildfire burn scar (CAL FIRE) Lakeside Access Road Construction The Lakeside Access Road project began this week. This project will consist of a new, permanent, paved road from the west side of Oroville Dam to the Spillway Boat Ramp parking lot on the “lakeside,” or waterside, of the Oroville Dam spillways. This new road will allow a more direct route when water levels are low in Lake Oroville. The new road will include two concrete traffic lanes, wide shoulders for walking and biking, guardrails, and safety signage. Additionally, the contractor will be removing and replacing deteriorating asphalt from the Stage I Spillway Boat Ramp. Visitors to Oroville Dam can expect to see large construction equipment and material deliveries in the area through January as the contractor works to complete the project. Please use caution and respect the construction fencing and safety signage when visiting Oroville Dam or the Spillway Boat Ramp.  Lake Oroville Boating The temporary, single-lane boat ramp at Oroville Dam’s Spillway Boat Ramp area is open for public use from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. to launch trailered boats. Vehicles within the parking lot at closing time will be locked in until the next morning. The water depth covering the bottom of Bidwell Canyon paved Stage III boat ramp is still not deep enough to provide safe boat launching. Lake levels have and are expected to continue to increase as a result because of recent and forecasted rainfall events. Boaters are advised to park vehicles and trailers well above lake level when boating on the lake. The spillway auxiliary ramp has a gravel surface which becomes slippery when wet, especially during times of heavy usage. To maintain the integrity of the ramp, drivers must avoid tire spin by placing vehicles in 4-wheel drive and accelerating slowly when exiting the ramp, with or without a loaded trailer. As weather conditions and lake levels change, the fitness of the ramp for continued use will be regularly assessed. Boaters on the lake are advised to be aware of unexpected shallow water and obstruction hazards such as partially submerged trees exposed by low lake levels. State Parks has issued an order for the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) that boating access on Lake Oroville is not permitted starting one-half hour after sunset and ending one-half hour before sunrise due to navigational hazards. Houseboats and vessels remaining on the water must be on their mooring ball or in a slip during hours of lake closure. Additional information can be obtained by calling State Parks at (530) 538-2200. All access to boats and houseboats at both Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle Marinas must be coordinated through the marina prior to arrival by calling (530)589-9175 or by utilizing the shuttle service at Bidwell Canyon Marina. Shuttle services to Lime Saddle Marina is not being provided at this time. The Thermalito Afterbay and Thermalito South Forebay continue to be open to power boating. Photo: Temporary gravel boat launch ramp at Oroville Dam's Spillway boat ramp area (Oct. 26)  Oroville Recreation Over 97 miles of trails around Lake Oroville, along the Feather River, Thermalito Diversion Pool, Forebays and Afterbay, and the Oroville Wildlife Area are available to equestrians, bicyclists, and hikers wishing to explore Oroville’s natural beauty in the cooler fall weather. Trail maps are available at many Oroville locations including Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) kiosks, Oroville Wildlife Area office on Oro Dam Boulevard West, the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Feather River Recreation and Parks District. Numerous Day Use Area (DUA) facilities with picnic tables and restrooms at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) are open 8 a.m. to sunset. Bidwell, Lime Saddle, and Loafer Creek recreation areas are open 24 hours. The Oroville Dam Crest Road across Oroville Dam is available 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily with the Spillway trailhead and boat launch open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The top of the dam is open to pedestrians and bicyclists 24-hours a day. The Lake Oroville Visitor Center anticipates re-opening later this year. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay recreation area has closed for the season but the recreation area remains open with picnic tables, restrooms, and beach facilities. Visit the California Parks LOSRA webpage for current information on facility status and campground reservations. An interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Information about the 11,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area is available on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Photo: Hiking the Brad Freeman Trail across from the Spillway  Be Flood Prepared
Flooding risks are present across California and especially near areas impacted by past and recent wildfires. Make sure you are prepared for flood events through these three steps:
