  November 20, 2020 The Lake Oroville Community Update will not be published on Nov. 27 Happy Thanksgiving to all! Fire Impacts to Lake Oroville The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is a member of the “Watershed Working Group” led by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES). The working group is a multi-agency team evaluating and identifying areas of concern in the Feather River watershed affected by recent wildfires. DWR’s partnership with the National Weather Service informs DWR preparations when precipitation events are forecast. In concert with our partners in the “Watershed Working Group”, DWR is actively monitoring area forecasts and burn scar conditions for potential impacts to Lake Oroville. DWR’s Division of Flood Management is assisting California Conservation Corps members to install erosion control measures in areas of concern and DWR water quality experts have expanded water sampling activities at Lake Oroville to monitor for algal blooms and other environmental concerns. The clearing of debris entering Lake Oroville is part of ongoing DWR maintenance of Lake Oroville. Additional work is planned to protect boaters and ensure safe operation of dam facilities. Photo: DWR water scientists take water samples from the upper reaches of Lake Oroville’s Middle Fork.  Construction of Loafer Point Stage II Boat Ramps Construction started on the Loafer Point Stage 2 boat ramp project to build six new boat launch lanes and 180 trailered parking spaces, allowing boaters to enter the lake when lake elevations are below 805 feet and providing access to as low as 640 feet. Constructing low water access boat ramp lanes in a reservoir presents unique challenges as water deliveries (decreasing lake levels) and inflows from precipitation (increasing lake levels) both impact construction schedules. The Loafer Point Stage 2 project will be adjacent to an existing Loafer Creek Recreation Day Use Area and Campground, rounding out a full-service recreation destination with nearby trails, campgrounds, boating, and marina store. Additionally, immediate access to the wide-open waters of Lake Oroville will make Loafer Point a popular boat launching location. The recently completed Loafer Point Stage 1 boat launch added three new boat launch lanes to 799 feet, a new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant parking area, and new restroom facilities. The Loafer Creek Recreation Area remains closed to the public for fire recovery work. Photo: Construction of Loafer Point Stage II boat ramp project. Bidwell Canyon marina is in the background. DWR Completes Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment DWR recently published a summary report of the Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA). The CNA was initiated in January 2018 to identify dam safety and operational needs following reconstruction of the spillways damaged in February 2017. A team of dam safety experts, engineers, consultants, and community representatives participated in the assessment which determined that the Oroville Dam Complex is safe to operate and no urgent repairs are needed. The CNA identified several risk-reduction projects that DWR already is moving to implement, including installation of new water pressure measurement devices to improve seepage monitoring and completion of a state-of-the-art seismic stability analysis. DWR also is planning to implement recommendations to raise Parish Camp Saddle Dam by three feet, line Palermo Canal to reduce leakage and improve rock slope stability, and install new remote starter and power connections to the spillway radial gates to improve reliability. In addition, the CNA identified potential vulnerabilities that require further examination to better understand their actual risk. A description of the CNA risk-assessment process, the CNA Summary Report and links to the meetings of the Ad Hoc Group of community representatives can be found on the Comprehensive Needs Assessment webpage. California Natural Resources Agency Holds Virtual Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Public Meeting The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) recently held a meeting of the Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission (CAC). The meeting covered the Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) and information on winter operations and communications with the public. Public comments were received and discussed. More information can be found on the CAC website. A meeting summary will be posted in the coming weeks. The Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission, created by Senate Bill 955 (Nielsen) in 2018, established a new public forum for discussing issues related to Oroville Dam facilities. The Commission, housed within the CNRA, represents the communities surrounding Oroville Dam for the purposes of providing public input as well as receiving information from state agencies related to the Oroville Dam, its related structures, the Feather River Fish Hatchery, and the Oroville-Thermalito Complex.  Oroville Recreation The Lime Saddle and Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramps remain open. The Bidwell Canyon boat launch has restricted hours of operation (see section below). The Potter’s Ravine and North Fork trails near the Oroville Dam Spillway boat launch area and trails in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area are closed to repair fire damage. Enterprise, Stringtown, and Foreman Creek boat ramp areas, the Loafer Creek Recreation Area, and Lake Oroville Visitor Center remain closed. Visit the California Parks Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) webpage for current information on facility status as well as current requirements to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information is also available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. For information about the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Photo: Potter's Ravine and North Fork Trails area near Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramps burned by August 2020 Potters Fire.  Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Construction Extends Thanksgiving Holiday Hours
The Bidwell Canyon boat ramp project has experienced delays due to the national shortage of concrete, pushing the project’s anticipated completion date to December. Recent deliveries of concrete have allowed the construction started in 2018 to expand the parking area and provide two additional boat ramp lanes to Elevation 700 (feet above sea level) to continue. The boat ramps will be open from 5 a.m. Saturdays to midnight Sundays and, over the Thanksgiving weekend, from 5 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 25 to midnight Sunday Nov. 29. Kelly Ridge and Arroyo Drive residents should anticipate large construction equipment and material deliveries in the area as construction activities continue on weekdays. As they do every fall, lake levels are decreasing. Loading docks are available at both Lime Saddle and Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramps and docks will remain available for use until lake levels drop below approximately 700 feet elevation. The Bidwell Canyon Marina and shuttle services remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Loafer Creek Recreation Area remains closed for fire recovery and its boat ramps are out of the water. Photo: Concrete being pumped at Bidwell Canyon Stage II boat ramp Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 714 feet and storage is about 1.37 million acre-feet. Currently, in the Northern Sierra Basin, rainfall is below average, at 47 percent of normal for this time of year. Dry and continued cool temperatures continue this weekend and into next week with a chance of rain later in the week of Nov. 23. The total releases to the Feather River continue at 2,450 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 1,650 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 2,450 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 11/19/2020 How Are We Doing? DWR is looking for your help to improve how the Department communicates with the Oroville community and persons interested in receiving information about DWR’s operations at the Oroville-Thermalito Complex. Your feedback through this online survey will help DWR enhance current communication tools and develop new ones to ensure more comprehensive and transparent communication to the public. Comments can also be shared by emailing DWR at oroville@water.ca.gov. Your participation is very much appreciated! ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.   November 13, 2020 DWR Completes Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has published a summary report of the Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA). The CNA was initiated in January 2018 to identify dam safety and operational needs following reconstruction of the spillways damaged in February 2017. A team of dam safety experts, engineers, consultants, and community representatives participated in the assessment which determined that the Oroville Dam Complex is safe to operate and no urgent repairs are needed. The CNA identified several risk-reduction projects that DWR already is moving to implement, including installation of new water pressure measurement devices to improve seepage monitoring and completion of a state-of-the-art seismic stability analysis. DWR also is planning to implement recommendations to raise Parish Camp Saddle Dam by three feet, line Palermo Canal to reduce leakage and improve rock slope stability, and install new remote starter and power connections to the spillway radial gates to improve reliability. In addition, the CNA identified potential vulnerabilities that require further examination to better understand their actual risk. A description of the CNA risk-assessment process, the CNA Summary Report and links to the meetings of the Ad Hoc Group of community representatives can be found on the Comprehensive Needs Assessment webpage. California Natural Resources Agency Holds Virtual Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Public Meeting The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), in accordance with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s directives to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, held the fifth Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission (CAC) meeting in a virtual format on Friday, Nov. 13. The meeting’s agenda included an update on the Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) as well as information on winter operations and communications with the public. Public comments were received and discussed. Persons interested in learning more are directed to the CAC’s website for information. The Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission, created by Senate Bill 955 (Nielsen) in 2018, established a new public forum for discussing issues related to Oroville Dam facilities. The Commission, housed within the CNRA, represents the communities surrounding Oroville Dam for the purposes of providing public input as well as receiving information from state agencies related to the Oroville Dam, its related structures, the Feather River Fish Hatchery, and the Oroville-Thermalito Complex. Fire Impacts to Lake Oroville The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is a member of the “Watershed Working Group” led by the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES). The working group is a multi-agency team evaluating and identifying areas of concern in the Feather River watershed affected by recent wildfires. Field teams are taking action to address erosion, debris runoff, and water quality impacts. DWR’s Division of Flood Management is assisting California Conservation Corps members to install erosion control measures in areas of concern. DWR water quality experts have expanded water sampling activities at Lake Oroville and continue to monitor for algal blooms and other environmental concerns. The clearing of debris entering Lake Oroville is part of ongoing DWR maintenance of Lake Oroville. Additional work is planned to protect boaters and ensure safe operation of dam facilities. Several ancillary DWR facilities around Lake Oroville experienced fire damage. DWR staff are making repairs to the impacted facilities. Photo: CA Conservation Corps members install erosion control measures to protect water quality. Oroville Recreation The Lime Saddle and Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramps remain open. The Bidwell Canyon boat launch has restricted hours of operation (see section below). The Potter’s Ravine and North Fork trails near the Oroville Dam Spillway boat launch area and trails in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area are closed to repair fire damage. Enterprise, Stringtown, and Foreman Creek boat ramp areas, the Loafer Creek Recreation Area, and Lake Oroville Visitor Center remain closed. Visit the California Parks Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) webpage for current information on facility status as well as current requirements to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information is also available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. For information about the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage.  Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Construction
The Bidwell Canyon boat ramp project has experienced delays due to the national shortage of concrete, pushing the project’s anticipated completion date to December. The contractor was able to obtain a concrete shipment this week, continuing the construction started in 2018 to expand the parking area and provide two additional boat ramp lanes to Elevation 700 (feet above sea level). Construction staff have repaired the boat ramp’s access road, allowing weekend use from 5 a.m. Saturdays to midnight Sundays to resume. Kelly Ridge and Arroyo Drive residents should anticipate large construction equipment and material deliveries in the area as construction activities continue on weekdays. As they do every fall, lake levels are decreasing. Loading docks are available at both Lime Saddle and Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramps and docks will remain available for use until lake levels drop below approximately 700 feet elevation. The Bidwell Canyon Marina and shuttle services remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Loafer Creek Recreation Area remains closed for fire recovery and its boat ramps are out of the water. Photo: Concrete slabs constructed at Bidwell Canyon Stage II boat ramp Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee (ORAC) held their fall meeting Nov. 6. 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 DWR Recreation Plan for the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area. To obtain a summary of the meeting, send a request to oroville@water.ca.gov. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 719 feet and storage is about 1.4 million acre-feet. Currently, in the Northern Sierra Basin, rainfall is below average, at 5 percent of normal for this time of year. Cooler temperatures continuing this weekend and into the week of November 16, with additional rain in the forecast beginning on Tuesday. The total releases to the Feather River continue at 2,450 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 1,650 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 2,450 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 11/12/2020 How Are We Doing? DWR is looking for your help to improve how the Department communicates with the Oroville community and persons interested in receiving information about DWR’s operations at the Oroville-Thermalito Complex. Your feedback through this online survey will help DWR enhance current communication tools and develop new ones to ensure more comprehensive and transparent communication to the public. Comments can also be shared by emailing DWR at oroville@water.ca.gov. Your participation is very much appreciated! ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  November 6, 2020 California Natural Resources Agency to Host Virtual Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Public Meeting The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), in accordance with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s directives to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, is hosting the fifth Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission (CAC) meeting in a virtual format on Friday, Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The meeting’s agenda will focus on an Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) update and winter operations; there will also be an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions and make comments. Persons interested in participating are directed to the CAC’s website for information on how to join the meeting. Instructions and links to the planned webinar will be posted on the CAC website the week of Nov. 9. The Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission, created by Senate Bill 955 (Nielsen) in 2018, established a new public forum for discussing issues related to Oroville Dam facilities. The Commission, housed within the CNRA, represents the communities surrounding Oroville Dam for the purposes of providing public input as well as receiving information from state agencies related to the Oroville Dam, its related structures, the Feather River Fish Hatchery, and the Oroville-Thermalito Complex. Fire Impacts to Lake Oroville The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is a member of the “Watershed Working Group” led by the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES). The working group is a multi-agency team evaluating and identifying areas of concern in the Feather River watershed affected by recent wildfires. Field teams are taking action to address erosion, debris runoff, and water quality impacts. DWR’s Division of Flood Management is currently assisting California Conservation Corps members to install erosion control measures in areas of concern. DWR water quality experts have expanded water sampling activities at Lake Oroville and continue to monitor for algal blooms and other environmental concerns. After the 2018 Camp Fire, data collected by DWR environmental scientists showed no long-term impacts to water quality in Lake Oroville. The clearing of debris entering Lake Oroville is part of ongoing DWR maintenance of Lake Oroville. Additional work is planned to protect boaters and ensure safe operation of dam facilities. Several ancillary DWR facilities around Lake Oroville experienced fire damage. DWR staff are making repairs to the impacted facilities. Photo: DWR water quality experts take water samples at Lake Oroville Oroville Recreation The Lime Saddle and Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramps remain open. The Bidwell Canyon boat launch has restricted hours of operation (see section below). The Potter’s Ravine and North Fork trails near the Oroville Dam Spillway boat launch area and trails in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area are closed to repair fire damage. Enterprise, Stringtown, and Foreman Creek boat ramp areas, the Loafer Creek Recreation Area, and Lake Oroville Visitor Center remain closed. Visit the California Parks Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) webpage for current information on facility status as well as current requirements to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information is also available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. For information about the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Construction The Bidwell Canyon boat ramp project to continue construction started in 2018 to expand the parking area and provide two additional boat ramp lanes to 700 feet has experienced delays due to the national shortage of concrete. The anticipated completion date has been pushed to December, but construction staff have repaired the boat ramp’s access road, allowing weekend use from 5 a.m. Saturdays to midnight Sundays to resume. Kelly Ridge and Arroyo Drive residents should anticipate large construction equipment and material deliveries in the area as construction activities continue on weekdays. As they do every fall, lake levels are decreasing. Loading docks are available at both Lime Saddle and Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramps and docks will remain available for use until lake levels drop below approximately 700 feet elevation. The Bidwell Canyon Marina and shuttle services remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Loafer Creek Recreation Area remains closed for fire recovery and its boat ramps are out of the water. Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee (ORAC) held their fall meeting Nov. 6. 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 DWR Recreation Plan for the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area. To obtain a summary of the meeting, send a request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  Bryozoans Return to Lake Oroville
Have you seen strange orange or tan ‘blobs’ in Lake Oroville? Bryozoans are aquatic invertebrates. But instead of being a single organism like jellyfish, bryozoans are made up of thousands of individual microscopic animals called zooids, living in a colony. A single colony can grow to be 12-20 inches in diameter and many can grow close together, creating a large mass. More commonly found in lakes in the eastern United States, they have migrated via birds, winds, and other means to western lakes. They appear regularly in Lake Oroville during the late summer or early fall and can be found free-floating in the water or attached to submerged branches, ropes, or even houseboat pontoons. Photo: Bryozoans attached to limbs in the North Fork of Lake Oroville Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 726 feet and storage is about 1.4 million acre-feet. This weekend expect much cooler temperatures; around a half an inch of rainfall is forecasted for the Feather River Basin. During the week of November 9, cool temperatures will continue with a chance of rain later in the week. The total releases to Feather River continue at 2,450 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 1,650 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 2,450 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 11/5/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  October 30, 2020 Fire Impacts to Lake Oroville The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is a member of the “Watershed Working Group” led by the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES). The working group is a multi-agency team evaluating and identifying areas of concern in the Feather River watershed affected by recent wildfires. Field teams are taking action to address erosion, debris runoff, and water quality impacts. DWR’s Division of Flood Management is currently assisting California Conservation Corps members to install erosion control measures in areas of concern. DWR water quality experts have expanded water sampling activities at Lake Oroville and continue to monitor for algal blooms and other environmental concerns. After the 2018 Camp Fire, data collected by DWR environmental scientists showed no long-term impacts to water quality in Lake Oroville. The clearing of debris entering Lake Oroville is part of ongoing DWR maintenance of Lake Oroville. Additional work is planned to protect boaters and ensure safe operation of dam facilities. Several ancillary DWR facilities around Lake Oroville experienced fire damage. DWR staff are making repairs to the impacted facilities. Photo: DWR water quality experts take water samples at Lake Oroville Oroville Recreation The Lime Saddle and Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramps remain open. The Bidwell Canyon boat launch will be closed Oct. 31 to Nov. 6 for construction work to build boat ramp lanes to 700 feet, providing additional boat access when lake levels are low. Weekend access from 5 a.m. Saturday to midnight Sunday is expected to resume Nov. 6. The project is expected to be completed mid-November. The Potter’s Ravine and North Fork trails near the Spillway boat launch area and trails in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area are closed to repair fire damage. Enterprise, Stringtown, and Foreman Creek boat ramp areas, the Loafer Creek Recreation Area, and Lake Oroville Visitor Center also remain closed. Visit the California Parks Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) webpage for current information on facility status as well as current requirements to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information is also available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. For information about the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Plumas National Forest While many areas of Plumas National Forest near Oroville and the upper watersheds of the Feather River remain closed due to the North Complex, Walker, and Sheep fires, nearly two-thirds of the Forest is open for recreation, including DWR’s Lake Davis and Frenchman Lake. Campgrounds at these areas, except Lake Davis, which is open until Oct. 31, have closed but trails, boating, and other recreation is allowed. Visitors are advised to be alert for firefighting equipment and personnel. Visit the Plumas National Forest webpage for fire restrictions, alerts, notices, and maps. Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee to Meet The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee (ORAC) will meet Nov. 6. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting will not be 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 DWR Recreation Plan for the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area. To obtain a summary of the meeting, send a request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  Bryozoans Return to Lake Oroville
