Lake Oroville Boat Ramp
​The Bidwell Canyon Stage III Boat Ramp is now closed due to low lake levels. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has opened the gravel boat ramp at the Spillway. This ramp may be accessed from the Lakeside Access Road between Oroville Dam and the Spillway Day Use Area and Boat Launch. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are highly recommended – please use at your own risk.  
The auxiliary ramp is gravel on dirt which becomes slippery when wet, especially during times of heavy usage. To maintain the integrity of the steep ramp, drivers are encouraged to avoid tire spin by engaging vehicles in 4-wheel drive and accelerating slowly when exiting the ramp, with or without a loaded trailer.
The Spillway gravel boat ramp is open 24-hours a day. Both the Lime Saddle and Bidwell Canyon marinas remain open from 8 a.m. until sundown with shuttle service and boat rentals available.

FEATHER RIVER FISH HATCHERY
​Chinook salmon spawning operations have successfully concluded at the Feather River Fish Hatchery. The hatchery collected 9.5 million fall-run, 2.4 million spring-run, and 126,000 inland Lake Oroville Chinook salmon eyed eggs this year. The hatchery’s spawning process collects eggs from female fish and milt (sperm) from male fish to fertilize the eggs. After fertilization, the eggs are placed in incubators to develop and approximately 30-days post fertilization, the healthy eggs develop eyes (eyed egg).
After the young salmon further develop in the incubators and reach the “fry” stage, they are transferred to long ponds filled with Feather River water called “raceways” to grow until they are large enough to be returned to the river or planted in locations further downstream to avoid predators. Planting operations for Chinook will occur March through June.
The Feather River Fish Hatchery is a California State Water Project (SWP) facility owned and maintained by DWR, which funds hatchery operations. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) operates the hatchery, including fish spawning, rearing, and stocking activities.
DWR built the fish hatchery to mitigate the impact of the Oroville Dam on Chinook salmon and steelhead populations because the dam blocks access to natural spawning grounds further upstream.

CONTROL BURN AT LOAFER CREEK      
​CAL FIRE, Butte County Fire Department, Plumas National Forest, DWR and California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) are continuing control burn activities in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area near Lake Oroville. The goal of the control burn is to remove overgrown ladder fuels and dead and dying vegetation and minimize ground fuels to create a more wildfire resistant landscape.
Multiple burn areas were planned beginning Thursday, Nov. 17 and possibly continuing through the week of Nov. 21, depending on weather and incident activity in Butte County. Some intermittent trail closures in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area may occur. Trail users are advised to be “safety-aware” and obey posted trail closure signage. Smoke from the activity has been, and may continue to be, visible in the Oroville area.
DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP) works to reduce wildfire risk and increase public safety around Lake Oroville. Previous FLMP projects in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area have been identified as contributing to the slowing of the 2020 North Complex Fire as it approached Kelly Ridge, increasing firefighters’ ability to establish a secure fire line and preventing the fire from progressing. Ongoing management of this critical area remains a high priority for the FLMP.

OROVILLE RECREATION 
Boaters are reminded that power boats are allowed on the Thermalito South Forebay as well as the Thermalito Afterbay. A 5-mph speed limit for all boats is in effect on the Afterbay north of the Highway 162 bridge and near the brood ponds on the east side of the reservoir, with regular boating rules in effect south of the Highway 162 bridge. No motorized boating is allowed in the Thermalito North Forebay.
The Monument Hill facility at Thermalito Afterbay provides boat ramp access, restrooms, a picnic area, and beach. The Thermalito South Forebay facility has a two-lane boat ramp, parking, restroom, picnic tables, BBQs, shade trees, and a fish cleaning station.
The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Thanksgiving Day) and offers visitors 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 of Lake Oroville, the valley, the foothills and Sierra Nevada, and the Sutter Buttes, known as the smallest mountain range in the world.
DWR and State Parks maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. Trails and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi), day use areas, boat ramps, and other recreation facilities are featured on DWR’s interactive Lake Oroville Recreation webpage.
The Feather River Fish Hatchery is open daily 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the Fish Barrier Dam Overlook area and underwater viewing window open sunrise to sunset.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​Oroville’s reservoir is about 665 feet elevation and storage is about 1.07 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 28 percent of its total capacity and 57 percent of the historical average. Temperatures are forecasted in the upper-50s to low-to-mid-60s over the weekend and into next week with a slight chance of showers early in the week.
The Feather River releases are currently at 1,600 cubic feet per second (cfs) and meet the downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flows through the City of Oroville are 650 cfs with 950 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 1,600 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 11/17/2022

DWR wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
The Lake Oroville Community Update will return on December 2, 2022.​

Water Quality Monitoring Underway
​The Department of Water Resources (DWR) recently installed water quality monitoring devices called sondes in Lake Oroville and the Thermalito Diversion Pool. Sondes measure the water’s temperature, pH (acidic or basic level of hydrogen), dissolved oxygen (oxygen levels available to aquatic organisms), and turbidity (the clarity of water). Sonde data is collected around the clock every 15 minutes and is analyzed by the Water Quality Section of DWR’s Northern Region office. The monitoring devices are expected to remain in place until the runoff season ends, which is typically around May or June.
Routine water quality monitoring occurs on a monthly basis in Lake Oroville including three locations in the forks of the Feather River added to monitor runoff from burn scar areas in the Feather River watershed. In 2020, the multi-agency “Watershed Working Group”, led by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), implemented targeted monitoring of rivers, lakes, and other surface waters in the North Complex and Dixie fire burn areas and downstream. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and DWR collect and test water samples for analysis.

STATE WATER PROJECT CAPABILITY REPORT
The DWR released the State Water Project Delivery Capability Report 2021, which is generated every two years for the State Water Project’s (SWP) 29 water agencies for water supply planning.
With California entering a possible fourth dry year, the report will help water managers better understand how key factors like climate change and regulatory and operational considerations affect the operation of the SWP under historical and future scenarios. The report includes estimates on the SWP’s water delivery capability for current and future conditions based on three major factors:

• The effects of population growth on California’s balance of water supply and demand
• State legislation intended to help maintain a reliable water supply
• Impact of potential climate change-driven shifts in hydrologic conditions

As California experiences a rapidly changing climate, the next report in 2023 will expand on the potential impacts of a shift to a hotter, drier future. This new modeling will be critical to helping SWP water supplier prepare for ongoing impacts to our water supply from climate change. The report is available on DWR’s Library Modeling and Analysis webpage.

