  Lake Oroville Water Releases Continue The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to make releases from Lake Oroville using the main spillway at Oroville Dam. Ongoing releases ensure continued storage space in Lake Oroville for spring runoff from snowmelt and are closely coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and downstream water operators. Total releases to the Feather River amount to 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) with 650 cfs being routed down the low-flow channel which flows through the City of Oroville. An additional 9,350 cfs is being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet, located 5 miles downstream from Oroville. Water releases are scheduled to increase to 15,000 cfs on Sunday, May 14. DWR continues to closely monitor lake levels and will adjust releases accordingly to optimize operations for water storage and environmental protection while allowing for carryover storage into next year. Since Dec. 1, Lake Oroville’s storage has increased approximately 230 feet and gained over 2.3 million acre-feet of water. Lake Oroville is currently at 95 percent capacity and is expected to reach full capacity this spring. The Lake Oroville reservoir is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project (SWP) and supports environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million Californians and reduces flood risks to downstream communities.  HOURS EXTENDED FOR SPILLWAY DAY-USE AREA As the summer months approach and daylight hours linger, the Spillway Boat Ramp and Day Use Area is now open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. All vehicles and trailers are subject to inspection by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) for security purposes. There are five other boat ramps at Lake Oroville that are open 24 hours/day and do not entail CHP inspections: Bidwell Canyon, Loafer Point, Loafer Creek, Lime Saddle and Enterprise.  WATER SAFETY MONTH The State Water Project’s (SWP) reservoirs located throughout California will welcome the upcoming summer months with high water levels. Heavy storms this past winter will also bring fast flows and cold temperatures to rivers and streams as mountain snow melts. When recreating at SWP facilities, you should always keep water safety a top priority and stay alert for cold, fast, and fluctuating water conditions. As part of Water Safety Month, keep these water safety tips in mind to have a fun and safe summer:
 DWR AND CDFW RELEASE SALMON On Monday, May 15, approximately 125,000 Chinook salmon will be planted into Lake Oroville. These fish were raised at the Feather River Fish Hatchery and are part of an ongoing DWR and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) program to support recreational fishery at Lake Oroville. OROVILLE RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee (ORAC) met Friday, May 5 at the Southside Oroville Community Center. ORAC was established by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review and provide recommendations regarding the Department of Water Resources (DWR) recreation plan for the Oroville Facilities. The 13-member committee is made up of representatives from state and local government, recreation groups, and business and community organizations. To obtain a summary of the meeting, send a request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  OROVILLE RECREATION
The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Visitor Center offers numerous educational exhibits, a theater featuring videos about the building of Oroville Dam, and a 47-foot-tall observation tower providing unsurpassed panoramic views. DWR, State Parks, and CDFW maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. Paved trails at the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, Spillway Day Use Area, and at the North Forebay Day Use Area offer accessible trails with only slight elevation changes. Other trails, such as the Brad Freeman Trail near Oroville Dam, offer steep elevation changes to challenge hikers and mountain bikers. The Saddle Dam Trailhead has facilities for equestrians including a large parking area to accommodate horse trailers, water troughs, and hitching posts, and easy access to trails designated for hikers and horses. An interactive map of recreation facilities, including open boat ramps, and their permitted uses is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. A paper trail map is available at various locations, including most entrance kiosks and the Visitor Center. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services such as a shuttle and boat rentals. CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS Lake Oroville is at 889 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3.37 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 95 percent of its total capacity and 122 percent of the historical average. The Feather River releases are at 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). Flows through the City of Oroville are 650 cfs with 9,350 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 10,000 cfs downstream of the Outlet. Water releases are scheduled to increase to 15,000 cfs on Sunday, May 14. DWR continues to assess releases to the Feather River daily. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”. All data as of midnight 5/11/2023.  Lake Oroville Water Releases Continue The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to make releases from Lake Oroville using the main spillway at Oroville Dam. Ongoing releases ensure continued storage space in Lake Oroville for spring runoff from snowmelt and are closely coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and downstream water operators. Total releases to the Feather River amount to 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) with 2,200 cfs being routed down the low-flow channel which flows through the City of Oroville. An additional 7,800 cfs is being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet, located 5 miles downstream from Oroville. Water releases from Lake Oroville are schedule to be further reduced to 7,000 cfs on Friday, May 5. DWR continues to closely monitor lake levels and will adjust releases accordingly to optimize operations for water storage and environmental protection while allowing for carryover storage into next year. Since Dec. 1, Lake Oroville’s storage has increased more than 220 feet and gained over 2.2 million acre-feet of water. Lake Oroville is currently at 92 percent capacity and is expected to reach full capacity this spring. The Lake Oroville reservoir is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project (SWP) and supports environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million Californians and reduces flood risks to downstream communities.  FINAL SNOW SURVEY CONDUCTED DWR conducted the fifth snow survey of the season at Phillips Station this week. The manual survey recorded 59 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 30 inches, which is 241 percent of average for this location on May 1. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water still contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply run-off forecast. DWR’s electronic readings from 130 snow sensors placed throughout the state indicate the statewide snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 49.2 inches, or 254 percent of average for this date. Snow surveys like the one at Phillips Station are critical to planning for impacts of the coming snowmelt runoff on communities. DWR uses the most updated technology to gather data from snow surveys, a network of 130 remote snow sensors, and airborne snow observatory data to gather information on current real-world conditions to create the most accurate snowmelt runoff forecasts possible. These runoff forecasts allow reservoir operators to plan for anticipated inflows and water managers downstream of reservoirs to plan and prepare for flood risks. Read more about the latest snow survey in DWR’s press release.  