Have you seen strange orange or tan ‘blobs’ in Lake Oroville? Bryozoans are aquatic invertebrates. But instead of being a single organism like jellyfish, bryozoans are made up of thousands of individual microscopic animals called zooids, living in a colony. A single colony can grow to be 12-20 inches in diameter and many can grow close together, creating a large mass. More commonly found in lakes in the eastern United States, they have migrated via birds, winds, and other means to western lakes. They appear regularly in Lake Oroville during the late summer or early fall and can be found free-floating in the water or attached to submerged branches, ropes, or even houseboat pontoons. Photo: Bryozoans attached to limbs in the North Fork of Lake Oroville DWR’s Water Wednesdays Are Taking A Winter Break DWR initiated an online educational program “Water Wednesdays” to share information about a wide range of topics related to California’s water resources. Targeted to kids 10 to 14, but appropriate for anyone, each half-hour episode on Zoom was live, allowing participants who signed up to ask real time questions of the speaker. Since its start in May of 2020, this family-friendly program has covered topics ranging from fish and birds living in the Delta, climate change, the importance of groundwater, and following salmon on their journey to the Pacific and back to their home rivers. Previous episodes of Water Wednesdays are available on DWR’s YouTube channel – enter Water Wednesdays in the search bar. Look for Water Wednesday episodes to return in January 2021. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 731 feet and storage is about 1.50 million acre-feet. Beginning this weekend and into next week, dry conditions and temperatures ranging in the low 80s are expected. The total releases to Feather River continue at 2,450 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 1,650 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 2,450 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 10/29/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  October 23, 2020 Fire Impacts to Lake Oroville The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is a member of the “Watershed Working Group” led by the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES). The working group is a multi-agency team evaluating and identifying areas of concern in the Feather River watershed affected by recent wildfires. Field teams are taking action to address erosion, debris runoff, and water quality impacts. DWR’s Division of Flood Management is currently assisting California Conservation Corps members to install erosion control measures in areas of concern. DWR water quality experts have expanded water sampling activities at Lake Oroville and continue to monitor for algal blooms and other environmental concerns. After the 2018 Camp Fire, data collected by DWR environmental scientists showed no long-term impacts to water quality in Lake Oroville. The clearing of debris entering Lake Oroville is part of ongoing DWR maintenance of Lake Oroville. Additional work is planned to protect boaters and ensure safe operation of dam facilities. Several ancillary DWR facilities around Lake Oroville experienced fire damage. DWR staff are making repairs to the impacted facilities. Oroville Recreation The Lime Saddle and Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramps are open. The Bidwell Canyon boat launch is only open weekends, 5 a.m. Saturday to midnight Sunday, while weekday construction continues to build boat ramp lanes to 700 feet, which will provide additional boat access when lake levels are low. The project is expected to be completed mid-November. Bidwell Canyon and Lake Oroville (Lime Saddle) marinas are open for normal operation under regular winter schedules. Visit the California Parks Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) webpage for current information on facility status as well as current requirements to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Potter’s Ravine and North Fork trails near the Spillway boat launch area and trails in the Loafer Creek recreation area are closed to repair fire damage. Enterprise, Stringtown, and Foreman Creek boat ramp areas, the Loafer Creek Recreation Area, and Lake Oroville Visitor Center also remain closed. Current recreation facility information can also be found on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Information for the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, is available on the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Photo: Construction of new boat ramp at Bidwell Canyon Recreation Area Plumas National Forest While many areas of Plumas National Forest near Oroville and the upper watersheds of the Feather River remain closed due to the North Complex, Walker, and Sheep fires, nearly two-thirds of the Forest is open for recreation, including DWR’s Lake Davis and Frenchman Lake. Campgrounds at these areas, except Lake Davis, which is open until Oct. 31, have closed but trails, boating, and other recreation is allowed. Visitors are advised to be alert for firefighting equipment and personnel. Visit the Plumas National Forest webpage for fire restrictions, alerts, notices, and maps.  Chinook Salmon Return to the Feather River
The fall-run of Chinook salmon is peaking later than usual this fall, delighting fishing enthusiasts, area residents, and visitors. As the salmon return home to the Feather River to lay eggs for the next generation of salmon, the Feather River Fish Hatchery is also continuing their spawning operations which enable millions of Chinook salmon to be released to the river every spring. While the hatchery is not open for tours this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Viewing Area near the Feather River’s Fish Diversion Dam north of the Hatchery remains open to visitors. The public is urged to maintain physical distancing and abide by requirements for mask-wearing to protect personal health and the health of others. Photo: Watching the salmon at Feather River Fish Hatchery's viewing window DWR Water Wednesdays For a special Halloween treat, find out on the next Water Wednesday why lampreys are called “vampire fish”. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The episodes are live, allowing participants who have signed up on Zoom to ask real time questions of the speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join or register for next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Water Wednesdays began in May 2020 and previous episodes are available on DWR’s YouTube channel – enter Water Wednesdays in the search bar. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 735 feet and storage is about 1.54 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,224 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,167 cfs over the past week. Beginning this weekend and into next week, dry conditions and temperatures ranging in the mid to upper 70s are expected. The total releases to Feather River continue at 2,450 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 1,650 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 2,450 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 10/22/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  October 16, 2020 Fire Impacts to Lake Oroville The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is a member of the post-fire task force led by the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES). The task force is a multi-agency team that will evaluate and identify areas of concern in the watershed. They will coordinate and prioritize actions to address erosion, debris runoff, and water quality impacts to the watersheds impacted by wildfire. DWR environmental scientists actively monitor Lake Oroville for water quality, algal blooms, and other environmental concerns, including wildfire impacts. After the 2018 Camp Fire, DWR installed additional monitoring stations. The data collected by DWR environmental scientists did not show long-term impacts to water quality in Lake Oroville. As part of routine maintenance year-round, DWR takes steps to reduce erosion on the lake’s shoreline. The clearing of debris entering Lake Oroville is part of ongoing DWR maintenance of Lake Oroville to protect boaters and ensure safe operation of the dam facilities. Oroville Recreation The Lime Saddle and Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramps are open and the Bidwell Canyon boat launch is open on weekends while construction, expected to be completed in November, is underway. (See below for information.) Bidwell Canyon and Lake Oroville (Lime Saddle) marinas are open for normal operation under regular winter schedules. Visit the CA Parks Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) webpage for current information on facility status as well as current requirements to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Potter’s Ravine and North Fork trails near the Spillway boat launch area and trails in the Loafer Creek recreation area are closed to repair fire damage. Enterprise, Stringtown, and Foreman Creek boat ramp areas, the Loafer Creek Recreation Area, and Lake Oroville Visitor Center also remain closed. Current recreation facility information can also be found on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Information for the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, is available on the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Closed Weekdays for Facility Improvements The Bidwell Canyon boat ramp will be closed weekdays, Monday through Friday, from Oct. 5 to Nov. 18 to continue construction started in 2018 to expand the parking area and provide two additional boat ramp lanes to 700 feet. The boat ramp will open at 5 a.m. on Saturdays and close at midnight Sundays. Kelly Ridge and Arroyo Drive residents should anticipate large construction equipment and rock and concrete deliveries in the area. Photo: Construction of new boat ramp at Bidwell Canyon Recreation Area Installation of Piezometers Completed at Oroville Dam Data collected from four new piezometers installed at the headworks of Oroville Dam’s main, or flood control outlet (FCO) spillway will be used to confirm drain performance, inform on-going structural modeling and analyses, and direct future improvements to the FCO structure which houses eight gates to control water flow down the spillway. This work, completed on Oct. 5, is part of early implementation of the Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA), which is focused on identifying priorities and appropriate solutions to bolster the integrity and resiliency of the Oroville Dam complex to ensure public safety. Several piezometers were originally installed in the dam over fifty years ago which, as anticipated, have since stopped functioning. DWR continues its work to install additional instrumentation throughout the facility to provide ongoing, real-time data to DWR engineers, including eight new piezometers installed earlier this year at the base of Oroville Dam.  Chinook Salmon Return to the Feather River
The Feather River Fish Hatchery’s spawning operations – which enable millions of Chinook salmon to be released to the river every spring – is underway, but the hatchery is not open for tours this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Viewing Area near the Feather River’s Fish Diversion Dam north of the Hatchery remains open to visitors. The public is urged to maintain physical distancing and abide by requirements for mask-wearing to protect personal health and the health of others. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay State Recreation Area has closed for the season but is hosting kayak floats on the Feather River from the Feather River Fish Hatchery to Riverbend Park to view the returning salmon Oct. 17 and Oct. 24. Visit their webpage for registration information. Photo: Watching the salmon at Feather River Fish Hatchery's viewing window DWR Water Wednesdays Winter is coming and Water Wednesdays continues its look at how DWR prepares for severe winter storms and flood events, and how you can be prepared too. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The episodes are live, allowing participants who have signed up on Zoom to ask real time questions of the speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join or register for next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Water Wednesdays began in May 2020 and previous episodes are available on DWR’s YouTube channel – enter Water Wednesdays in the search bar. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 739 feet and storage is about 1.57 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 877 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,454 cfs over the past week. Weather will be warm in the low to mid-80s Oct. 17 to Oct. 18. During the week of Oct. 19, temperatures are projected to slightly cool through the week from the mid-80’s to mid-70’s. The total releases to Feather River continue at 2,450 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 1,650 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 2,450 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 10/15/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  October 9, 2020 North Complex Fire Update Butte County’s “North Complex – West Zone Fire” is now 98 percent contained with over 84,595 acres burned as of Friday, Oct. 9. The fire severely damaged communities around Lake Oroville. Several Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) facilities were also damaged including Loafer Creek Recreation Area which remains closed. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is working closely with California State Parks (CA Parks), CALFIRE, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), and wildfire response partners in fire recovery efforts and in planning for winter precipitation impacts in burn scar areas. Oroville Recreation Openings Update The Lime Saddle and Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramps are open and the Bidwell Canyon boat launch is open on weekends while construction, expected to be completed in November, is underway. (See below for information.) Bidwell Canyon and Lake Oroville (Lime Saddle) marinas are open for normal operation under regular winter schedules. Visit the CA Parks LOSRA webpage for current information on facility status as well as current requirements to protect public health during the COVID pandemic. Area trails, including a newly opened portion of the Brad Freeman Trail from the Spillway boat ramp area to the Thermalito Diversion Pool, are open. Exceptions are the Potter’s Ravine and North Fork trails near the Spillway boat launch area and trails in the Loafer Creek recreation area, which will remain closed through the winter to repair fire damage. Enterprise, Stringtown, and Foreman Creek boat ramp areas, the Loafer Creek Recreation Area, and Lake Oroville Visitor Center also remain closed. The Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, remains open from 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Current recreation facility information can be found on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage, CA Parks LOSRA webpage, and the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Closed Weekdays for Facility Improvements The Bidwell Canyon boat ramp will be closed weekdays, Monday through Friday, from Oct. 5 to Nov. 18 to continue construction started in 2018 to expand the parking area and provide two additional boat ramp lanes to 700 feet. The boat ramp will open at 5 a.m. on Saturdays and close at midnight Sundays. Kelly Ridge and Arroyo Drive residents should anticipate large construction equipment and rock and concrete deliveries in the area. As they do every fall, lake levels are decreasing, and the Bidwell Canyon Stage One boat ramp is now out of the water. Both the Lime Saddle and Spillway boat ramps are available for use during Stage Two construction activities. The Bidwell Canyon Marina and shuttle services remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Loafer Creek Recreation Area remains closed for fire recovery and its boat ramps are also out of the water. Photo: Construction of new boat ramp at Bidwell Canyon Recreation Area  Chinook Salmon Return to the Feather River