DWR OFFERS GRANT PROGRAMS
DWR is accepting applications for $510 million in financial assistance to support water supply reliability, yard transformation, and migratory birds as California continues to be impacted by climate change and several years of drought conditions. “California is moving aggressively to transform the way we use and manage water so we can thrive in a hotter, drier future,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “Thanks to the leadership of Governor Newsom and the State Legislature, we are deploying much-needed funding to support communities, farmers, and wildlife as we stretch existing supplies and build climate resilience.”
The different grant programs target communities that rely on groundwater, farmers willing to support water conservation in the Delta and aid migratory birds, and an Urban Community Drought Relief Grant Program to help large organizations, water agencies, and communities build resilience, replace thirsty lawns with California native landscaping, and promote water conservation. Information on who is eligible and how to apply before respective deadlines is available on DWR’s News Releases webpage.

​OROVILLE RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee met on Nov. 4 at the Southside Community Center in Oroville. ORAC was established by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review and provide recommendations regarding DWR’s recreation plan for the Project No. 2100 – Oroville Facilities. The 13-member committee is made up of representatives from state and local government, sports and recreation groups, and business and community organizations. To obtain a summary of the meeting, send a request to oroville@water.ca.gov​

OROVILLE RECREATION 
The Lake Oroville Visitors Center is open Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers visitors 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 of Lake Oroville, the valley, the foothills and Sierra Nevada, and the Sutter Buttes, known as the smallest mountain range in the world.
DWR and State Parks maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area, including those around the Lake Oroville Visitor Center. There are paved, accessible trails with only slight elevation changes by the Visitor Center and the North Forebay Day Use Area. Other trails, such as the Brad Freeman Trail between the Spillway Day Use Area and the Diversion Pool, 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 trough, and hitching posts, and easy access to trails designated for hikers and horses.
Trails and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi), day use areas, boat ramps, and other recreation facilities are featured on DWR’s interactive map on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage at https://water.ca.gov/What-We-Do/Recreation/Lake-Oroville-Recreation.
The Bidwell Canyon Stage III boat ramp remains open for boating and for fishing enthusiasts who are finding success at Lake Oroville. The Feather River Fish Hatchery continues to perform spawning, rearing, and stocking activities and is open daily 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Fish Barrier Dam Overlook area and underwater viewing window is open sunrise to sunset.

​CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
Oroville’s reservoir is about 671 feet elevation and storage is about 1.05 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 30 percent of its total capacity and 59 percent of the historical average. Temperatures are forecasted in the upper-50s to low-to-mid-60s over the weekend and into next week.
The Feather River releases are currently at 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and continue to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flows through the City of Oroville are 650 cfs with 1,350 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 2,000 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 at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 11/9/2022

State Water Project Capability Report
​The Department of Water Resources (DWR) released the State Water Project Delivery Capability Report 2021, which is generated every two years for the State Water Project’s (SWP) 29 water agencies for water supply planning.
With California entering a possible fourth dry year, the report will help water managers better understand how key factors like climate change and regulatory and operational considerations affect the operation of the SWP under historical and future scenarios. The report includes estimates on the SWP’s water delivery capability for current and future conditions based on three major factors:

• The effects of population growth on California’s balance of water supply and demand
• State legislation intended to help maintain a reliable water supply
• Impact of potential climate change-driven shifts in hydrologic conditions

As California experiences a rapidly changing climate, the next report in 2023 will expand on the potential impacts of a shift to a hotter, drier future. This new modeling will be critical to helping SWP water supplier prepare for ongoing impacts to our water supply from climate change. The report is available on the DWR website’s Library Modeling and Analysis webpage.

DWR Offers Grant Programs
DWR is accepting applications for $510 million in financial assistance to support water supply reliability, yard transformation, and migratory birds as California continues to be impacted by climate change and several years of drought conditions. “California is moving aggressively to transform the way we use and manage water so we can thrive in a hotter, drier future,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “Thanks to the leadership of Governor Newsom and the State Legislature, we are deploying much-needed funding to support communities, farmers, and wildlife as we stretch existing supplies and build climate resilience.”
The different grant programs target communities that rely on groundwater, farmers willing to support water conservation in the Delta and aid migratory birds, and an Urban Community Drought Relief Grant Program to help large organizations, water agencies, and communities build resilience, replace thirsty lawns with California native landscaping, and promote water conservation. Information on who is eligible and how to apply before respective deadlines is available on the DWR website’s News Releases webpage.

​Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee
The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee met today, Nov. 4 at the Southside Community Center in Oroville. ORAC was established by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review and provide recommendations regarding DWR’s recreation plan for the Project No. 2100 – Oroville Facilities. The 13-member committee is made up of representatives from state and local government, sports and recreation groups, and business and community organizations. To obtain a summary of the meeting, send a request to oroville@water.ca.gov​

CONTROL BURN AT LOAFER CREEK     
​CAL FIRE, Butte County Fire Department, Plumas National Forest, and partners Department of Water Resources (DWR) and California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) have completed control burn activities in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area near Lake Oroville. The control burn removed overgrown ladder fuels and dead and dying vegetation and minimized ground fuels to create a more wildfire resistant landscape. A total of 169 acres were treated.
Fuels reduction activities in the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area and in the Oroville-Thermalito Complex’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) boundary are ramping up for the season and will continue through Spring 2023 as weather conditions permit and crews from CAL FIRE, Butte County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Conservation Corps are available.
DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP) works to reduce wildfire risk and increase public safety around Lake Oroville. Previous FLMP projects in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area have been identified as contributing to the slowing of the 2020 North Complex Fire as it approached Kelly Ridge, increasing firefighters’ ability to establish a secure fire line, and preventing the fire from progressing. Ongoing management of this critical area remains a high priority for the FLMP.

OROVILLE RECREATION 
The Loafer Point Stage II boat ramp has closed due to falling lake levels. The Bidwell Canyon Stage III boat ramp remains open for boating and for fishing enthusiasts who are finding success at Lake Oroville.
The Feather River Fish Hatchery continues to perform spawning, rearing, and stocking activities and is open daily 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Fish Barrier Dam Overlook area and underwater viewing window is open sunrise to sunset.
The Lake Oroville Visitors Center is open Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers visitors 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 of Lake Oroville, the valley, the foothills and Sierra Nevada, and the Sutter Buttes, known as the smallest mountain range in the world.
DWR and State Parks maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area, including those around the Lake Oroville Visitor Center. There are paved, accessible trails with only slight elevation changes by the Visitor Center and the North Forebay Day Use Area. Other trails, such as the Brad Freeman Trail between the Spillway Day Use Area and the Diversion Pool, 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 trough, and hitching posts, and easy access to trails designated for hikers and horses.
Trails and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi), day use areas, boat ramps, and other recreation facilities are featured on DWR’s interactive map on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage at https://water.ca.gov/What-We-Do/Recreation/Lake-Oroville-Recreation.

​CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 676 feet elevation and storage is about 1.08 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 31 percent of its total capacity and 60 percent of historical average. Cooler temperatures in the low-50s to low-60s are forecast for the weekend with a winter storm arriving Sunday through Tuesday and occasional rain showers expected the rest of the week.
The Feather River releases are currently at 2,400 cubic feet per second (cfs) and continue to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flows through the City of Oroville are 650 cfs with 1,750 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 2,400 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 at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 11/3/2022

November 1, 2022

Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee
​The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee (ORAC) will meet on Friday, Nov. 4 at 9 a.m. at the Southside Oroville Community Center on 2959 Lower Wyandotte Road in Oroville. Presentations by the state Departments of Water Resources, Parks and Recreation, and Fish and Wildlife, as well as the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce will be provided.
ORAC was established by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review and provide recommendations regarding DWR’s recreation plan for the FERC Project No. 2100 Oroville Facilities. The 13-member committee is made up of representatives from state and local government, sports and recreation groups, and business and community organizations. The public is invited to attend.

October 28, 2022

Control Burn at Loafer Creek     
​CAL FIRE, Butte County Fire Department, Plumas National Forest, and partners Department of Water Resources (DWR) and California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) will be continuing their planned control burn on over 200 acres in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area near Lake Oroville. The goal of the control burn is to remove overgrown ladder fuels and dead and dying vegetation and minimize ground fuels to create a more wildfire resistant landscape.
Around 116 acres have been treated as of Thursday night and over 95 acres are being targeted in the southwest portion of Loafer Creek. Multiple burn areas are planned beginning Monday, Oct. 31 and through the week, causing some intermittent trail closures in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area. Trail users are advised to be “safety-aware” and obey posted trail closure signage.
Control burn activities will take place depending on weather and incident activity in Butte County. Smoke from the activity has been, and may continue to be, visible in the Oroville area.
DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP) works to reduce wildfire risk and increase public safety around Lake Oroville. Previous FLMP projects in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area have been identified as contributing to the slowing of the 2020 North Complex Fire as it approached Kelly Ridge, increasing firefighters’ ability to establish a secure fire line, and preventing the fire from progressing. Ongoing management of this critical area remains a high priority for the FLMP.

OROVILLE RADIAL GATES PROJECT  
​DWR and contractor staff successfully reinstalled the gate hoist assembly on Gate #8 at Oroville Dam’s Flood Control Outlet (FCO), or main spillway which will be available and fully operational throughout the flood season. The work was part of a multi-year project to perform maintenance repairs on the eight radial gate hoist assemblies of the FCO as part of the Oroville Radial Gates Maintenance Repair Project.
Unico will now begin work on the design and fabrication of a replica hoist that will be installed while subsequent hoists are removed for inspection and full maintenance repairs to address any deficiencies due to wear, age, and serviceability of the equipment. The design and fabrication phase of the project is anticipated to be completed by May 2023.
Occurring yearly beginning in 2023, maintenance repairs will be performed on one gate hoist assembly per year during the dry season (May 1 to Oct. 31) using the spare hoist assembly. The project is anticipated to be fully completed for all eight radial gates in 2030.

FLOOD PREPAREDNESS WEEK
More than seven million California residents are at risk of flooding, and many don’t realize it. Flooding happens throughout the state; every California county has received a flood-related emergency declaration in the past 20 years and flood events during and after drought conditions are not uncommon.
Make sure you are prepared for flood events through these three steps:

• Be aware of your risk: Know whether your home is in a flood zone; pay attention to weather forecasts; and listen to local authorities.
• Be prepared: Always have an emergency evacuation kit ready; be prepared to evacuate early; have a household inventory with copies of critical documents; and have a plan for where you will go in an emergency and what to do with your pets.
• Take action: Evacuate immediately when advised to. Also, homeowners’ insurance does not cover damage due to flooding; consider purchasing flood insurance.

Even in drought conditions, climate change is resulting in extreme variations of weather, including large storm events which increase risk of flooding, particularly in areas damaged by wildfire. Wildfires dramatically change the landscape and ground conditions in a watershed. Natural, unburned vegetation and soil normally act as a sponge during a rainfall event. However, the heat from a fire can bake the ground, creating a surface that will not absorb water and can increase the speed with which water flows off the slope, leading to damaging, and sometimes catastrophic, mud and debris flows. These conditions can be present for years after a wildfire. Visit DWR’s Flood Preparedness webpage for information about keeping you, your loved ones, and community safe.

OROVILLE DAM CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION
​The California Natural Resources Agency hosted the 12th Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission meeting Oct. 21 at Southside Community Center in Oroville. In addition to public comment, presentations on inundation maps and new atmospheric river research, and an update on Oroville Dam facility winter operations, the Commission also announced it is collecting comments on the draft 3-year report of the Commission’s activities. Visit the Commission’s report webpage at https://resources.ca.gov/Initiatives/Oroville-Dam-Citizens-Advisory-Commission/Oroville-Dam-Citizens-Advisory-Commission-Report for details.
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 this webpage in the coming weeks.

OROVILLE RECREATION 
The Loafer Point Stage II boat ramp is expected to close the week of Oct. 31 due to falling lake levels. The Bidwell Canyon Stage III boat ramp remains open for boating and for fishing enthusiasts who are finding success at Lake Oroville.
The Feather River Fish Hatchery continues to perform spawning, rearing, and stocking activities and is open daily 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Fish Barrier Dam Overlook area and underwater viewing window is open sunrise to sunset.
DWR and State Parks maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area, including around the Lake Oroville Visitor Center. Paved trails there 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 trough, and hitching posts, and easy access to trails designated for hikers and horses.
Trails and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi), day use areas, boat ramps, and other recreation facilities are featured on DWR’s interactive map on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage at https://water.ca.gov/What-We-Do/Recreation/Lake-Oroville-Recreation.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 682 feet elevation and storage is about 1.12 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 32 percent of its total capacity and 62 percent of historical average. Warmer temperatures are forecast for the weekend, cooling down next week with temperatures dropping into the low-to-upper-60s.
The Feather River releases are currently at 2,400 cubic feet per second (cfs) and continue to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flows through the City of Oroville are 650 cfs with 1,750 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 2,400 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 at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 10/27/2022

October 21, 2022

Flood Preparedness Week
More than seven million California residents are at risk of flooding, and many don’t realize it. Flooding happens throughout the state; every California county has received a flood-related emergency declaration in the past 20 years and flood events during and after drought conditions are not uncommon.
Make sure you are prepared for flood events through these three steps:

• Be aware of your risk: Know whether your home is in a flood zone; pay attention to weather forecasts; and listen to local authorities.
• Be prepared: Always have an emergency evacuation kit ready; be prepared to evacuate early; have a household inventory with copies of critical documents; and have a plan for where you will go in an emergency and what to do with your pets.
• Take action: Evacuate immediately when advised to. Also, homeowners’ insurance does not cover damage due to flooding; consider purchasing flood insurance.