BLUE GREEN ALGAE MONITORING DWR’s environmental scientists began monitoring for blue-green algae and their toxins last week within the Oroville-Thermalito Complex and the upper Feather River lakes. Monitoring occurs during the summer months with water samples taken at various locations regularly, which are sent to a lab for toxin analysis. There are currently no harmful algal bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, Upper Feather River lakes, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) is a natural component of ecosystems. Under certain conditions, including warmer temperatures and increased nutrient loads, algae can grow rapidly causing “blooms.” Algal blooms sometimes produce toxins that can be harmful to people and animals. Algal blooms can make the water appear green, blue, or brown in color. Seeing colors, mats, foam, scum, or paint-like streaks in the water may indicate a bloom is present. Keep animals and children away from the water when a suspected bloom is present and report blooms immediately to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. If elevated levels of cyanobacteria toxins are found while testing, DWR staff will work with California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board and recreation area managers to notify the public and post advisory signs at affected waterbodies. To learn more about HABs, or to report a HAB visit the Water Board’s website.  OROVILLE RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee (ORAC) will hold a public meeting on Friday, May 5 starting at 10 a.m. at the Southside Oroville Community Center located at 2959 Lower Wyandotte Road, Oroville, CA, 95966. ORAC was established by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review and provide recommendations regarding the Department of Water Resources (DWR) recreation plan for the Oroville Facilities. The 13-member committee is made up of representatives from state and local government, recreation groups, and business and community organizations. To obtain a summary of the meeting, send a request to oroville@water.ca.gov. FEATHER FIESTA DAYS For more than 70 years, Feather Fiesta Days has been Oroville’s premier hometown celebration with two weekends filled with activities. Festivities began last weekend with the main activities, including a parade and Gold Rush car show, scheduled for this Saturday, May 6. Stop by DWR’s booth in downtown Oroville on May 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to learn about recreation opportunities around Lake Oroville. Activities for kids include making a sailboat and water safety handouts. Learn more about Feather Fiesta Days activities on the Oroville Chamber of Commerce website.  OROVILLE RECREATION
The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Visitor Center offers numerous educational exhibits, a theater featuring videos about the building of Oroville Dam, and a 47-foot-tall observation tower providing unsurpassed panoramic views. DWR, State Parks, and CDFW maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. An interactive map of recreation facilities, including open boat ramps, and their permitted uses is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. A paper trail map is available at various locations, including most entrance kiosks and the Visitor Center. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services such as a shuttle and boat rentals. CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS Lake Oroville is at 882 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3.26 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 92 percent of its total capacity and 119 percent of the historical average. The Feather River releases are at 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). Flows through the City of Oroville are 2,200 cfs with 7,800 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 10,000 cfs downstream of the Outlet. Water releases from Lake Oroville are schedule to be further reduced to 7,000 cfs on Friday, May 5. DWR continues to assess releases to the Feather River daily. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”. All data as of midnight 5/3/2023.  Lake Oroville Water Releases Continue The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to make releases from Lake Oroville using the main spillway at Oroville Dam. Ongoing releases ensure continued storage space in Lake Oroville for spring runoff from snowmelt and are closely coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and downstream water operators. Total releases to the Feather River amount to 15,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) with 3,500 cfs being routed down the low-flow channel which flows through the City of Oroville. An additional 11,500 cfs is being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet, located 5 miles downstream from Oroville. DWR continues to closely monitor lake levels and will adjust releases accordingly. Visitors to Oroville Dam may also notice minor amounts of water flowing from drains built into the emergency spillway. As the reservoir level has increased, water flow from the drains has increased, which is normal and expected with the emergency spillway design. The dam and emergency spillway continue to operate as intended. Since Dec. 1, Lake Oroville’s storage has increased more than 210 feet and gained over 2 million acre-feet of water. The Lake Oroville reservoir is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project (SWP) and supports environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million Californians and reduces flood risks to downstream communities. DWR continues to monitor lake levels, weather forecasts, and mountain snow levels to optimize operations for water storage and environmental protection while allowing for carryover storage into next year.  HEALTHY KIDS DAY Join the Oroville YMCA on Saturday, April 29 for a celebration of art in the community and Healthy Kids Day activities. Local Oroville schools and community groups will be showcasing performances in dance, theater, and music with visual arts and hands-on workshops. DWR’s Lake Oroville Visitor Center Guides will be promoting Healthy Kids Day activities with an information booth from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on how much water it takes to grow a healthy salad. A fun, hands-on activity will feature a coloring sheet that kids can cut out and glue together to create a healthy take-home salad! As we approach the summer recreation season, DWR will also be providing information on water safety for pools, rivers, and lakes. Stop by the Oroville Convention Center located at 1200 Myers Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to partake in a day of family-friendly activities.  WATER ALLOCATIONS INCREASED DWR announced April 20 another increase in the forecasted State Water Project (SWP) deliveries this year. With reservoirs nearing capacity and snowmelt runoff starting to occur, DWR now expects to deliver 100 percent of requested water supplies, up from 75 percent announced in March. This water will be delivered throughout the year to the SWP’s 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland. The last time the SWP allocated 100 percent was in 2006. San Luis Reservoir in Merced County, which holds water supply for both the SWP and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Central Valley Project (CVP), is now full. Additionally, Lake Oroville, the SWP’s largest reservoir, and SWP reservoirs in Southern California are expected to be full by the end of May. Statewide, reservoir storage is at 105 percent of average for this date. “Water supply conditions and careful management of reservoir operations during this extreme winter allows DWR to maximize water deliveries while enhancing protections for the environment,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “DWR is moving and storing as much water as possible to the benefit of communities, agriculture, and the environment.” More information on SWP allocations may be found in the press release.  OROVILLE RECREATION