Chinook salmon are completing their life cycle and returning home to the Feather River to lay eggs for the next generation of salmon. The Feather River Fish Hatchery’s fish ladder is open and hatchery spawning operations – which enable millions of Chinook salmon to be released to the river every spring – are underway. To protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hatchery will not be open for tours this year. Visitors can still enjoy seeing salmon climb the fish ladder at the Viewing Area near the Feather River’s Fish Diversion Dam north of the Hatchery. The public is urged to maintain physical distancing and abide by requirements for mask-wearing to protect personal health and the health of others. Photo: Salmon about to jump the fish ladder at the Feather River Fish Hatchery's viewing window Installation of Piezometers Completed at Oroville Dam Four new piezometers have been installed at the headworks of Oroville Dam’s main, or flood control outlet (FCO), spillway. The piezometers will collect data from the FCO foundation which houses the spillway’s eight gates which control water flow down the main spillway. The data will be used to confirm drain performance, inform on-going structural modeling and analyses, and inform future improvements to the structure. This work, completed on Oct. 5, is part of early implementation of the Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA), which is focused on identifying priorities and appropriate solutions to bolster the integrity and resiliency of the Oroville Dam complex to ensure public safety. Several piezometers were originally installed in the dam over fifty years ago which, as anticipated, have since stopped functioning. DWR continues its work to install additional instrumentation throughout the facility to provide ongoing, real-time data to DWR engineers, including eight new piezometers installed earlier this year at the base of Oroville Dam. DWR Water Wednesdays It’s not too early to start thinking about winter storms and flood risk. DWR’s Water Wednesdays program is currently focusing on how DWR prepares for severe winter storms and flood events, and how you can be prepared too. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The episodes are live, allowing participants who have signed up on Zoom to ask real time questions of the speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join or register for next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Water Wednesdays began in May 2020 and previous episodes are available on DWR’s YouTube channel – enter Water Wednesdays in the search bar. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 741 feet and storage is about 1.60 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,035 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,295 over the past week. Weather will be cloudy with a slight chance of rainfall Oct. 10-11. During the week of Oct. 12, temperatures are projected to warm into the mid to high 80’s. The total releases to Feather River continue at 2,600 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 1,800 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 2,600 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. During the week of Oct. 12, total releases to the Feather River will be slightly reduced. The reduction will be from the Outlet - the Low Flow Channel will be maintained at 800 cfs. All data as of midnight 10/8/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  October 2, 2020 Bear/North Complex Fire Impacts Oroville The Butte County’s Bear Fire, called “North Complex – West Zone Fire” is now 95 percent contained with over 84,595 acres burned as of Friday, Oct. 2. The fire severely damaged communities around Lake Oroville, including several Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) facilities including Loafer Creek Recreation Area which remains closed. The Bidwell Canyon Marina and Lime Saddle Marina have not sustained damage and there are currently no risks to Oroville Dam or its related structures. The fire remains active near the upper reaches of Lake Oroville’s North Fork of the Feather River. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is working closely with California State Parks (CA Parks), CALFIRE, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E,) and local law enforcement partners in fire recovery efforts. DWR’s water delivery and other critical operations are ongoing with essential staff on site. Photo: A smoky haze sits over the Bidwell Bar Bridge near Lake Oroville’s Bidwell Canyon Marina - courtesy S. McReynolds Oroville Recreation Openings Update As containment of the North Complex – West Zone grows, fire risks to Lake Oroville recreation facilities have decreased. Effective Friday, Oct. 2, the Bidwell Canyon, Lime Saddle, and Oroville Dam Spillway boat launches are open. (See below for upcoming closure of Bidwell Canyon boat ramp.) Bidwell Canyon and Lake Oroville (Lime Saddle) marinas are open for normal operation under regular winter schedules. Please visit the CA Parks LOSRA webpage for information on current status of all LOSRA facilities. Oroville Dam Crest Road across the top of Oroville Dam is open to bicyclists and pedestrians. The newly opened Brad Freeman Trail down to the now open Thermalito Diversion Pool may be accessed from the new gravel parking lot at the north side of the Spillway Day Use Area. The Dan Beebe Trail on the south side of the Diversion Pool; the North and South Forebay Recreation Areas; the Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area; and the Saddle Dam trailhead are all open. Potter’s Ravine and North Fork trails near the Spillway boat launch will remain closed through the winter to repair fire damage. Enterprise, Stringtown, and Foreman Creek boat launch areas, the Loafer Creek Recreation Area, and Lake Oroville Visitor Center also remain closed. The Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, remains open from 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Current recreation facility information can be found on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage, CA Parks LOSRA webpage, and the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Bidwell Canyon Stage Two Boat Ramp to Close for Facility Improvements The Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Stage Two Improvement Project resumed work on Sept. 23 after being temporarily halted due to the North Complex – West Zone fire. The Project continues construction started in 2018 to expand the parking area and provide two additional boat ramp lanes to 700 feet. The Stage Two boat ramps will be closed weekdays, Monday through Friday, from Oct. 5 to Nov. 18. Kelly Ridge and Arroyo Drive residents should anticipate large construction equipment and rock and concrete deliveries in the area. As they do every fall, lake levels are decreasing, leaving the Bidwell Canyon Stage One boat ramps with only a few days left for access. It is anticipated that lake levels will drop below the boat ramp between Oct. 5 and Oct. 7. Both the Lime Saddle and Spillway boat ramps will be available for use. Loafer Creek Recreation Area remains closed for fire recovery and its boat ramps are out of the water. The Bidwell Canyon Marina and shuttle services remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors are reminded to be safe and obey access restrictions.  Chinook Salmon Return to the Feather River