Visit DWR’s Flood Preparedness webpage for information about keeping you, your loved ones, and community safe. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 662 feet elevation and storage is about 990,000-acre-feet, which is 28 percent of its total capacity and 55 percent of historical average. Since Oct. 18, Lake Oroville has seen a rise of about 33 feet and an increase in storage of about 200 thousand acre-feet with continuing incremental storage gains. The current forecast indicates precipitation on Saturday and early next week, up to 1.4 inches of rain, with temperatures ranging in the low 60s to high-50s, then warming up later in the week to the high-60s to low-70s. Since Oct. 25, DWR has decreased releases, and as of Nov. 4, total flows to the Feather River are at 950 cubic feet per second (cfs) for meeting downstream water quality and flow requirements. Flow in the low-flow channel, through the City of Oroville, is 650 cfs and flow through the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet is 300 cfs. Releases are assessed daily and continued release reductions are expected to conserve water. 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 11/4/2021 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to [email protected].  October 29, 2021 Historic Storm Impacts The recent series of atmospheric river (AR) storms, including a Category 5 AR Oct. 24-25 that set record-breaking rainfall totals across Northern California, dropped over 10 inches of rain in the Feather River watershed that supplies the Lake Oroville Reservoir. The reservoir’s elevation on Friday, Oct. 22 was 629 feet and by Wednesday, Oct. 27 had reached 658 feet, an increase of 29 feet. Inflows from the storm continue to arrive as the region prepares for another storm, making this one of the wettest Octobers on record. Lake Oroville’s historic low lake levels have exposed areas of the lakebed that have been underwater for decades, accumulating layers of silt that easily erode in heavy precipitation events. This type of erosion was very noticeable near the Bidwell Canyon Stage III boat ramp. The concrete boat ramp is not in any danger because it is built on a solid foundation of compacted gravel and armored along its slopes with large stones called riprap which reduce erosion impacts. Lake level rise will stop further erosion from occurring. Woody debris carried on inflows from each fork of the Feather River was about what is normally expected from heavy storms. The Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) Oroville Field Division’s Civil Maintenance crews are deploying log booms to restrict the movement of floating debris into the main body of the lake. These log booms will be repositioned over the coming months as lake elevations rise. Photo: October storm erosion at Bidwell Stage III boat ramp Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee will hold a public virtual meeting on Friday, Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon. Interested persons can register for the meeting at https://ca-water-gov.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpd-mprTojGdFyLVFrSqQQxfBljOLERijl. Instructions for joining the meeting will be sent in the confirmation email. ORAC was established by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review and provide recommendations regarding DWR’s recreation plan for the P-2100 – Oroville Facilities. The 13-member committee is made up of representatives from state and local government, sports and recreation groups, and business and community organizations. Lakeside Access Road Construction The Lakeside Access Road project began this week. This project will consist of a new, permanent, paved road from the west side of Oroville Dam to the Spillway Boat Ramp parking lot on the “lakeside,” or waterside, of the Oroville Dam spillways. This new road will allow a more direct route when water levels are low in Lake Oroville (below 800 feet elevation). The new road will include two concrete traffic lanes, wide shoulders for walking and biking, guardrails, and safety signage. Additionally, the contractor will be removing and replacing deteriorating asphalt from the Stage I Spillway Boat Ramp. Visitors to Oroville Dam can expect to see large construction equipment and material deliveries in the area through January as the contractor works to complete the project. Please use caution and respect the construction fencing and safety signage when visiting Oroville Dam or the Spillway Boat Ramp.  Water Quality Working Group In late fall of 2020, Butte County, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), Department of Water Resources (DWR), State Water Resources Control Board and Regional Water Quality Control Boards (Water Boards), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Parks and Recreation, and local water purveyors formed the North Complex Watershed Working Group to monitor and evaluate watershed and infrastructure response to the North Complex wildfire from 2020. This working group has expanded its scope to include impacts from the 2021 Dixie Fire and will now be called the Feather River Watershed Working Group (Working Group). Additional partner agencies, including affected counties such as Plumas County, have joined others from local, state, and federal levels to coordinate regarding water quality and infrastructure impacts in the watershed. Members of the Working Group also provide technical guidance and expertise to local agencies and partners on water quality monitoring and protections in the post-fire environment. The Working Group is preparing for the upcoming rainy season and currently meets bi-weekly, with the option to increase meeting frequency as the season progresses. The Working Group will continue to provide the public with informational updates on watershed conditions and water quality testing results as they become available. The summary of last year’s findings can be found on the Water Boards’ July 8, 2021 news release. Photo: Water quality experts taking water samples for water quality testing after the North Complex fire (Oct. 2020)  Lake Oroville Boating The temporary, single-lane boat ramp at Oroville Dam’s Spillway Boat Ramp area has reopened for public use from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. to launch trailered boats. Vehicles within the parking lot at closing time will be locked in until the next morning. Lake levels have and are expected to increase as a result of recent rainfall events. Boaters are advised to park vehicles and trailers well above lake level when boating on the lake. The spillway auxiliary ramp has a gravel surface which becomes slippery when wet, especially during times of heavy