DWR, State Parks, and CDFW maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. Paved trails at the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, Spillway Day Use Area, and at the North Forebay Day Use Area offer accessible trails with only slight elevation changes. Other trails, such as the Brad Freeman Trail near Oroville Dam, offer steep elevation changes to challenge hikers and mountain bikers. The Saddle Dam Trailhead has facilities for equestrians, including a large parking area to accommodate horse trailers, water troughs, and hitching posts, and easy access to trails designated for hikers and horses. An interactive map of recreation facilities, including open boat ramps, and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi) is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. A paper trail map is available at various locations, including most entrance kiosks and the Visitor Center. Lake Oroville is one of the State Water Project’s premier recreational destinations and one of California’s best fishing spots. The lake provides both warm-water and cold-water fisheries. Below the Oroville Dam, the Thermalito Forebay, Thermalito Afterbay and the Feather River offer additional excellent fishing opportunities for Chinook salmon and steelhead. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services such as a shuttle and boat rentals. CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS Lake Oroville is at 874 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3.15 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 89 percent of its total capacity and 119 percent of the historical average. The Feather River releases are at 15,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). Flows through the City of Oroville are 3,500 cfs with 11,500 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 15,000 cfs downstream of the Outlet. DWR continues to assess releases to the Feather River daily. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”. All data as of midnight 4/20/2023.  Lake Oroville Water Releases Continue The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to make releases from Lake Oroville using the main spillway at Oroville Dam. On Tuesday, DWR increased releases from Lake Oroville to the Feather River to assist with spring fish planting operations. Releases to the river will be further increased to 15,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) on Saturday and are expected to remain at this level through the weekend to account for higher inflow levels to the reservoir. The increase in water flow is performed to boost survival rates of spring-run Chinook salmon as they migrate from the Feather River to the ocean. Since March 16, DWR and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) have been releasing juvenile spring-run and fall-run Chinook salmon into the Feather River, including 880,000 spring-run Chinook salmon smolts released this week and an additional 500,000 fall-run Chinook salmon pre-smolts. Feather River releases are closely coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and downstream water operators. DWR continues to monitor lake inflow levels from spring snowmelt and will adjust releases accordingly. Since Dec. 1, Lake Oroville’s storage has increased more than 200 feet and gained 2 million acre-feet of water. The Lake Oroville reservoir is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project (SWP) and supports environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million Californians and reduces flood risks to downstream communities. DWR continues to monitor lake levels, weather forecasts, and mountain snow levels to optimize operations for water storage and environmental protection while allowing for carryover storage into next year.  WATER SAFETY With this season’s statewide snowpack at 237% of average as of April 3, California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW), DWR and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) are urging the public to take extra precautions and to be aware of cold-water dangers this spring to avoid a tragedy. The series of winter storms is causing rising river and stream flow levels not seen in years. The eventual spring warm-up will bring fast flows and cold temperatures when all that snow starts to melt. All Californians are being encouraged to wait until summer to recreate in the water, when conditions are safer. “California has one of the largest snowpacks on record,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “As this snowpack melts in the coming months, the waterways will be especially cold, fast and running higher than normal. Be aware of fluctuating water levels. We want everyone to always make safety a top priority when recreating.” All three departments hope to educate not only regular water enthusiasts but occasional visitors to high, fast-running waterways who may venture near the edge to test the water or take selfies. Just one slip or unwatched child can become a devastating drowning statistic. Review key safety points to know before heading outside.  EARTH WEEK ACTIVITIES
Celebrate Earth Week at the Lake Oroville Visitor Center April 17-21. Join our guides for fun, family-friendly activities throughout the week. Each day is an opportunity to show your love for our planet and its precious water through free fun activities, engaging story times, movies, or crafts. Located at 917 Kelly Ridge Rd in Oroville, the Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
OROVILLE RECREATION Lake Oroville is one of the State Water Project’s premier recreational destinations and one of California’s best fishing spots. The lake provides both warm-water and cold-water fisheries. Below the Oroville Dam, the Thermalito Forebay, Thermalito Afterbay and the Feather River offer additional excellent fishing opportunities for Chinook salmon and steelhead. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services such as a shuttle and boat rentals. DWR, State Parks, and CDFW maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. Paved trails at the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, Spillway Day Use Area, and at the North Forebay Day Use Area offer accessible trails with only slight elevation changes. Other trails, such as the Brad Freeman Trail near Oroville Dam, offer steep elevation changes to challenge hikers and mountain bikers. The Saddle Dam Trailhead has facilities for equestrians, including a large parking area to accommodate horse trailers, water troughs, and hitching posts, and easy access to trails designated for hikers and horses. An interactive map of recreation facilities, including open boat ramps, and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi) is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. A paper trail map is available at various locations, including most entrance kiosks and the Visitor Center. CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS Lake Oroville is at 870 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3.08 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 87 percent of its total capacity and 118 percent of the historical average. The Feather River releases are at 10,500 cubic feet per second (cfs). Flows through the City of Oroville are 3,700 cfs with 7,800 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 10,500 cfs downstream of the Outlet. Releases to the Feather River will increase to 15,000 cfs on Saturday with flows of 3,500 cfs through the City of Oroville. DWR continues to assess releases to the Feather River daily. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”. All data as of midnight 4/13/2023.  