Even in drought conditions, climate change is resulting in extreme variations of weather, including large storm events which increase risk of flooding, particularly in areas damaged by wildfire. Wildfires dramatically change the landscape and ground conditions in a watershed. Natural, unburned vegetation and soil normally act as a sponge during a rainfall event. However, the heat from a fire can bake the ground, creating a surface that will not absorb water and can increase the speed with which water flows off the slope, leading to damaging, and sometimes catastrophic, mud and debris flows. These conditions can be present for years after a wildfire. Visit DWR’s Flood Preparedness webpage for information about keeping you, your loved ones, and community safe.

Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission
The California Natural Resources Agency hosted its 12th Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission meeting on Oct. 21. The public meeting was held at the Southside Oroville Community Center in Oroville and included a brief update on the development of a report on the Commission’s activities, presentations on inundation maps and new atmospheric river research, and an update on Oroville Dam facility winter operations. Public comments were also provided. Comments are also being collected on the draft 3-year report of the Commission’s activities. Please visit the Commission’s report webpage for details.
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 this webpage in the coming weeks.

Volunteer Opportunities Available
​California Climate Action Corps - Community Climate Action Day is taking place on October 29, 2022, in Butte County. This event and celebration is hosted by California Volunteers, Office of the Governor, Community Organized Relief Effort, and Butte County community organizations. More than 100 volunteers will support projects throughout the county focused on urban greening, wildfire resiliency, and organic waste and edible food recovery.
California Climate Action Corps ”Community Climate Action Day” provides a great opportunity for persons to serve with other volunteers and get connected with organizations engaged in climate action work year-round.  Sign up for a volunteer opportunity today!

OROVILLE RADIAL GATES PROJECT
​DWR and contractor staff are continuing work on the multi-year project to perform maintenance repairs on the eight radial gate hoist assemblies of Oroville Dam’s Flood Control Outlet (FCO), or main spillway, as part of the Oroville Radial Gates Maintenance Repair Project.
In August, contractor Unico removed the gate hoist assembly located above FCO radial gate #8 for inspection, routine maintenance, and reverse engineering to develop design and fabrication drawings for a replica hoist. Work to reinstall the gate hoist assembly began on Oct. 17 so it will be available and fully operational throughout the flood season. This work is anticipated to be accomplished by Oct. 31. Crane operations from the Spillway bridge may be visible to the public.
After hoist #8 is re-installed by Unico, Unico will begin work on the design and fabrication of a replica hoist that will be installed while subsequent hoists are removed for inspection and full maintenance repairs to address any deficiencies due to wear, age, and serviceability of the equipment. The design and fabrication phase of the project is anticipated to be completed by May 2023.
Occurring yearly beginning in 2023, maintenance repairs will be performed on one gate hoist assembly per year during the dry season (May 1 to Oct. 31) using the spare hoist assembly. The project is anticipated to be fully completed for all eight radial gates in 2030.

CONTROL BURN AT LOAFER CREEK     
​CAL FIRE/Butte County Fire Department and partners DWR and California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) postponed the planned control burn on 163 acres in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area near Lake Oroville. The CAL FIRE Vegetation Management Project’s work to remove overgrown ladder fuels and dead and dying vegetation has been rescheduled for the week of Oct. 24 depending on weather and incident activity in Butte County. Smoke from the activity may be visible around the Oroville area.
DWR’s Fuel Load Management Program’s (FLMP) partnership with CAL FIRE and other organizations works to reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest and watershed health around Lake Oroville. Previous FLMP partnership projects in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area have been identified as contributing to the slowing of the 2020 North Complex Fire as it approached Kelly Ridge, increasing firefighters’ ability to establish a secure fire line and preventing the fire from spreading forward. Ongoing management of this critical area remains a high priority for the FLMP partnership.

OROVILLE RECREATION 
DWR and State Parks maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. Popular with mountain bikers, hikers and equestrians, trails near the Thermalito Diversion Pool can be accessed from Cherokee Road and offer ample opportunity for viewing the local wildlife. Trails along the south side of the Diversion Pool can be accessed from the new trail access parking lot west of the South Feather Powerhouse and accessible from Hyatt Powerplant Road.
Trails and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi), day use areas, boat ramps, and other recreation facilities are featured on DWR’s interactive map on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage.  
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) staff at the Feather River Fish Hatchery continue to perform spawning, rearing, and stocking activities for the Chinook salmon returning to the Feather River to finish their life cycle and start a new one. The hatchery is open daily 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. where visitors can watch spawning operations when CDFW staff are working. The Fish Barrier Dam Overlook area and underwater viewing window is open sunrise to sunset.
The Loafer Point Stage II and Bidwell Canyon Stage III ramps continue to be open. The Spillway boat ramp and the Lime Saddle boat ramp are closed for the season and will re-open when lake levels rise again from upcoming fall and winter precipitation. Shuttle service to moored boats is available at the Lime Saddle Marina from 8:30 am. to 4 p.m. The Bidwell Canyon Marina will also be open from 8:30 am. to 8 p.m. with shuttle service available during that time.
The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 686 feet elevation and storage is about 1.15 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 33 percent of its total capacity and 63 percent of historical average. A fall cool-down is forecasted for the weekend and into next week with temperatures dropping into the low-to-upper-70s.
The Feather River releases are currently at 2,400 cubic feet per second (cfs) and continue to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flows through the City of Oroville are 650 cfs with 1,750 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 2,400 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 at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 10/20/2022

Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission
​The California Natural Resources Agency is hosting its 12th Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission meeting on Oct. 21, 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 brief update on the development of a report on the Commission’s activities, presentations on inundation maps and new atmospheric river research, and an update on Oroville Dam facility winter operations. There also will be time for public input. 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.