usage. To maintain the integrity of the ramp, drivers must avoid tire spin by placing vehicles in 4-wheel drive and accelerating slowly when exiting the ramp, with or without a loaded trailer. As weather conditions and lake levels change, the fitness of the ramp for continued use will be regularly assessed. Boaters on the lake are advised to be aware of unexpected shallow water and obstruction hazards such as partially submerged trees exposed by low lake levels. State Parks has issued an order for the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) that boating access on Lake Oroville is not permitted starting one-half hour after sunset and ending one-half hour before sunrise due to navigational hazards. Houseboats and vessels remaining on the water must be on their mooring ball or in a slip during hours of lake closure. Additional information can be obtained by calling State Parks at (530) 538-2200. All access to boats and houseboats at both Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle Marinas must be coordinated through the marina prior to arrival by calling (530)589-9175 or by utilizing the shuttle service at Bidwell Canyon Marina. Shuttle services to Lime Saddle Marina is not being provided at this time. The Thermalito Afterbay and Thermalito South Forebay continue to be open to power boating. Photo: Fishing on Lake Oroville  Oroville Recreation Numerous Day Use Area (DUA) facilities with picnic tables and restrooms at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) are open 8 a.m. to sunset. Bidwell, Lime Saddle, and Loafer Creek recreation areas are open 24 hours. The Oroville Dam Crest Road across Oroville Dam is available 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily with the Spillway trailhead and boat launch open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The top of the dam is open to pedestrians and bicyclists 24-hours a day. The Lake Oroville Visitor Center anticipates re-opening later this year. Over 97 miles of trails around Lake Oroville, along the Feather River, Thermalito Diversion Pool, Forebays and Afterbay, and the Oroville Wildlife Area are available to equestrians, bicyclists, and hikers wishing to explore Oroville’s natural beauty in the cooler fall weather. Trail maps are available at many Oroville locations including Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) kiosks, Oroville Wildlife Area office on Oro Dam Boulevard West, the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Feather River Recreation and Parks District. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay recreation area has closed for the season but the recreation area remains open with picnic tables, restrooms, and beach facilities. Visit the California Parks LOSRA webpage for current information on facility status and campground reservations. An interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Information about the 11,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area is available on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Photo: Trail marker on the Dan Beebe Trail near the Saddle Dam trailhead  Be Flood Prepared
More than seven million California residents are at risk of flooding, and many don’t realize it. Flooding happens throughout the state; every California county has received a flood-related emergency declaration in the past 20 years and flood events during and after drought conditions are not uncommon. Make sure you are prepared for flood events through these three steps:
This year, many communities are at additional risk for flooding because of wildfire damage as evidenced by this week’s National Weather Service’s Flash Flood Watch for the North Complex and Dixie wildfire burn scar areas. Wildfires dramatically change the landscape and ground conditions in a watershed. Natural, unburned vegetation and soil normally act as a sponge during a rainfall event. However, the heat from a fire can bake the ground, creating a surface that will not absorb water and can increase the speed with which water flows off the slope, leading to damaging, and sometimes catastrophic, mud and debris flows. These conditions can be present for years after a wildfire. Visit DWR’s Flood Preparedness webpage for information about keeping you, your loved ones, and community safe. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 659 feet elevation and storage is about 970,000-acre-feet, which is 27 percent of its total capacity and 53 percent of historical average. Water year 2022, which started on Oct. 1 and ends on Sept. 31, 2022, started off with a series of atmospheric river storms making landfall in northern California. So far, Lake Oroville has seen a rise of about 30 feet and an increase in storage of 170 thousand acre-feet with continuing incremental storage gains. The current forecast indicates dry conditions over the weekend and chance of rain, up to 0.5 inch during the week of Nov. 1 with temperatures in the low to mid-60’s. To manage increased flows in the Oroville Complex, on Oct. 24, DWR increased the total releases from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet to 2,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) for a total of 3,150 cfs total to the Feather River. Beginning on Oct. 25, DWR has been ramping down total releases to the Feather River. As of Oct. 29, total flows to the Feather River are 1,500 cfs for meeting downstream water quality and flow requirements. Flow in the low-flow channel, through the City of Oroville, is 650 cfs and flow through the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet is 850 cfs. Releases are assessed daily and continued release reductions are expected to conserve water. 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 10/28/2021 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to [email protected]. |
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