Lake Oroville Water Releases Continue The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to make releases from Lake Oroville using the main spillway at Oroville Dam. Ongoing releases ensure continued storage space in Lake Oroville for spring runoff from rain and snowmelt and are closely coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and downstream water operators. Total releases to the Feather River amount to 7,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) with 1,000 cfs being routed down the low-flow channel which flows through the City of Oroville. An additional 6,500 cfs is being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet, located 5 miles downstream from Oroville. DWR continues to closely monitor lake levels and will adjust releases accordingly. Releases to the Feather River may be increased temporarily in the coming weeks to assist with fish planting operations. Since Dec. 1, Lake Oroville’s storage has increased approximately 200 feet and gained just under 2 million acre-feet of water. The Lake Oroville reservoir is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project (SWP) and supports environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million Californians and reduces flood risks to downstream communities. DWR continues to monitor lake levels, weather forecasts, and mountain snow levels to optimize operations for water storage and environmental protection while allowing for carryover storage into next year.  DWR CONDUCTS APRIL SNOW SURVEY DWR conducted the fourth snow survey of the season at Phillips Station on April 3. The manual survey recorded 126.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 54 inches, which is 221 percent of average for this location on April 3. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. DWR’s electronic readings from 130 snow sensors placed throughout the state indicate the statewide snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 61.1 inches, or 237 percent of average for this date. This year’s April 1 result from the statewide snow sensor network is higher than any other reading since the snow sensor network was established in the mid-1980s. Before the network was established, the 1983 April 1 statewide summary from manual snow course measurements was 227 percent of average. The 1952 April 1 statewide summary for snow course measurements was 237 percent of average. “This year’s result will go down as one of the largest snowpack years on record in California,” said Sean de Guzman, manager of DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit. “While 1952’s snow course measurements showed a similar result, there were fewer snow courses at that time, making it difficult to compare to today’s results. Because additional snow courses were added over the years, it is difficult to compare results accurately across the decades with precision, but this year’s snowpack is definitely one of the biggest the state has seen since the 1950s.” For more information about the April snow survey, read DWR’s press release.  EARTH WEEK ACTIVITIES Celebrate Earth Week at the Lake Oroville Visitor Center April 17-21. Join our guides for fun, family-friendly activities throughout the week. Each day is an opportunity to show your love for our planet and its precious water through free fun activities, engaging story times, movies, or crafts. Located at 917 Kelly Ridge Rd in Oroville, the Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 OROVILLE RECREATION
DWR, State Parks, and CDFW maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. Paved trails at the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, Spillway Day Use Area, and at the North Forebay Day Use Area offer accessible trails with only slight elevation changes. Other trails, such as the Brad Freeman Trail near Oroville Dam, offer steep elevation changes to challenge hikers and mountain bikers. The Saddle Dam Trailhead has facilities for equestrians, including a large parking area to accommodate horse trailers, water troughs, and hitching posts, and easy access to trails designated for hikers and horses. An interactive map of recreation facilities, including open boat ramps, and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi) is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. A paper trail map is available at various locations, including most entrance kiosks and the Visitor Center. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services such as a shuttle and boat rentals. CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS Lake Oroville is at 860 feet elevation and storage is approximately 2.94 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 83 percent of its total capacity and 115 percent of the historical average. Dry weather conditions will be returning to the area next week. The Feather River releases are at 7,500 cubic feet per second (cfs). Flows through the City of Oroville are 1,000 cfs with 6,500 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 7,500 cfs downstream of the Outlet. DWR continues to assess releases to the Feather River daily. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”. All data as of midnight 4/6/2023.  Lake Oroville Water Releases Continue The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to make releases from Lake Oroville using the main spillway at Oroville Dam. Ongoing releases ensure continued storage space in Lake Oroville for spring runoff from rain and snowmelt and are closely coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and downstream water operators for flood protection. Total releases to the Feather River amount to 12,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) with 2,200 cfs being routed down the low-flow channel which flows through the City of Oroville. An additional 10,300 cfs is being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet, located 5 miles downstream from Oroville. Releases to the Feather River will be further reduced to 10,000 cfs on Friday, March 31. DWR continues to closely monitor lake inflow levels and will adjust releases accordingly. Since Dec. 1, Lake Oroville’s storage has increased approximately 200 feet and gained just under 2 million acre-feet of water. The Lake Oroville reservoir is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project (SWP) and supports environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million Californians and reduces flood risks to downstream communities. DWR continues to monitor lake levels, weather forecasts, and mountain snow levels to optimize operations for flood control, water storage, and environmental protection while allowing for carryover storage into next year.  CALIFORNIA INCREASES WATER ALLOCATIONS DWR announced last week a significant boost in the forecasted SWP deliveries this year due to continued winter storms in March and a massive Sierra snowpack. DWR now expects to deliver 75 percent of requested water supplies, up from 35 percent announced in February. The increase translates to an additional 1.7 million acre-feet of water for the 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians. Consistent storms in late February and March have built up the Sierra snowpack to more than double the amount that California typically sees this time of year. Rainfall has also allowed for robust flows through the system, providing adequate water supply for the environment and endangered fish species while allowing the SWP to pump the maximum amount of water allowed under state and federal permits into reservoir storage south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. “California continues to experience weather whiplash, going from extreme drought to a series of atmospheric rivers since late December. It really demonstrates that in times of plenty, we need to move as much water into storage as is feasible,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “We’ve been able to manage the system to the benefit of communities, agriculture and the environment. It’s certainly been a welcome improvement following the three driest years on record for California.” Read more about the revised allocations in DWR’s press release.  OROVILLE WILDFLOWER & NATURE FESTIVAL The Feather River Recreation & Park District (FRRPD) is hosting its annual Wildflower & Nature Festival at Riverbend Park in Oroville on Saturday, April 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Festival admission is free with the event highlighting the area’s natural resources and handmade Butte County products. Activities and entertainment will be available for all ages including children’s crafts, river kayak tours, live music, food trucks, and a beer and wine garden. Make sure to stop by DWR’s booth for information about the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, Lake Oroville and Thermalito recreation opportunities, and a felt craft activity for kids – making a California poppy. More information about the Wildflower & Nature Festival is available on FRRPD’s website.  OROVILLE RECREATION
Thanks to significant rainfall this winter, a super bloom of wildflowers may be seen this spring at the North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve. Explore miles of trails across a plateau formed from ancient volcanic rock or hike to waterfalls that cascade off the mountainside to the valley below. More information about visiting the ecological reserve may be found on California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s (CDFW) website. The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Visitor Center will be closed Friday, March 31 in observance of Cesar Chavez Day. The Visitor Center offers numerous educational exhibits, a theater featuring videos about the building of Oroville Dam, walking and hiking trails, and a 47-foot-tall observation tower providing unsurpassed panoramic views. DWR, State Parks, and CDFW maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. Paved trails at the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, Spillway Day Use Area, and at the North Forebay Day Use Area offer accessible trails with only slight elevation changes. Other trails, such as the Brad Freeman Trail near Oroville Dam, offer steep elevation changes to challenge hikers and mountain bikers. The Saddle Dam Trailhead has facilities for equestrians, including a large parking area to accommodate horse trailers, water troughs, and hitching posts, and easy access to trails designated for hikers and horses. An interactive map of recreation facilities, including open boat ramps, and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi) is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services such as a shuttle and boat rentals. CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS Lake Oroville is at 857 feet elevation and storage is approximately 2.9 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 82 percent of its total capacity and 117 percent of the historical average. Intermittent rain showers are expected over the weekend and into next week. The Feather River releases are at 12,500 cubic feet per second (cfs). Flows through the City of Oroville are 2,200 cfs with 10,300 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 12,500 cfs downstream of the Outlet. Feather River releases will be further reduced to 10,000 cfs on Friday, March 31. DWR continues to assess releases to the Feather River daily. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”. All data as of midnight 3/29/2023.  DWR Releasing Water from Lake Oroville The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to make flood control releases from Lake Oroville using the main spillway at Oroville Dam. These flood control releases are a result of high water inflows to Lake Oroville from a series of recent storms, with the purpose of protecting downstream communities. As of today, total releases to the Feather River amount to 35,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) with 23,000 cfs being routed down the low-flow channel which flows through the City of Oroville. An additional 12,000 cfs is being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet, located 5 miles downstream from Oroville. These releases from Lake Oroville are being made in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and downstream water operators for flood control protection to downstream communities. DWR continues to closely monitor lake inflow levels and will adjust releases accordingly. Due to increased releases from Oroville Dam’s main spillway, DWR and local partners have closed Oro Dam Blvd. E. between Rusty Dusty Road and Canyon Drive in Butte County. Higher releases from the main spillway cause excessive water spray across the road and reduce driver visibility, requiring a closure for public safety. Motorists may still access Oroville Dam and the State Recreation Area via State Route 162 (Oro Quincy Highway) and Canyon Drive. This section of Oro Dam Blvd. E. will remain closed to traffic until releases from the main spillway are reduced to level that is safe for motorists. Since Dec. 1 Lake Oroville’s storage has increased approximately 200 feet and gained just under 2 million acre-feet of water. The Lake Oroville reservoir is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project and supports environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million Californians and reduces flood risks to downstream communities. DWR continues to monitor lake levels, weather forecasts, and mountain snow levels to optimize operations for flood control, water storage, and environmental protection while allowing for carryover storage into next year. Enterprise Boat Ramp Reopens The Enterprise boat ramp is now open for use thanks to continued rising lake levels. Open for water elevations above 842 feet, it has a two-lane paved ramp and boarding pad. Located on the south fork arm of Lake Oroville, Enterprise is also a popular place for swimming and fishing. Check the status of Lake Oroville boat and cartop ramps on the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s (State Parks) website.  OROVILLE WILDFLOWER & NATURE FESTIVAL The Feather River Recreation & Park District (FRRPD) is hosting its annual Wildflower & Nature Festival at Riverbend Park in Oroville on Saturday, April 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Festival admission is free with the event highlighting the area’s natural resources and handmade Butte County products. Activities and entertainment will be available for all ages including children’s crafts, river kayak tours, live music, food trucks, and a beer and wine garden. Make sure to stop by DWR’s booth for information about the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area and a felt craft activity for kids – making a California poppy. More information about the Wildflower & Nature Festival is available on FRRPD’s website.  SPEED BOAT TIME TRIALS Speed boat time trials are returning to the Thermalito Afterbay March 24 through March 26. The event requires the closure of the southern portion of the Afterbay (south of Highway 162), the Monument Hill boat ramp, and the Larkin Road cartop boat launch on March 25 and March 26. The Wilbur Road boat ramp and areas north of Hwy 162 will remain open for public use during the boating event. The event is hosted by the Northern California Outboard Association and East Bay Boat Club and will feature a mile-long course. Time trial events are expected Saturday and Sunday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. depending on weather and water conditions. More information about the event can be found on the American Power Boat Association webpage.  OROVILLE RECREATION
DWR, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and CDFW maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. Paved trails at the Lake Oroville Visitor Center and at the North Forebay Day Use Area offer accessible trails with only slight elevation changes. Other trails, such as the Brad Freeman Trail near Oroville Dam, offer steep elevation changes to challenge hikers and mountain bikers. The Saddle Dam Trailhead has facilities for equestrians, including a large parking area to accommodate horse trailers, water troughs, and hitching posts, and easy access to trails designated for hikers and horses. An interactive map of recreation facilities, including open boat ramps, and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi) is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services such as a shuttle and boat rentals. The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Visitor Center offers numerous educational exhibits, a theater featuring videos about the building of Oroville Dam, walking and hiking trails, and a 47-foot-tall observation tower providing unsurpassed panoramic views. CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS Lake Oroville is at 860 feet elevation and storage is approximately 2.95 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 83 percent of its total capacity and 125 percent of the historical average. Wet weather is once again anticipated Sunday through mid-week. The Feather River releases increased to 35,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) today. Flows through the City of Oroville are 23,000 cfs with 12,000 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 35,000 cfs downstream of the Outlet. DWR continues to assess releases to the Feather River daily. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”. All data as of midnight 3/16/2023.  Moderate Increase in State Water Project Allocations Announced The Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced a modest increase in forecasted State Water Project (SWP) deliveries this year due to early gains in the Sierra snowpack. DWR now expects to deliver 35 percent of requested water supplies, up from 30 percent forecasted in January, to the 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians. That would translate to an additional 210,000 acre-feet of water. “We’re hopeful that more storms this week are a sign that the wet weather will return, but there remains a chance that 2023 will be a below average water year in the northern Sierra,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “Careful planning and the use of advanced forecasting tools will enable the Department to balance the needs of our communities, agriculture, and the environment should dry conditions continue this spring and into next year.” The SWP will continue to optimize water storage in Lake Oroville to support environmental needs in the summer and allow for carryover storage for next year if the spring becomes extremely dry. Additionally, the forecasted allocation could be adjusted back down if extreme dry conditions warrant. More information about the SWP allocations may be found in the press release. Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission The California Natural Resources Agency hosted the Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission meeting today at the Southside Oroville Community Center. In addition to public comment, presentations on the January storm events, Lake Oroville reservoir debris maintenance, and spillway capacity were provided. The Citizens Advisory Commission is a forum for questions and feedback from the communities surrounding Oroville Dam. For information on the meeting, please visit https://bit.ly/OrovilleCAC. A transcript of the meeting will be available on the webpage in the coming weeks.  CHRISTMAS TREE FISH HABITAT DWR, the California Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) finished constructing fish habitat structures at Lake Oroville and the Thermalito Afterbay using almost 1,800 recycled Christmas trees. The trees were again collected by Chico Boy Scout Troop 2 and delivered free of charge to DWR by Recology, a local waste management company. To create the habitats on Lake Oroville and the Thermalito Afterbay, members of the CCC team bundle the recycled holiday trees together and anchor them in various locations around the lakebed. At Lake Oroville near the Loafer Creek Recreation Area, 1,250 trees were assembled into 63 structures. At the Thermalito Afterbay, 541 trees were assembled into 54 structures. Anchoring the trees allows them to remain submerged, providing juvenile fish safe refuge, and improving fisheries and recreational fishing opportunities. This is the 30th year DWR has worked with local groups to construct fish habitat structures, which is one of the longest continuously running warmwater fish habitat improvement programs in the State of California.  FUEL LOAD MANAGEMENT DWR continues vegetation management and debris cleanup activities around the Feather River Fish Hatchery to remove overgrown ladder fuels and create a more wildfire resilient landscape. In addition, CAL FIRE, Butte County Fire Department, and the California Conservation Corps (CCC) Butte Fire Center continue cutting and pile burning activities in the Loafer Creek area and along Oro Dam Boulevard East near the Hyatt Powerplant. Over the next couple weeks, the Butte County Sheriff crew will be cutting and piling material along Canyon Drive to reduce overgrown vegetation near the community of Kelly Ridge. CAL FIRE will burn the brush piles at a later date. DWR is implementing a Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP) at its Oroville Facilities to reduce wildfire risk and increase public safety around Lake Oroville and surrounding communities. Vegetation management activities will continue through the spring, weather permitting. Smoke from pile burning activities will continue to be visible in the Oroville area.  OROVILLE RECREATION DWR, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and CDFW maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. Paved trails at the Lake Oroville Visitor Center and at the North Forebay Day Use Area offer accessible trails with only slight elevation changes. Other trails, such as the Brad Freeman Trail between the Spillway Day Use Area and the Diversion Pool, offer trails with steep elevation changes to challenge hikers and mountain bikers. The Saddle Dam Trailhead has facilities for equestrians, including a large parking area to accommodate horse trailers, water troughs, and hitching posts, and easy access to trails designated for hikers and horses. An interactive map of recreation facilities, including open boat ramps, and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi) is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services such as a shuttle and boat rentals. The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Visitor Center offers numerous educational exhibits, a theater featuring videos about the building of Oroville Dam, walking and hiking trails, and a 47-foot-tall observation tower providing unsurpassed panoramic views.  CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS Oroville’s reservoir is about 828 feet elevation and storage is approximately 2.53 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 71 percent of its total capacity and 115 percent of the historical average. Widespread rain showers and below-average temperatures are ahead for the weekend and into next week. The Feather River releases are currently at 950 cubic feet per second (cfs). Flows through the City of Oroville are 650 cfs with 300 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 950 cfs downstream of the Outlet. DWR continues to assess releases to the Feather River daily. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”. All data as of midnight 2/23/2023.  California is in a third year of drought conditions. With water conservation now a way of life in California, everyone is encouraged to find ways to save water. See tips, tools, and ideas on the Save Our Water website. Information about real time local hydrological conditions, forecasts, and water conditions is available on DWR’s new website California Water Watch.
 Christmas Tree Fish Habitat The California Department of Water Resources (DWR), the California Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) have finished constructing fish habitat structures at Lake Oroville and the Thermalito Afterbay using almost 1,800 recycled Christmas trees. The trees were again collected by Chico Boy Scout Troop 2 and delivered free of charge to DWR by Recology, a local waste management company. To create the habitats on Lake Oroville and the Thermalito Afterbay, members of the CCC team bundle the recycled holiday trees together and anchor them in various locations around the lakebed. At Lake Oroville near the Loafer Creek Recreation Area, 1,250 trees were assembled into 63 structures. At the Thermalito Afterbay, 541 trees were assembled into 54 structures. Anchoring the trees allows them to remain submerged, providing juvenile fish safe refuge, and improving fisheries and recreational fishing opportunities. This is the 30th year DWR has worked with local groups to construct fish habitat structures, which is one of the longest continuously running warmwater fish habitat improvement programs in the State of California. Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission The California Natural Resources Agency is hosting its 13th Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission meeting on Feb. 24, 10 a.m. to noon. The public meeting will be held at the Southside Oroville Community Center located at 2959 Lower Wyandotte Road, Oroville, CA 95966, and will include presentations and public comment. The Commission will receive a briefing on the January storm events and a presentation on reservoir debris maintenance and spillway capacity. The Citizens Advisory Commission is a forum for questions and feedback from the communities surrounding Oroville Dam.  DRIFTWOOD AT LAKE OROVILLE DWR, the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), and marina partners at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area advise recreational boaters to navigate carefully in areas where driftwood is present. Driftwood and other floating debris at the state recreation area are expected due to high water inflows from tributaries and rising lake levels, in combination with past wildfires impacting the watershed. Since January, State officials and marina partners have been working daily on collecting, containing, and pulling pieces of wood out of the lake and away from boat ramps using boom lines. In past years, vandals have occasionally cut log booms, resulting in large amounts of debris released in the lake and around boat ramps. To alleviate the impact of driftwood on the state recreation area, DPR is asking the public to report any cutting or tampering of boom lines and any driftwood vessel accidents by calling the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area Dispatch Center at (916) 358-1300. Due to an excess of driftwood, members of the public are no longer limited to collecting 50 pounds of driftwood per day. Any remaining driftwood will be disposed of within the recreation area to help reduce impacts next year. For information on the state recreation area, please visit www.parks.ca.gov/LakeOroville.  RISING RESERVOIR LEVELS Thanks to the January storms, Lake Oroville reservoir levels have risen more than 160 feet since Dec. 1. The reservoir level, now at 823 feet, has reached the gates of the spillway. The public may see water on the main spillway outlet, which is expected as the gates are not designed to be watertight. DWR continues to manage Lake Oroville to collect as much runoff as possible while also providing flood control benefits for downstream communities, important examples of the multiple purposes of DWR’s Oroville Facilities. These actions are coordinated with a variety of other agencies and are subject to state and federal regulations.  FUEL LOAD MANAGEMENT DWR continues vegetation management and debris cleanup activities around the Feather River Fish Hatchery to remove overgrown ladder fuels and create a more wildfire resilient landscape. In addition, CAL FIRE, Butte County Fire Department, and the California Conservation Corps (CCC) Butte Fire Center continue cutting and pile burning activities in the Loafer Creek area and along Oro Dam Boulevard East near the Hyatt Powerplant. Over the next couple weeks, the Butte County Sheriff crew will be cutting and piling material along Canyon Drive to reduce overgrown vegetation near the community of Kelly Ridge. CAL FIRE will burn the brush piles at a later date. DWR is implementing a Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP) at its Oroville Facilities to reduce wildfire risk and increase public safety around Lake Oroville and surrounding communities. Vegetation management activities will continue through the spring, weather permitting. Smoke from pile burning activities will continue to be visible in the Oroville area.  OROVILLE RECREATION The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is now open Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Visitor Center offers numerous educational exhibits, a theater featuring videos about the building of Oroville Dam, walking and hiking trails, and a 47-foot-tall observation tower providing unsurpassed panoramic views. DWR, State Parks, and California Department of Fish & Wildlife maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. An interactive map of recreation facilities, including open boat ramps, and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi) is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services such as a shuttle and boat rentals. CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS Oroville’s reservoir is about 823 feet elevation and storage is approximately 2.46 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 70 percent of its total capacity and 115 percent of the historical average. Intermittent rain showers are expected to return to Northern California next week. The Feather River releases are currently at 950 cubic feet per second (cfs). Flows through the City of Oroville are 650 cfs with 300 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 950 cfs downstream of the Outlet. DWR continues to assess releases to the Feather River daily. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”. All data as of midnight 2/16/2023.  California is in a third year of drought conditions. With water conservation now a way of life in California, everyone is encouraged to find ways to save water. See tips, tools, and ideas on the Save Our Water website. Information about real time local hydrological conditions, forecasts, and water conditions is available on DWR’s new website California Water Watch.
Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission The California Natural Resources Agency is hosting its 13th Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission meeting on Feb. 24, 10 a.m. to noon. The public meeting will be held at the Southside Oroville Community Center located at 2959 Lower Wyandotte Road, Oroville, CA 95966, and will include presentations and public comment. The Commission will receive a briefing on the January storm events and a presentation on reservoir debris maintenance and spillway capacity. The Citizens Advisory Commission is a forum for questions and feedback from the communities surrounding Oroville Dam.  DRIFTWOOD AT LAKE OROVILLE The California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Department of Water Resources (DWR) and marina partners at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area advise recreational boaters to navigate carefully in areas where driftwood is present. Driftwood and other floating debris at the state recreation area are expected due to high water inflows from tributaries and rising lake levels, in combination with past wildfires impacting the watershed. This month State officials and marina partners have been working daily on collecting, containing, and pulling pieces of wood out of the lake and away from boat launch ramps using boom lines. In past years, vandals have occasionally cut log booms, resulting in large amounts of debris released in the lake and around boat launch ramps. To alleviate the impact of driftwood on the state recreation area, DPR is asking the public to report any cutting or tampering of boom lines and any driftwood vessel accidents by calling the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area Dispatch Center at (916) 358-1300. Due to an excess of driftwood, members of the public are no longer limited to collecting 50 pounds of driftwood per day. Any remaining driftwood will be disposed of within the recreation area to help reduce impacts next year. For information on the state recreation area, please visit www.parks.ca.gov/LakeOroville.  RISING RESERVOIR LEVELS Thanks to the January storms, Lake Oroville reservoir levels have risen more than 150 feet since Dec. 1. The reservoir level, now at 817 feet, has reached the gates of the spillway. The public may see water on the main spillway outlet, which is expected as the gates are not designed to be watertight. DWR continues to manage Lake Oroville to collect as much runoff as possible while also providing flood control benefits for downstream communities, important examples of the multiple purposes of DWR’s Oroville Facilities. These actions are coordinated with a variety of other agencies and are subject to state and federal regulations.  FUEL LOAD MANAGEMENT DWR continues vegetation management and debris cleanup activities around the Feather River Fish Hatchery to remove overgrown ladder fuels and create a more wildfire resilient landscape. In addition, CAL FIRE, Butte County Fire Department, and the California Conservation Corps (CCC) Butte Fire Center continue cutting and pile burning activities in the Loafer Creek area and along Oro Dam Boulevard East near the Hyatt Powerplant. Over the next couple weeks, the Butte County Sheriff crew will be cutting and piling material along Canyon Drive to reduce overgrown vegetation near the community of Kelly Ridge. CAL FIRE will burn the brush piles at a later date. DWR is implementing a Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP) at its Oroville Facilities to reduce wildfire risk and increase public safety around Lake Oroville and surrounding communities. Vegetation management activities will continue through the spring, weather permitting. Smoke from pile burning activities will continue to be visible in the Oroville area.  OROVILLE RECREATION The Lake Oroville Visitor Center has expanded hours and is now open to the public Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Visitor Center features interpretive displays on Oroville Dam, area geology, wildlife and habitat, hydroelectric power, and cultural and historical artifacts. View videos in the theater about the construction of Oroville Dam, walk or hike along nearby trails, and visit the 47-foot-tall observation tower that provides unsurpassed panoramic views of surrounding areas. Free guided tours for school and community groups are available by reservation. Lake Oroville is one of the State Water Project’s premier recreational destinations and one of California’s best fishing spots. The lake provides both warm-water and cold-water fisheries. Below the Oroville Dam, the Thermalito Forebay, Thermalito Afterbay and the Feather River offer additional excellent fishing opportunities for Chinook salmon and steelhead. Paved boat ramps are available at the Spillway, Loafer Point, Loafer Creek, Bidwell Canyon, Lime Saddle, the Thermalito Afterbay, and the Thermalito Forebay. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services such as a shuttle and boat rentals. DWR, State Parks, and California Department of Fish & Wildlife maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. An interactive map of recreation facilities and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi) is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS Oroville’s reservoir is about 817 feet elevation and storage is approximately 2.4 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 68 percent of its total capacity and 114 percent of the historical average. The weather forecast for the coming week remains mostly dry with showers possible next weekend. The Feather River releases are currently at 950 cubic feet per second (cfs). Flows through the City of Oroville are 650 cfs with 300 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 950 cfs downstream of the Outlet. DWR continues to assess releases to the Feather River daily. The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”. All data as of midnight 2/9/2023.  California is in a third year of drought conditions. With water conservation now a way of life in California, everyone is encouraged to find ways to save water. See tips, tools, and ideas on the Save Our Water website. Information about real time local hydrological conditions, forecasts, and water conditions is available on DWR’s new website California Water Watch.
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