OROVILLE RADIAL GATES PROJECT
​During the week of Oct. 17, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and contractor staff will continue work on the multi-year project to perform maintenance repairs on the eight radial gate hoist assemblies of Oroville Dam’s Flood Control Outlet (FCO), or main spillway, as part of the Oroville Radial Gates Maintenance Repair Project.
In August, contractor Unico removed the gate hoist assembly located above FCO radial gate #8 for inspection, routine maintenance, and reverse engineering to develop design and fabrication drawings for a replica hoist. Beginning Oct. 17, the gate hoist assembly will be reinstalled to be available and fully operational throughout the flood season. This work is anticipated to be accomplished over the next couple of weeks. Crane operations from the Spillway bridge may be visible to the public.
After hoist #8 is re-installed by Unico, Unico will begin work on the design and fabrication of a replica hoist that will be installed while subsequent hoists are removed for inspection and full maintenance repairs to address any deficiencies due to wear, age, and serviceability of the equipment. The design and fabrication phase of the project is anticipated to be completed by May 2023.
Occurring yearly beginning in 2023, maintenance repairs will be performed on one gate hoist assembly per year during the dry season (May 1 to Oct. 31) using the spare hoist assembly. The project is anticipated to be fully completed for all eight radial gates in 2030.

September 23, 2022
Taking Action to Protect Salmon
​The Department of Water Resources (DWR) leads or supports more than 120 ongoing projects to protect endangered or threatened species in California’s waterways, including salmon. DWR is partnering with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and many other federal, state, local, non-governmental, tribal, and academic partners to study, support, and protect salmon while continuing to meet the health and safety water needs of our communities.
Over the past several months, DWR has been sharing on its social media channels newly created videos and a storymap featuring some of these projects. The content highlights the ways DWR and its partners are restoring critical habitat, improving migration success, and increasing monitoring efforts to better track the status of salmon populations and devise new strategies to improve their status, especially as climate change impacts increase.
These videos and other educational videos about salmon can be found on DWR’s social media channels – Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram – as well as on the DWR YouTube channel (search for Salmon 2022). The storymap, first found in the news release “State Agencies Partner to Support Salmon Populations While Supplying Water To Millions of Californians” published this spring, has been updated with each new video. A selection of these videos, as well as a virtual tour of the Feather River Fish Hatchery, will be shown at Oroville’s historic State Theater during the Salmon Festival on Saturday, Sept. 24.

SALMON FESTIVAL
​The Oroville Salmon Festival is always held on the last Saturday in September to celebrate the annual return of Chinook salmon to the Feather River.
The 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. event on Sept. 24 is centered around the Feather River Fish Hatchery and Historic Downtown Oroville. From an ‘Arts & Crafts Alley’ and Oro Dam Cruisers ‘Gold Rush Car Show’ on Montgomery Street, to a kids activity zone, food vendors (including BBQ salmon), music, live glass blowing, and informational booths, visitors and families will find many activities to enjoy in Oroville’s historic downtown and along the Feather River levee.
North of downtown Oroville, across the Feather River, the Feather River Fish Hatchery will open at 9 a.m. and close at 3 p.m. for visitors wishing to learn more about the yearly return of Chinook salmon to the river. Educational tours will be offered throughout the day and visitors will find informational booths, food, a mobile fish exhibit, and a chance to cast a fly-fishing rod. On the northeast side of the hatchery site, the Fish Barrier Dam Overlook, fish ladder, and underwater viewing window are also open to the public.
Those wanting to see the salmon in their natural habitat can sign up for the Forebay Aquatic Center’s “Feather River Salmon Tours” kayak trips down the Feather River. DWR biologists will offer participants education about the salmonid life cycle and river habitat. For details, visit the Salmon Festival’s website.

HATCHERY FISH LADDER IS OPEN
​Chinook salmon are completing their life cycle and returning home to the Feather River to lay eggs for the next generation of salmon. The Feather River Fish Hatchery opened the fish ladder on Sept. 19.
Visitors to the Hatchery’s Fish Barrier Dam Overlook Viewing Area can view salmon congregating and jumping in the Feather River and see them up close through the Underwater Viewing Window as they swim up the fish ladder. The Overlook is located off Table Mountain Boulevard north of the Hatchery. Visitors are also encouraged to visit the Hatchery, open daily 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Feather River Fish Hatchery’s spawning operations enables millions of Chinook salmon to be released every spring. This year, the hatchery released 11.3 million young Chinook salmon smolts and 497,000 steelhead to the waters of the Feather River, San Pablo Bay, and San Francisco Bay to support Northern California and Pacific Ocean fisheries. The Feather River Fish Hatchery is a California State Water Project facility owned and maintained by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), which funds hatchery operations. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) operates the hatchery, including fish spawning, rearing, and stocking activities.

OROVILLE RECREATION 
​The Spillway boat ramp and the Lime Saddle boat ramp are closed due to lake elevations falling  below safe launching levels. The Loafer Point Stage II and Bidwell Canyon Stage III ramps continue to be open and are anticipated to remain open through the winter.
Boaters are reminded the Lime Saddle Marina will remain open and shuttle service to moored boats is available from 8:30 am. to 4 p.m. The Bidwell Canyon Marina will also be open from 8:30 am. to 8 p.m. with shuttle service available during that time.
A return to warmer temperatures and less smoke from area wildfires provides a welcome opportunity to take advantage of the spectacular views from the crest of Oroville Dam. Visitors can often see bicyclists, walkers, and joggers on the 1.01-mile length of the crest (2.02 miles round-trip) where a near constant breeze makes for a comfortable exercise experience and offers occasional spotting of Lake Oroville’s bald eagles riding the air currents by the dam.. 
The Lake Oroville area has over 92 miles of trails, all open to hiking, with some also allowing for horseback riding, some also allowing biking, and some designated for “multi-use” where all three activities may occur on the same trail. The trails provide users with spectacular views of Lake Oroville and the valley, home to the Sutter Buttes – named the smallest mountain range in the world.
Trails and their permitted uses, day use areas, boat ramps and other recreation facilities are featured on DWR’s interactive map on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. And step inside the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to learn about the State Water Project and history of the area.