Chinook salmon are completing their life cycle and returning home to the Feather River to lay eggs for the next generation of salmon. The Feather River Fish Hatchery’s fish ladder is open and hatchery spawning operations – which enable millions of Chinook salmon to be released to the river every spring – are underway. To protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hatchery will not be open for tours this year. Visitors can still enjoy seeing salmon climb the fish ladder at the Viewing Area near the Feather River’s Fish Diversion Dam north of the Hatchery. The public is urged to maintain physical distancing and abide by requirements for mask-wearing to protect personal health and the health of others. Photo: Children watch salmon swim up the fish ladder at the Feather River Fish Hatchery's viewing window DWR Water Wednesdays It’s not too early to start thinking about winter storms and flood risk. Over the next few weeks, DWR’s Water Wednesdays program will focus on how DWR prepares for severe winter storms and flood events, and how you can be prepared too. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The episodes are live, allowing participants who have signed up on Zoom to ask real time questions of the speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join or register for next Wednesday’s chat which starts a series on flood preparedness. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Water Wednesdays began in May 2020 and previous episodes are available on DWR’s YouTube channel – enter Water Wednesdays in the search bar. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 744 feet and storage is about 1.62 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 864 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 1,499 over the past week. During the week of Oct. 5, temperatures are projected to drop from the mid-90s to the low 80s by the end of the week. The water year begins Oct. 1 and with no measurable precipitation, the Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals begin at zero percent. The total releases to Feather River continue at 2,600 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 1,800 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet for a total of 2,600 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 10/1/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  September 25, 2020 Bear/North Complex Fire Impacts Oroville Firefighters are gaining traction against Butte County’s Bear Fire, called “North Complex – West Zone Fire”. Severely damaging communities around Lake Oroville, including several Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) facilities, the fire is now 73 percent contained with over 84,000 acres burned as of Friday, Sept. 25. Locations along the North Fork of Lake Oroville, as well as areas on the South Fork remain active fire zones. The Bidwell Canyon Marina and Lime Saddle Marina have not sustained damage and there are currently no risks to Oroville Dam or its related structures. Due to continuing fire behavior, many LOSRA facilities are currently closed. (See more recreation information below.) The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to monitor the fire’s status and is actively working with CALFIRE, local law enforcement partners, and California State Parks (CA Parks) staff to ensure employee and public safety. CA Parks staff are providing support to firefighters by boat from Lake Oroville, and a camp for fire support has been established at the Loafer Creek recreation area – which is still closed to the public. DWR’s water delivery and other critical operations are ongoing with essential staff on site. Photo: A smoky haze sits over the Bidwell Bar Bridge near Lake Oroville’s Bidwell Canyon Marina - courtesy S. McReynolds Oroville Recreation Closures Update Due to fire impacts and continued danger to the public from the North Complex – West Zone fire, many Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) facilities are closed until further notice, including boat launches, day use areas, and trails. The Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle marinas are open only for houseboat owners who may access their houseboats with proof of ownership. No overnight houseboat stays or boating is allowed on Lake Oroville. Current status of openings and closings can be found on the CA Parks LOSRA webpage. Oroville Dam Crest Road across the top of Oroville Dam is open to bicyclists and pedestrians. Although the Spillway Boat Ramp and Day Use Area are closed, the newly opened Brad Freeman Trail down to the Thermalito Diversion Pool may be accessed from the new gravel parking lot at the north side of the Spillway Day Use Area. The Diversion Pool is now open to non-motorized watercraft. All other trails around Lake Oroville are currently closed. The Dan Beebe Trail on the south side of the Diversion Pool; the North and South Forebay Recreation Areas; and the Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area are all open. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay is temporarily closed but has scheduled kayak floats to view salmon spawning in the Feather River (see information below). The Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, remains open from 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Current recreation facility information can be found on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage, CA Parks LOSRA webpage, and the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. See below for information about the Feather River Fish Hatchery.  Chinook Salmon Return to the Feather River
Chinook salmon are completing their life cycle and returning home to the Feather River to lay eggs for the next generation of salmon. The Feather River Fish Hatchery opened the fish ladder on Sept. 14 to begin hatchery spawning operations which enables millions of Chinook salmon to be released to the river every spring. To protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hatchery will not be open for tours this year. Visitors can still enjoy seeing salmon climb the fish ladder at the Viewing Area near the Feather River’s Fish Diversion Dam north of the Hatchery. Oroville’s annual Salmon Festival has been scaled down to protect public health with only a few activities scheduled, including kayak ‘floats’ organized by the Forebay Aquatic Center to watch salmon in the Feather River Sept. 26 and Sept. 27. Information about the Festival, and a link to sign up for the kayak ‘floats’, can be found on the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce website. Photo: Children watch salmon swim up the fish ladder at the Feather River Fish Hatchery's viewing window Learn all about Salmon – DWR’s Water Wednesdays The Feather River Fish Hatchery is closed, but you can still learn about salmon through DWR’s Water Wednesdays program on DWR’s YouTube channel. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The recent five-part series took a look at the lifecycle of the Chinook salmon that spawn in the Feather River, travel downriver, through the Delta, and finally to the ocean. The episodes are live, allowing participants who have signed up on Zoom to ask real time questions of the speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join or register for next Wednesday’s chat which starts a series on flood preparedness. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Water Wednesdays began in May 2020 and previous episodes are available on DWR’s YouTube channel – enter Water Wednesdays in the search bar. Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Improvement Project The Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Stage Two Improvement Project temporarily halted due to the North Complex – West Zone fire, is back underway, and will continue as long as air quality and lake levels allow. Kelly Ridge and Arroyo Drive residents can expect to see large construction equipment, as well as rock and concrete deliveries, in the area from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays as the contractor works to complete the project by mid-November. As lake levels decrease, this construction continues a project that started in Fall 2018 to expand the Stage Two parking area and provide two additional Stage Two boat ramp lanes to 700 feet. In February of 2019, construction was halted due to rising lake levels, but not before completion of a new lower-level, concrete parking lot, expansion of Bidwell Canyon’s mid-level boat launch from three to five lanes, and the addition of two boarding float lanes. Construction also improved the vertical curve at the top of the boat ramp to accommodate larger trailers. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 747 feet and storage is about 1.65 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,560 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,898 over the past week. Temperatures will increase to the low 100s this weekend and early next week but are forecasted to drop to the mid- to upper-90s in the middle of the week. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 62 percent of normal. The total releases to Feather River continue at 2,600 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 1,800 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet for a total of 2,600 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 9/25/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  September 18, 2020 Bear/North Complex Fire Impacts Oroville Butte County’s Bear Fire, now named “North Complex – West Zone Fire”, has burned over 78,000 acres with 43 percent containment as of Friday, Sept. 18. The fire has severely damaged communities around Lake Oroville, including several Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) facilities. Locations along the North Fork of Lake Oroville, as well as areas on the Middle and South Forks remain an active fire zones. The Bidwell Canyon Marina and Lime Saddle Marina have not sustained damage and there are currently no risks to Oroville Dam or its related structures. Due to continuing fire behavior, many LOSRA facilities are currently closed. (See more recreation information below.) The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to monitor the fire’s status and is actively working with CALFIRE, local law enforcement partners, and California State Parks (CA Parks) staff to ensure employee and public safety. CA Parks staff are providing support to firefighters by boat from Lake Oroville, and a camp for fire support has been established at the Loafer Creek recreation area – which is still closed to the public. DWR’s water delivery and other critical operations are ongoing with essential staff on site. Photo: Firefighter staging area at Lime Saddle Recreation Area at Lake Oroville North Fork's West Branch of the Feather River. Oroville Recreation Closures Update Due to fire impacts and continued danger to the public from the North Complex – West Zone fire, many Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) facilities are closed until further notice, including boat launches, day use areas, and trails. The Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle marinas are open only for houseboat owners who may access their houseboats with proof of ownership. No overnight houseboat stays or boating is allowed on Lake Oroville. Oroville Dam Crest Road across the top of Oroville Dam is open to bicyclists and pedestrians. Although the Spillway Boat Ramp and Day Use Area are closed, the newly opened Brad Freeman Trail down to the Thermalito Diversion Pool may be accessed from the new gravel parking lot at the north side of the Spillway Day Use Area. The Diversion Pool is now open to non-motorized watercraft. All other trails around Lake Oroville are currently closed. The Dan Beebe Trail on the south side of the Diversion Pool; the North and South Forebay Recreation Areas; and the Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area are all open. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay is temporarily closed. The Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, remains open from 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Current recreation facility information can be found on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage, CA Parks LOSRA webpage, and the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. See below for information about the Feather River Fish Hatchery.  Chinook Salmon Return to the Feather River
Chinook salmon are completing their life cycle and returning home to the Feather River to lay eggs for the next generation of salmon. The Feather River Fish Hatchery opened the fish ladder on Sept. 14 to begin hatchery spawning operations which enables millions of Chinook salmon to be released to the river every spring. In order to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hatchery will not be open for tours this year. Visitors can still enjoy seeing salmon climb the fish ladder at the Viewing Area near the Feather River’s Fish Diversion Dam north of the Hatchery. Oroville’s annual Salmon Festival has been scaled down to protect public health with only a few activities scheduled, including kayak ‘floats’ organized by the Forebay Aquatic Center to watch salmon in the Feather River Sept. 26 and Sept. 27. Information about the Festival, and a link to sign up for the kayak ‘floats’, can be found on the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce website. Learn all about Salmon – DWR’s Water Wednesdays The Feather River Fish Hatchery is closed but you can still learn about salmon this month through DWR’s Water Wednesdays program at 1 p.m. on DWR’s YouTube channel. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The fall season began Aug. 26 with a five-part look at the lifecycle of the Chinook salmon that spawn in the Feather River, travel downriver, through the Delta, and finally to the ocean. Interested participants can pre-register through Zoom which will allow them to ask real time questions of the speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join or register for next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Water Wednesdays began in May 2020 and previous episodes are available on DWR’s YouTube channel – enter Water Wednesdays in the search bar. Diversion Pool Trails and Area Roadways to Close for Utility Work Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) crews are scheduled to remove three conductors from the Caribou-Palermo 115KV transmission line that crosses the Thermalito Diversion Pool Sept.18 through Sept. 25. Visitors and area residents will see helicopter activity in the area during conductor removal. Portions of the Brad Freeman Trail north and south of the Thermalito Diversion Pool; the Dan Beebe Trail; and areas around the trailhead on Lakeland Boulevard on the south side of the Diversion Pool will close for various periods Sept. 18 to Sept. 25. Traffic on Lakeland Boulevard west of Reyman Street will also experience temporary delays when work is occurring on the conductors crossing the road. Signage regarding upcoming work will be posted on area trails in advance of closures. Visitors are reminded to be safe and obey access restrictions. Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Improvement Project The Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Stage Two Improvement Project was temporarily halted due to the North Complex – West Zone fire. The project plans to resume work in the upcoming week. Kelly Ridge and Arroyo Drive residents can expect to see large construction equipment, as well as rock and concrete deliveries, in the area from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays as the contractor works to complete the project by mid-November. This is a continuation of a project that started in Fall 2018 to expand the Stage Two parking area and provide two additional Stage Two boat ramp lanes to 700 feet. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 749 feet and storage is about 1.67 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,963 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,653 over the past week. Temperatures continue to be relatively moderate into the week of Sept. 21 as the temperatures are forecast to be in the 80s. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 62 percent of normal. The total releases to Feather River continue at 2,100 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 1,300 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet for a total of 2,100 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 9/17/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov. |
Archives
November 2020
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed