  January 29, 2021 Wildfire Impacts on Water Quality In late 2020, several members of the multi-agency “Watershed Working Group”, led by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), conducted targeted monitoring of rivers, lakes, and other surface waters in the North Complex burn area and downstream. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) collected and tested samples of surface waters throughout the North Complex Fire’s burn scar in Butte and Plumas counties. Results revealed some contaminant levels are elevated, but are lower than anticipated. The Water Board issued a news release today stating these elevated results are not impacting drinking water treatment facilities nor the quality of drinking water. While major wildfires often lead to subsequent water quality challenges in lakes, streams and other waterways, the lower than expected levels of contaminants could be linked to the relatively dry winter months in 2020. Water testing will continue and the Watershed Working Group will report results in the weeks ahead. The Water Board will alert the public if results show water quality may be further impacted. Photo: DWR water quality experts collect water samples at Lake Oroville Flood After Fire Preparedness Risks for mud and debris flows into communities and homes downslope of areas burned by wildfire are increased when precipitation events occur. In normal conditions, trees, shrubs, grass, and other protective groundcover allow rainfall to infiltrate into the soil. In addition to removing vegetation, a wildfire’s extreme heat can bake the soil, further preventing water penetration. Due to these changes, even a small storm system in burn scar areas can cause flash flooding and lead to mud and debris flows. It is important to stay alert and be prepared before flooding occurs. Being ready means knowing when to evacuate. Get the latest information from the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov – just enter your city or zip code. More information on flood after fire can be found in this short video as well as on the DWR website. Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee to Meet The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee (ORAC) will meet Feb. 5. 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.  Oroville Recreation The California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks), in compliance with the modification for the Greater Sacramento Region’s COVID-19 public safety restrictions, has opened Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) campgrounds at Bidwell Canyon, Loafer Creek, including the Equestrian Campground, and the Lime Saddle Campground. Enroute camping at the North Forebay and Spillway facilities is permitted. Group camping remains closed. Reservation capability does not open until April and camping sites will be allocated on a ‘first come-first serve’ basis. The Potters Ravine and North Fork trails are open for use. CA Parks encourages users to remain on the trails and assessments by CA Parks staff of trail safety will continue through the winter. Additionally, day use facilities at Foreman Creek, Stringtown, and Enterprise, damaged by the September North Complex Fire, are now open to the public. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains 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 about recreation facilities can be found in DWR’s interactive map on the 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: Equestrian campground at LOSRA's Loafer Creek Recreation Area  California Conservation Corps Constructs Fish Habitat from Recycled Christmas Trees
DWR and the California Conservation Corps (CCC) have completed constructing fish habitat structures at Lake Oroville and the Thermalito Afterbay using over 950 recycled Christmas trees. The trees were collected by Chico Boy Scout Troop 2 and the Biggs 4-H Club and delivered to DWR by Recology, a local waste management company. The habitat structures of stacked Christmas trees were created by threading wire cable through CCC-drilled holes in the trunks and anchoring the cable to the lakebed in various locations. Anchoring the trees allows them to stay submerged as the lake’s water level rises from winter storm and snowmelt inflows. The structures provide juvenile fish safe refuge, improving fisheries and recreational fishing opportunities. For over 25 years, DWR has worked with local groups to construct fish habitat structures, which is one of the longest continuously running fish habitat improvement programs in the State of California. Find more information on the project at DWR Updates. Photo: California Conservation Corps members anchor recycled Christmas trees to Lake Oroville's lakebed Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 697 feet elevation and storage is about 1.23 million acre-feet, 35 percent of average. Currently, in the Northern Sierra Basin, rainfall is below average, at 51 percent of normal for this time of year and snowpack is also below average at 64 percent of normal. Precipitation is forecast through the middle of the first week of February with dry conditions afterwards. The total releases to the Feather River continues to be at 1,250 cfs to conserve storage in Lake Oroville. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs down the Low Flow Channel through the City of Oroville, and 450 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 1,250 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. Additional flow and visible increases in the elevation of the Feather River are due to significant runoff from this week’s storms. 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 1/28/2021 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.   January 22, 2021 Oroville Recreation The California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks), in compliance with the modification for the Greater Sacramento Region’s COVID-19 public safety restrictions, has opened Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) campgrounds at Bidwell Canyon, Loafer Creek, including the Equestrian Campground, and the Lime Saddle Campground. Enroute camping at the North Forebay and Spillway facilities is also permitted. Group camping remains closed. Reservation capability does not open until April so camping sites are allocated on a ‘first come-first serve’ basis. The Potters Ravine and North Fork trails, damaged by the August 2020 Potters Fire, are also now open for use. CA Parks encourages users to remain on the trails and assessments by CA Parks staff of trail safety will continue through the winter. Additionally, day use facilities at Foreman Creek, Stringtown, and Enterprise, damaged by the September North Complex Fire, are now open to the public. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains 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 about recreation facilities can also be found in DWR’s interactive map on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. For information about the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Recreation Improvement Project Nearly Complete Construction is nearly complete at the Bidwell Canyon Stage II Boat Ramp Project. Visitors and users can enjoy full access to the expanded, paved parking area as well as the two additional boat ramp lanes which allow launching when the lake drops as low as 705 feet elevation. Currently, boaters are using the Stage III boat ramp at Bidwell Canyon which is open 24 hours per day and provides access to elevation 665 feet. The auxiliary gravel boat ramp at the Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramp area is now closed and users will be directed to the Bidwell Canyon boat ramps. The paved ramps at the Spillway (and other area boat launch facilities) will reopen again as lake levels rise from anticipated winter storms and place ramps back into the water. Photo: New Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp access road and Stage II Project parking area with lower Stage III in background Flood After Fire Preparedness Risks for mud and debris flows to communities and homes downslope of areas burned by wildfire are increased when precipitation events occur. In normal conditions, trees, shrubs, grass, and other protective groundcover allow rainfall to infiltrate into the soil. In addition to removing vegetation, a wildfire’s extreme heat can bake the soil, further preventing water penetration. Due to these changes, even a small storm system in burn scar areas can cause flash flooding and lead to mud and debris flows. It is important to stay alert and be prepared before flooding occurs. Being ready also means knowing when to evacuate. Get the latest information from the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov – just enter your city or zip code. More information on flood after fire can be found in this short video as well as on the DWR website.  California Conservation Corps Constructs Fish Habitat from Recycled Christmas Trees The California Conservation Corps (CCC) has completed constructing fish habitat structures at Lake Oroville and the Thermalito Afterbay using the over 950 recycled Christmas trees. The trees were collected by Chico Boy Scout Troop 2 and the Biggs 4-H Club and delivered to DWR by Recology, a local waste management company. The habitat structures of stacked holiday trees were created by threading wire cable through CCC-drilled holes in the trunks and anchoring the cable to the lakebed in various locations. Anchoring the trees allows them to stay submerged as the lake’s water level rises from winter storm and snowmelt inflows. The structures provide juvenile fish safe refuge, improving fisheries and recreational fishing opportunities. For over 25 years, DWR has worked with local groups to construct fish habitat structures, which is one of the longest continuously running fish habitat improvement programs in the State of California. Photo: California Conservation Corps members anchor stacked Christmas trees to Lake Oroville's lakebed  Construction of Loafer Point Stage 2 Boat Ramps Constructing low water access boat ramp lanes in a reservoir presents unique challenges as contractors face rising water levels from winter precipitation and construction of the Loafer Point Stage 2 boat ramp project is no exception. Fortunately, the project to build six new boat launch lanes and 180 trailered parking spaces to allow boaters to enter the lake when lake elevations are below elevation 805 feet is making progress. This year’s low lake levels provided DWR the opportunity to build the ramp down to elevation 703 feet and the contractor has already placed over 115 feet of concrete. When the lake levels are lower due to dry years in the future, the ramp will be extended to lower lake elevations. 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. 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 from a full lake down to 799 feet, a new parking area, and new restroom facilities. Photo: Loafer Point Stage II Boat Ramp project - Bidwell Canyon Marina in background  DWR Fuel Load Management Program
California Conservation Corps (CCC) members and crews supervised by the Butte County Sheriff’s Office are working in different locations at Loafer Creek Recreation Area to remove ladder fuels, dead and dying vegetation, and thin unhealthy overstocked trees and overgrown vegetation as part of the DWR Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP). This ongoing DWR project reduces wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest and watershed health around Lake Oroville. With help from area partners, approximately 660 acres have been manually thinned, re-thinned, grazed, and/or treated with prescribed fire since November 2012. DWR’s goal is to treat an additional 1,000 acres over the next five years. Photo: Butte County Sheriff's Office Supervisor oversees a clearing and chipping operation Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 695 feet and storage is about 1.21 million acre-feet. Currently, in the Northern Sierra Basin, rainfall is below average, at 37 percent of normal for this time of year and snowpack is also below average at 48 percent of normal. A series of storm systems are forecast starting as early as Friday, Jan. 22 and continuing through week of Jan. 25, with occasional dry periods. The total releases to the Feather River continues to be at 1,250 cfs to conserve storage in Lake Oroville. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs down the Low Flow Channel through the City of Oroville, and 450 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 1,250 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 1/21/2021 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  January 15, 2021 California Conservation Corps Helps Construct Fish Habitat from Recycled Christmas Trees The California Conservation Corps (CCC) will start constructing fish habitat structures at Lake Oroville and the Thermalito Afterbay on Jan. 20, using over 950 recycled Christmas trees collected by Chico Boy Scout Troop 2 and the Biggs 4-H Club. To create the habitat, members of the CCC team will bundle the recycled holiday trees together using a system of wire rope to anchor them in various locations on the lakebeds. These structures provide juvenile fish safe refuge, improving fisheries and recreational fishing opportunities. For over 25 years, DWR has worked with local groups to construct fish habitat structures, which is one of the longest continuously running fish habitat improvement programs in the State of California. The 2021 project is anticipated to be completed by January 29. Photo: California Conservation Corps members install recycled trees at Lake Oroville (2016)  Oroville Recreation and Boating Access Construction of the Bidwell Canyon Stage II boat ramp project is nearly done. The project expands the parking area and provides two additional boat ramp lanes to allow launching when the lake drops as low as 700 feet elevation. The boat ramp area is currently open and being actively used, especially by bass fishing enthusiasts. Short, intermittent closures may be necessary to complete the project. The auxiliary gravel boat ramp at the Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramp area remains open daily to experienced drivers of 4-wheel drive vehicles only from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Current boat ramp information is available at 916-213-5205. Area trails and day use areas are open for hikers, bikers, and equestrians. Information on trail restrictions and access status can be found in DWR’s interactive map on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. 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. For information about the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. The Enterprise, Stringtown, and Foreman Creek boat ramp areas, LOSRA campgrounds, and Lake Oroville Visitor Center remain closed. Photo: Fishing is a year-round sport at Lake Oroville  Construction of Loafer Point Stage 2 Boat Ramps
Constructing low water access boat ramp lanes in a reservoir presents unique challenges as contractors face rising water levels from winter precipitation. Continued dry weather is allowing substantial progress on construction of the Loafer Point Stage 2 boat ramp project to build six new boat launch lanes and 180 trailered parking spaces to allow boaters to enter the lake when lake elevations are below elevation 805 feet. This year’s low lake levels provided DWR the opportunity to build the ramp down to elevation 702 feet and the contractor has started placing concrete for the ramp this week. When the lake levels are lower due to dry years, the ramp will be extended to lower lake elevations. 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 from a full lake down to 799 feet, a new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant parking area, and new restroom facilities. Photo: Loafer Point Stage II Boat Ramp project - Bidwell Canyon Marina in background DWR Fuel Load Management Program California Conservation Corps members are working in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area to remove ladder fuels, dead and dying vegetation, and thin unhealthy overstocked trees and overgrown vegetation as part of the DWR Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP). These projects reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest and watershed health around Lake Oroville. Previous FLMP projects in the Loafer Creek Recreation area have been identified as contributing to the slowing of the North Complex Fire as it approached Kelly Ridge, increasing firefighters’ ability to establish a secure fire line and preventing the fire from spreading forward. With help from area partners, approximately 660 acres have been manually thinned, re-thinned, grazed, and/or treated with prescribed fire since November 2012. DWR’s goal is to treat an additional 1,000 acres over the next five years. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 696 feet and storage is about 1.22 million acre-feet. Currently, in the Northern Sierra Basin, rainfall is below average, at 40 percent of normal for this time of year and snowpack is also below average at 57 percent of normal. Expect dry conditions through the weekend with dry conditions extending into the week of Jan. 14, with the potential for rain during the latter part of the week. The total releases to the Feather River have been at 1,250 cfs to conserve storage. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 450 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 1,250 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 1/14/2021 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  January 8, 2021 Snow Survey The Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted its first Phillips Station snow survey on Dec. 30. The manual survey recorded 30.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 10.5 inches, which is 93 percent of the Jan. 1 average for this location. The snow water equivalent (SWE) measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. On average, the Sierra Snowpack supplies about 30 percent of California’s water needs through spring snowmelt which feeds rivers and eventually reservoirs and aqueducts where it can be stored for use throughout the dry season. Statewide monitoring stations indicate that the state’s snowpack SWE is five inches, or 52 percent of the December 30 average. Photo: DWR staff performs snow survey at Phillips Station off Highway 50 in El Dorado County  Oroville Recreation and Boating Access Construction of the Bidwell Canyon Stage II boat ramp project, expanding the parking area and providing two additional boat ramp lanes to allow launching when the lake drops as low as 700 feet elevation (above sea level), is nearly complete. The boat ramp is currently open daily with a closure scheduled for Monday, Jan. 11 from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Continued intermittent closures to finish placing rock on the slope and to stripe the access road, parking lot, and boat ramp are anticipated in the coming weeks. The auxiliary gravel boat ramp at the Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramp area remains open daily to experienced drivers of 4-wheel drive vehicles only from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Current boat ramp information is available at 916-213-5205. Area trails and day use areas are open for hikers, bikers, and equestrians. Information on trail restrictions and access status can be found in DWR’s interactive map on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. 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. For information about the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. The Enterprise, Stringtown, and Foreman Creek boat ramp areas, LOSRA campgrounds, and Lake Oroville Visitor Center remain closed. Photo: Dan Beebe Trail marker near the Saddle Dam trailhead USFS Extends Campground Closures The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Southwest Region has extended closures of developed campgrounds on 12 National Forests in California to provide consistent COVID-19 mitigation response in accordance with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Stay-at-Home Orders. These Regional Orders will be in effect through Jan. 29. Day use of National Forests will remain open for the health and welfare of Californians and visitors are urged to follow Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines to recreate responsibly.  DWR Fuel Load Management Program
The DWR Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP) project to reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest and watershed health around Lake Oroville will be taking place in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area over the next two weeks. Corpsmembers from the California Conservation Corps will be working to remove ladder fuels, dead and dying vegetation, and thin unhealthy overstocked trees and overgrown vegetation which increases the intensity of wildfires. Previous FLMP projects in the Loafer Creek Recreation area have been identified as contributing to the slowing of the North Complex Fire as it approached Kelly Ridge, increasing firefighters’ ability to establish a secure fire line and preventing the fire from spreading forward. With help from area partners, approximately 660 acres have been manually thinned, re-thinned, grazed, and/or treated with prescribed fire since November 2012. DWR’s goal is to treat an additional 1,000 acres over the next five years. Photo: Before and after photos of vegetation clearing at Loafer Loop Trail at Loafer Creek Recreation Area Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 697 feet and storage is about 1.23 million acre-feet. Currently, in the Northern Sierra Basin, rainfall is below average, at 42 percent of normal for this time of year and snowpack is also below average at 62 percent of normal (the northern Sierra has had more snow than the rest of the state, the state snowpack average is 52 percent). Less than one-quarter inch of rain is forecast in the Feather River Basin through Friday, Jan. 8, then dry conditions are forecast during the week of Jan. 11. Since Dec. 29, the total releases to the Feather River have been at 1,250 cfs to conserve storage. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 450 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 1,250 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 1/7/2021 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov. December 30, 2020
Oroville Boating Access Access to the Bidwell Canyon Stage II boat launch facility, intermittently closed for construction of a new parking lot and expanded boat launch lanes, will now resume at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31 due to construction delays. The facility will remain open until the evening of Sunday, Jan. 2. ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  December 18, 2020 DWR Opens Lake Oroville Low Water Launch Ramp The Department of Water Resources (DWR) opened a temporary low water boat launch site at the Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area. This facility is currently the only way to launch trailered boats until 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24. Declining water levels at Lake Oroville have temporarily placed the Loafer Creek, Lime Saddle, and Spillway boat ramps out of service. DWR construction at the Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp area has temporarily prevented access to the lake at this location and the Spillway low water launch facility was opened to provide for boat launching and recovery until construction is completed at Bidwell Canyon. This gravel launch site will be available for use only by 4-wheel drive vehicles with experienced drivers. Signage will be placed to direct drivers to the appropriate launch and parking facilities. The Bidwell Canyon boat ramp is anticipated to open at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24, however construction-related complications could delay this schedule. Launching conditions are subject to change due to weather, changing lake levels, or other variables. For information, contact DWR at 916-213-5205. For more information on Lake Oroville’s water elevations, visit the California Data Exchange Center at https://cdec.water.ca.gov/, select the Reservoirs tab, and then Daily Reservoir Storage Summary. Lake Oroville is listed in the Feather River section. Photo: Workers prepare to pour concrete at Bidwell Canyon Stage II boat ramp access road Dec. 17. New paved parking lot in background.  Oroville Recreation Visit the California Parks Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) webpage for information on facility status as well as requirements to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many area trails offer hiking, biking, and horseback riding opportunities for viewing wildlife and the vistas of the Valley, Table Mountain, and the Diversion Pool. Information on trail restrictions and access status can be found on DWR’s interactive map on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. For information about the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. The Enterprise, Stringtown, and Foreman Creek boat ramp areas, LOSRA campgrounds, and Lake Oroville Visitor Center remain closed. Photo: Equestrian trails offer outdoor exercise for both horse and rider.  Tour the Feather River Fish Hatchery The Chinook salmon spawning season is over and thousands of students, along with many adults, missed their annual visit to the Feather River Fish Hatchery which remains closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. DWR Lake Oroville Visitors Center Tour Guides conduct well over one hundred tours between September and November for elementary and junior high school classes. To continue this valuable education for 2020, DWR developed a virtual tour teachers can share with their students. The “tour” begins at the hatchery fish barrier dam and moves throughout the hatchery as it follows the route of a real-world tour, including a visit to the processing room where hatchery technicians remove the eggs and milt from the salmon and move the fertilized eggs to the incubator room. The video also shows the technicians as they take scale samples and measurements. The virtual tour concludes with a visit to the rearing channels where nearly half a million steelhead fry are kept until they are big enough to be released back into the river. The video has been distributed to teachers in the greater Butte County area and is available on DWR’s YouTube channel. Photo: Feather River Fish Hatchery ‘raceways’ where juvenile fish continue their growth before being released.  DWR Fuel Load Management Program DWR has resumed Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP) projects to reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest and watershed health around Lake Oroville. Projects include work at Loafer Creek State Recreation Area to remove ladder fuels, dead and dying vegetation, thin unhealthy overstocked trees, and overgrown vegetation which increases the intensity of wildfires. Previous FLMP projects in the Loafer Creek Recreation area have been identified as contributing to the slowing of the North Complex Fire as it approached Kelly Ridge, increasing firefighters’ ability to establish a secure fire line and preventing the fire from spreading forward. With help from area partners, approximately 660 acres have been manually thinned, re-thinned, grazed, and/or treated with prescribed fire since November 2012. DWR’s goal is to treat an additional 1,000 acres over the next five years. Photo: Grazing goats reduce vegetation at Lake Oroville’s Parrish Cove in 2019  Fire Impacts to Lake Oroville
DWR is a member of the “Watershed Working Group” (WWG), a multi-agency team led by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), 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 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 samples from Lake Oroville for testing Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 700 feet and storage is about 1.25 million acre-feet. Currently, in the Northern Sierra Basin, rainfall is below average, at 38 percent of normal for this time of year and snowpack is also below average at 50 percent of normal. This weekend and early in the week of Dec. 21, there is a slight chance of lingering rain and snow in the higher elevations in the Feather River Basin. On Dec. 18, total releases to the Feather River were reduced to conserve storage and remain at 1,550 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 750 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 1,550 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 12/17/2020 How Are We Doing? Your completion of a short online survey (only six questions) will help DWR enhance current communication tools and develop new ones to ensure more comprehensive and transparent communication to the public. And you can always email comments to 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.  December 4, 2020 DWR Opens Lake Oroville Low Water Launch Ramp The Department of Water Resources (DWR), in conjunction with the California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP), has opened a temporary low water boat launch site at the Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area. This facility will be the only way to launch trailered boats starting Dec. 14. Declining water levels at Lake Oroville have temporarily placed the Loafer Creek and Lime Saddle boat ramps out of service, and by Monday, Dec. 14, the paved Spillway Boat Ramp will also be unavailable. Current DWR construction at the Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp area will temporarily prevent access to the lake at this location starting Monday, Dec. 14. Bidwell Canyon’s Stage II boat ramp will be available from 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11 to midnight Sunday, Dec. 13. Starting Dec. 14, the Spillway low water launch facility will be opened to provide for boat launching and recovery until construction is completed at the Bidwell Canyon boat ramp. This gravel launch site will be available for use only by 4-wheel drive vehicles with experienced drivers. Signage will be placed to direct drivers to the appropriate launch and parking facilities. The Bidwell Canyon boat ramp is anticipated to open between Dec. 24 and Dec. 27, however inclement weather could cause delays to this schedule. Launching conditions are subject to change due to weather, changing lake levels, or other variables. For information, contact DWR at 916-213-5205. For more information on Lake Oroville’s water elevations, visit the California Data Exchange Center at https://cdec.water.ca.gov/, select the Reservoirs tab, and then Daily Reservoir Storage Summary. Lake Oroville is listed in the Feather River section. Photo: Spillway low water boat launch access.  Oroville Recreation All campgrounds in the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area have closed to comply with the recent ‘stay-at-home’ order for the Greater Sacramento COVID-19 region from Governor Gavin Newsom due to exceeding the 15 percent ICU capacity. 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. While the Potter’s Ravine and North Fork trails near the Oroville Dam Spillway boat launch area are closed to repair fire damage, all of the Loafer Creek Recreation Area trails and day use areas are open. They and many other area trails offer hiking, biking, and horseback riding opportunities for viewing fall colors and vistas of the Valley, Table Mountain, and the Diversion Pool. Information on trail restrictions and access status can be found in DWR’s interactive map on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. For information about the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. The Enterprise, Stringtown, and Foreman Creek boat ramp areas, the Loafer Creek Recreation Area, and Lake Oroville Visitor Center remain closed. Photo: Equestrian trails offer outdoor exercise for both horse and rider.  DWR Fuel Load Management Program DWR has resumed Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP) projects to reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest and watershed health around Lake Oroville. Projects include work at Loafer Creek State Recreation Area to remove ladder fuels and dead and dying vegetation and thin unhealthy overstocked trees and overgrown vegetation which increases the intensity of wildfires. Previous work done in the Loafer Creek area has been identified as contributing to the slowing of the North Complex Fire as it approached Kelly Ridge, increasing firefighters’ ability to establish a secure fire line and preventing the fire from spreading forward. The FLMP projects occur within the Oroville Facilities Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project boundary. The FLMP was developed and is carried out in coordination with federal, state, and local fire and resources management agencies. Since the Plan’s launch in November 2012, approximately 660 acres within the FERC project boundary have been manually thinned, re-thinned, grazed, and/or treated with prescribed fire. DWR is in the planning stage for several fuels reduction projects in various areas within the FERC project boundary including: the Hyatt Power Plant area, Bidwell Canyon Recreation area, Canyon Drive, Lime Saddle Recreation area, Feather River Fish Hatchery, and areas within the North Complex Fire burn scar. DWR’s goal is to treat an additional 1,000 acres over the next five years. Photo: DWR and CalFIRE conduct a control burn at Loafer Creek  Construction of Loafer Point Stage II Boat Ramps Construction continues 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 695 feet if water levels allow that construction this winter. Constructing low water access boat ramp lanes in a reservoir presents unique challenges as contractors face rising water levels from winter precipitation. 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.  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. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 701 feet and storage is about 1.26 million acre-feet. Currently, in the Northern Sierra Basin, rainfall is below average, at 28 percent of normal for this time of year and snowpack is also below average at 37 percent of normal. Up to 1.5 inches of rain is forecasted this weekend in the Feather River Basin with continued chances of rain during the week of Dec. 14. During the week of Nov. 30 to Dec. 4, total releases to the Feather River were reduced to conserve storage and remain at 1,650 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 850 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 1,650 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 12/10/2020 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.  December 4, 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! Oroville Recreation The Lime Saddle boat ramp is now closed as water deliveries to meet river flow requirements and California’s State Water Project needs this dry fall have caused lake levels to fall below the end of the Lime Saddle boat ramp. Shuttle services for houseboat owners remains open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramp is open along with Bidwell Canyon’s boat ramp with restricted hours of operation (see section below). Loafer Creek Recreation Area remains closed for fire recovery and its boat ramps are also out of the water. While the Potter’s Ravine and North Fork trails near the Oroville Dam Spillway boat launch area and trails east of the entrance road to the Loafer Creek Recreation Area are closed to repair fire damage, many other area trails offer hiking, biking, and horseback riding opportunities for viewing fall colors and vistas of the Valley, Table Mountain, and the Diversion Pool. Information on trail restrictions and access status can be found in DWR’s interactive map on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. 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. For information about the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. The Enterprise, Stringtown, and Foreman Creek boat ramp areas, the Loafer Creek Recreation Area, and Lake Oroville Visitor Center remain closed. Photo: Equestrian trails offer outdoor exercise for both horse and rider.  Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Construction Nears Completion Recent deliveries of concrete have allowed the Bidwell Canyon boat ramp project to make progress in expanding the parking area and providing two additional boat ramp lanes to allow launching when the lake drops as low as 700 feet elevation (above sea level). To achieve the project’s anticipated completion date in December, in addition to being closed weekdays, the boat ramp will be closed the weekend of Dec. 19-20. The boat ramps will be open 5 a.m. Saturday to midnight Sunday on the weekends of Dec. 5-6 and Dec. 11-12. Kelly Ridge and Arroyo Drive residents should anticipate large construction equipment and material deliveries in the area for the next couple of weeks. Photo: Boat ramp at Bidwell Canyon boat ramp ready for concrete  DWR Conducting Salmon Carcass Survey DWR environmental scientists have been boating up and down the Feather River from Oroville to Gridley over the past couple of months performing their annual count of chinook salmon carcasses. Formally titled the Chinook Salmon Escapement Survey, these counts are very important in estimating how many fish have returned to the Feather River for spawning. As salmon return to the Feather River to spawn, or reproduce, it marks the end of their life cycle. But that is not the end of information they can provide. Carcasses missing their adipose fin (near the tail), means they were born at the Feather River Fish Hatchery, which also implants a coded wire tag with data that can be retrieved by the scientists. For more information on DWR’s Feather River Program’s carcass survey, as well as an informational video, visit the DWR Updates webpage. Photo: DWR scientist prepares to perform salmon carcass survey  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.  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. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 705 feet and storage is about 1.29 million acre-feet. Currently, in the Northern Sierra Basin, rainfall is below average, at 33 percent of normal for this time of year and snowpack is also below average at 45 percent of normal. Continued dry and cool temperatures are forecasted to continue this weekend and into next week. During the week of Nov. 30 to Dec. 4, the total releases to the Feather River have been reduced to conserve storage. By Friday, Dec. 4, total releases will be 1,650 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 850 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 1,650 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 12/3/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  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. |
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