POSITION OPENING
DWR’s Oroville Field Division is seeking applicants for the position of Public Information Officer II to perform the professional and technical tasks related to community outreach, media relations, and public affairs activities, focusing on DWR’s activities in the Oroville area and the long-term response to the Oroville Dam spillway incident.
Persons interested in joining one of the top communications teams in California state service can find information and instructions about how to apply on the DWR Careers website (click on the ‘View Jobs’ button and enter ‘Public Information Officer’ into the search tab. Or contact the Hiring Unit Contact at 916-820-7660 or debra.carlson@water.ca.gov. The final filing date is Oct. 4, 2022.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 700 feet elevation and storage is about 1.25 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 36 percent of its total capacity and 64 percent of historical average. Temperatures this weekend are forecasted to be in the low-90s with decreasing temperatures ranging in the low-to-mid-80s next week.
The Feather River releases are currently at 2,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) and continue to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flows through the City of Oroville are 650 cfs with 1,850 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 2,500 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 at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 9/22/2022​

September 16, 2022
Salmon Festival
The Oroville Salmon Festival returns to Oroville on Saturday, Sept. 24. Always held on the last Saturday in September, the festival celebrates the annual return of Chinook salmon to the Feather River.
The 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. event will be centered around the Feather River Fish Hatchery and Historic Downtown Oroville. From an ‘Arts & Crafts Alley’ and Oro Dam Cruisers ‘Gold Rush Car Show’ on Montgomery Street, to a kids activity zone, food vendors (including BBQ salmon), music, live glass blowing, and informational booths, visitors and families will find many activities to enjoy in Oroville’s historic downtown and along the Feather River levee.
North of downtown Oroville, across the Feather River, the Feather River Fish Hatchery will open at 9 a.m. and close at 3 p.m. for visitors wishing to learn more about the yearly return of Chinook salmon to the river. Educational tours will be offered throughout the day and visitors will find informational booths, food, a mobile fish exhibit, and a chance to cast a fly-fishing rod. On the northeast side of the hatchery site, the Fish Barrier Dam Overlook, fish ladder, and underwater viewing window are also open to the public.
Those wanting to see the salmon in their natural habitat can sign up for the Forebay Aquatic Center’s “Feather River Salmon Tours” kayak trips down the Feather River. DWR biologists will offer participants education about the salmonid life cycle and river habitat. For details, visit the Salmon Festival’s website.

HATCHERY FISH LADDER OPENS
Chinook salmon are completing their life cycle and returning home to the Feather River to lay eggs for the next generation of salmon. The Feather River Fish Hatchery will begin their spawning activities when the fish ladder opens Monday, Sept. 19.
Visitors to the Hatchery’s Fish Barrier Dam Overlook Viewing Area can view salmon congregating and jumping in the Feather River and see them up close through the Underwater Viewing Window as they swim up the fish ladder. The Overlook is located off Table Mountain Boulevard north of the Hatchery. Visitors are also encouraged to visit the Hatchery, open daily 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Feather River Fish Hatchery’s spawning operations enables millions of Chinook salmon to be released every spring. This year, the hatchery released 11.3 million young Chinook salmon smolts to the waters of the Feather River, San Pablo Bay, and San Francisco Bay to support Northern California and Pacific Ocean fisheries. The Feather River Fish Hatchery is a California State Water Project facility owned and maintained by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), which funds hatchery operations. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) operates the hatchery, including fish spawning, rearing, and stocking activities.

Oroville Recreation 
The Lime Saddle boat ramp is closed with lake elevations falling below safe launching levels and the Spillway boat ramp is anticipated to close the week of Sept. 19. The Bidwell Canyon Stage III and Loafer Point Stage II boat ramps are open and are anticipated to remain open through the winter.
Boaters are reminded the Lime Saddle Marina will remain open and shuttle service to moored boats is available from 8:30 am. to 4 p.m. The Bidwell Canyon Marina will also be open from 8:30 am. to 8 p.m. with shuttle service available during that time.
The Thermalito Forebay and Afterbay also provide boating, hiking, biking, fishing, and other recreation opportunities. Please pay extra attention when boating in the Afterbay, as hundreds of baby Western and Clark’s Grebes have hatched in the Afterbay over the last few weeks. These new hatchlings do not yet have good mobility and are very vulnerable to boats at full speed, so please use caution.
The Lake Oroville area has over 92 miles of trails, all open to hiking, with some also allowing for horseback riding, some also allowing biking, and some designated for “multi-use” where all three activities may occur on the same trail. The trails provide users with spectacular views of Lake Oroville and the valley, home to the Sutter Buttes – named the smallest mountain range in the world.
Trails and their permitted uses, day use areas, boat ramps and other recreation facilities are featured on DWR’s interactive map on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Step inside the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to learn about the State Water Project and history of the area.

Campgrounds Close in Plumas National Forest
As the summer recreation season draws to a close, the Plumas National Forest is beginning the slow process of winterizing and closing recreation sites. Area residents and visitors are encouraged to check that recreation sites are still open. Find more information on the Plumas National Forest webpage by scrolling down to the “Seasonal Recreation Changes” news release.

Current Lake Operations
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 701 feet elevation and storage is about 1.26 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 36 percent of its total capacity and 64 percent of historical average. Temperatures this weekend are forecasted in the low-80s-to-mid-70s with temperatures increasing towards the low-90s later in the week. About 1-1.5  inches of precipitation is forecasted in the Feather River watershed beginning Saturday through early next week.
The Feather River releases are currently at 2,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) and continue to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flows through the City of Oroville are 650 cfs with 1,850 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 2,500 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 at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 9/15/2022​

September 9, 2022
Hatchery Fish Ladder Opens
Chinook salmon are completing their life cycle and returning home to the Feather River to lay  eggs for the next generation of salmon. The Feather River Fish Hatchery will begin their spawning activities when the fish ladder opens Thursday, Sept. 15.
Visitors to the Hatchery’s Fish Barrier Dam Overlook Viewing Area can view salmon congregating and jumping in the Feather River and see them up close through the Underwater Viewing Window as they swim up the fish ladder. The Overlook is located off Table Mountain Boulevard north of the Hatchery. Visitors are also encouraged to visit the Hatchery, open daily 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For the 28th Annual Salmon Festival on Sept. 24, hatchery hours are changed to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Festival activities in downtown Oroville will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include a pancake breakfast, car show, arts & crafts, kids zone, food trucks, BBQ salmon, and more. Information about the festival is available on the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce website.
The Feather River Fish Hatchery’s spawning operations enables millions of Chinook salmon to be released every spring. This year, the hatchery released 11.3 million young Chinook salmon smolts to the waters of the Feather River, San Pablo Bay, and San Francisco Bay to support Northern California and Pacific Ocean fisheries. The Feather River Fish Hatchery is a California State Water Project facility owned and maintained by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), which funds hatchery operations. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) operates the hatchery, including fish spawning, rearing, and stocking activities.

BOAT RAMP STATUS
​The Lime Saddle boat ramp is closed with lake elevations falling below safe launching levels and the Spillway boat ramp is anticipated to close the week of Sept. 12. The Bidwell Canyon and Loafer Point boat ramps are open and will remain open through the rest of the year. Boaters are reminded the Lime Saddle Marina will remain open and shuttle service to moored boats is available from 8:30 am. to 4 p.m. The Bidwell Canyon Marina will also be open from 8:30 am. to 8 p.m. with shuttle service available during that time.
The Monument Hill, Wilbur Road, and Larkin Road boat ramps on the Thermalito Afterbay are open and power and sail boating is permitted from 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Please pay extra attention when boating in the Afterbay, as hundreds of baby Western and Clark’s Grebes have hatched in the Afterbay over the last two weeks as noted below. These new hatchlings do not yet have good mobility and are very vulnerable to boats at full speed, so please use caution. The Thermalito South Forebay is open to power and sail boating from 8 a.m. to sunset. The North Forebay off Highway 70 is open to non-motorized boating and is open 8 a.m. to sunset.
Boaters are reminded that abiding by all boating safety requirements, including wearing life jackets and following speed restrictions, will ensure an enjoyable and safe recreation experience for all.

OROVILLE RECREATION 
The Lake Oroville area has over 92 miles of trails, all open to hiking, with some also allowing for horseback riding, some also allowing biking, and some designated for “multi-use” where all three activities may occur on the same trail. The trails provide users with spectacular views of Lake Oroville and the valley, home to the Sutter Buttes – named the smallest mountain range in the world.
Trails and their permitted uses, day use areas, boat ramps and other recreation facilities are featured on DWR’s interactive map on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Step inside the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to learn about the State Water Project and history of the area.
The Thermalito Forebay and Afterbay also provide a wide range of recreation opportunities including fishing, hiking, biking' and boating. Non-motorized boating is permitted in the North Forebay, and motorized boating is permitted in the South Forebay and Afterbay. The North Forebay Aquatic Center has kayaks, paddle boards, and other watercraft available for rent. Non-motorized boating is also permitted in the Thermalito Diversion Pool with car-top boat launching access just before the restroom on Cherokee Road. Lake Oroville and the Oroville Wildlife Area also have car-top boat launch areas.
CAMPGROUNDS CLOSE IN PLUMAS NATIONAL FORESTAs the summer recreation season draws to a close, the Plumas National Forest is beginning the slow process of winterizing and closing recreation sites. Area residents and visitors are encouraged to check that recreation sites are still open. Find more information on the Plumas National Forest webpage by scrolling down to the “Seasonal Recreation Changes” news release.

BLUE GREEN ALGAE MONITORING
While monitoring by DWR environmental scientists for blue-green algae and their toxins at Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay only goes through Labor Day, DWR staff will respond to test any observed algal blooms. There are currently no harmful algal bloom (HAB) advisories for any of those waterbodies.
If elevated levels of cyanobacteria toxins are found, DWR staff 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.
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.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 704 feet elevation and storage is about 1.28 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 36 percent of its total capacity and 64 percent of historical average. Expect a reprieve from the extreme warm temperatures this weekend through next week, with temperatures in the low-90s over the weekend and further dropping to the high-to-mid-80s next week.
The Feather River releases are currently at 3,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) and continue to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flows through the City of Oroville are 800 cfs with 2,700 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 3,500 cfs downstream of the Outlet. On Sunday, Sept. 11, flow from the Outlet will be reduced from 2,700 cfs to 2,200 cfs for a total downstream flow of 3,000 cfs. 
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 9/8/2022​

August 26, 2022

Grebes Nests Receive Help from DWR
Western and Clark’s grebes, with their distinctive red eyes, graceful necks, and long yellow bills, have returned to the Thermalito Afterbay for their nesting season. The shallow nature of the Afterbay is perfect for these two species of grebes who, along with only a few other aquatic bird species, build their nests on the water’s surface. Reservoirs like Thermalito Afterbay support more than 90 percent of the state’s breeding-grebe population, according to the Audubon Society.
DWR voluntarily restricts fluctuating the elevation of the Thermalito Afterbay for several weeks during the grebes nesting season because significant decreases in reservoir elevation could strand the nests out of the water or submerge them if elevations increase. Find more information about the grebes on the DWR Updates webpage. Photos can be found on DWR’s Pixel webpage – enter Grebes in the search bar after creating a free username and password to log in.

Fish Advisory for Antelope Lake
​The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) released an advisory for safe eating advice for black bass species, bullhead species, Golden Shiner, and sunfish species caught at Antelope Lake in Plumas County due to levels of mercury found in fish caught from the lake. The fish species tested at Antelope Lake had lower contaminant levels than is typical at many other California water bodies. All species tested at Antelope Lake can be eaten at least two times a week.
Mercury is released into the environment from mining and burning coal. It accumulates in fish in the form of methylmercury, which can damage the brain and nervous system, especially in developing children and fetuses. Because of this, OEHHA provides recommendations for safe eating that vary by age and gender. More information can be found in the OEHHA news release.

OROVILLE RECREATION AND BOAT RAMP UPDATE
​The boat ramp at Lime Saddle recreation area will be closing Monday, Aug. 29 as lake elevations fall below safe launching levels. The Lime Saddle Marina will remain open.
The Bidwell Canyon, Spillway, and Loafer Point boat ramps remain open, along with the Lime Saddle and Bidwell Canyon marinas. Reservations for campgrounds in the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) can be made by visiting the California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) LOSRA website.
The Lake Oroville area has over 92 miles of trails, open to hiking, with some also allowing for horseback riding, some also allowing biking, and some designated for “multi-use” where all three activities may occur on the same trail. The trails provide users with spectacular views of Lake Oroville and the valley, home to the Sutter Buttes – named the smallest mountain range in the world.
Trails and their permitted uses, day use areas, boat ramps and other recreation facilities are featured on DWR’s interactive map on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Step inside the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to learn about the State Water Project and history of the area.
The Thermalito Forebay and Afterbay also provide a wide range of recreation opportunities including fishing, hiking, biking and boating. Non-motorized boating is permitted in the North Forebay, and motorized boating is permitted in the South Forebay and Afterbay. The North Forebay Aquatic Center has kayaks, paddle boards, and other watercraft available for rent. Non-motorized boating is also permitted in the Thermalito Diversion Pool with car-top boat launching access just before the restroom on Cherokee Road. Lake Oroville and the Oroville Wildlife Area also have car-top boat launch areas.

TRACKING DOVE POPULATIONS
​Staff from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), along with assistance from DWR staff, have been in the Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA) since July 11 to collect information on the local mourning dove population. Working in the safflower and sunflower fields in the OWA, planted by CDFW staff to provide a readily available food source for doves and many other bird species, staff successfully captured and placed identifying bands on 33 doves.
Mourning doves are an important migratory game bird and California is one of 39 states participating in a national effort to monitor the mourning dove population in order to better estimate annual survival and guide harvest-management decisions. CDFW and DWR staff record the sex and approximate age of each banded bird and place a metal band with a unique identification number and a toll-free phone number to report the band around the dove’s leg.
The hunter is the critical link in the dove banding study. Their reporting of the dove’s leg band enables wildlife managers to understand the effects of annual hunting regulations on mourning dove populations and allows for greater understanding of their migratory patterns. The Oroville Wildlife Area is a popular hunting location and CDFW expects 80 to 100 opening day hunters when Dove season opens on Sept. 1.
For more information on CDFW activities in the OWA to increase forage for local and migratory birds, visit the DWR Updates webpage and search 'sunflower' to access the digital article and previous stories in the Lake Oroville Community Update newsletter.

CHINOOK SALMON RETURN TO THE FEATHER RIVER
​Chinook salmon are completing their life cycle and returning home to the Feather River to lay eggs for the next generation of salmon. The Feather River Fish Hatchery plans to open the fish ladder the week of Sept. 12 to begin hatchery spawning operations which enables millions of Chinook salmon to be released to the river every spring.
Visitors to the Hatchery’s Fish Barrier Dam Overlook Viewing Area can watch salmon jumping and after the fish ladder opens in mid-September, visitors can watch salmon swim up the ladder at the Underwater Viewing window. The Overlook is located off Table Mountain Boulevard north of the Hatchery. Visitors are also encouraged to visit the hatchery (open daily 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and attend the 28th Annual Salmon Festival in Oroville on Sept. 24.

BLUE GREEN ALGAE MONITORING
DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for blue-green algae and their toxins, taking water samples from various locations regularly from Memorial Day through Labor Day. There are currently no harmful algal bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay.
If elevated levels of cyanobacteria toxins are found, DWR staff 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.
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.
Visit this comparison chart on the HABs website for additional information.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 709 feet elevation and storage is about 1.32 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 38 percent of its total capacity and 63 percent of historical average. Temperatures are forecasted to be in the low 90s through the weekend and increasing to the upper 90s and low 100s next week.
The Feather River releases are currently at 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flows through the City of Oroville are 1,000 cfs with 2,000 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 3,000 cfs downstream of the Outlet. Flows through the low flow channel may be reduced next week for fisheries purposes. 
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 8/25/2022​

August 19, 2022
Tracking Dove Populations
Staff from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), along with assistance from California Department of Water Resources (DWR) staff, have been in the Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA) since July 11 to collect information on the local mourning dove population. Working in the safflower and sunflower fields in the OWA, that were planted by CDFW staff to provide a readily available food source for doves and many other bird species, staff successfully captured and placed identifying bands on 33 doves.
Mourning doves are an important migratory game bird and California is one of 39 states participating in a national effort to monitor the mourning dove population in order to better estimate annual survival and guide harvest-management decisions. CDFW and DWR staff record the sex and approximate age of each banded bird and place a metal band with a unique identification number and a toll-free phone number to report the band around the dove’s leg.
The hunter is the critical link in the dove banding study. Their reporting of the dove’s leg band enables wildlife managers to understand the effects of annual hunting regulations on mourning dove populations and allows for greater understanding of their migratory patterns. The Oroville Wildlife Area is a popular hunting location and CDFW expects 80 to 100 opening day hunters when Dove season opens on Sept. 1.
For more information on CDFW activities in the OWA to increase forage for local and migratory birds, visit the DWR Updates webpage and search “sunflower” to access the digital article and previous stories in the Lake Oroville Community Update newsletter.

CHINOOK SALMON RETURN TO THE FEATHER RIVER
Chinook salmon are completing their life cycle and returning home to the Feather River to lay eggs for the next generation of salmon. The Feather River Fish Hatchery plans to open up the fish ladder the week of Sept. 12 to begin hatchery spawning operations which enables millions of Chinook salmon to be released to the river every spring.
Visitors to the Hatchery’s Fish Barrier Dam Overlook Viewing Area can watch salmon jumping and after the fish ladder opens in mid-September, visitors can watch salmon swim up the ladder at the Underwater Viewing window. The Overlook is located off Table Mountain Boulevard north of the Hatchery. Visitors are also encouraged to visit the Hatchery (open daily 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and attend the 28th Annual Salmon Festival in Oroville on Sept. 24.

WATER SUPPLY STRATEGY
Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom announced California’s latest actions to increase water supply and adapt to more extreme weather patterns caused by climate change. The actions, outlined in a strategy document called “California’s Water Supply Strategy, Adapting to a Hotter, Drier Future” (Strategy), follows $8 billion in state investments over the last two years to help store, recycle, de-salt, and conserve the water needed to keep up with the increasing pace of climate change.
The strategy calls for investing in new sources of water supply, accelerating projects, and modernizing how the state manages water through the use of new technologies. Strategies to rebuild the way we source, store, and deliver water include creating storage space above and below ground to capitalize on big storms when they do occur, better recycling and safer reuse of wastewater currently discharged into the ocean, becoming more efficient water users through conservation, desalination efforts – especially of brackish groundwater which requires significantly less energy to treat than seawater, and groundwater recharge.
An additional $2.8 billion in the 2022-23 budget for drought relief to hard hit communities, water conservation, environmental protection for fish and wildlife, and long-term projects to permanently strengthen drought resilience will help combat the accelerating impacts of the warming climate on our water supply. Governor Newsom anticipates working with the Legislature to achieve statewide goals by creating local solutions through collaboration within and across watersheds. The news release and link to the Strategy report is available on the Office of the Governor’s newsroom webpage.

BLUE GREEN ALGAE MONITORING
​DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for blue-green algae and their toxins, taking water samples from various locations regularly from Memorial Day through Labor Day. There are currently no harmful algal bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay.
If elevated levels of cyanobacteria toxins are found, DWR staff 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.
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.
Visit this comparison chart on the HABs website for additional information.

OROVILLE RECREATION
The Lake Oroville area has over 92 miles of trails, open to hiking, with some also allowing for  horseback riding, some also allowing biking, and some designated for “multi-use” where all three activities may occur on the same trail. The trails provide users with spectacular views of Lake Oroville and the valley, home to the Sutter Buttes – named the smallest mountain range in the world.
Trails and their permitted uses, day use areas, boat ramps and other recreation facilities are featured on DWR’s interactive map on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Step inside the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to learn about the State Water Project and history of the area.
At Lake Oroville, the Lime Saddle, Bidwell Canyon, Spillway, and Loafer Point boat ramps are open, along with the Lime Saddle and Bidwell Canyon marinas. Reservations for campgrounds in the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) can be made by visiting the California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) LOSRA website.
The Thermalito Forebay and Afterbay also provide a wide range of recreation opportunities including fishing, hiking, biking and boating. Non-motorized boating is permitted in the North Forebay, and motorized boating is permitted in the South Forebay and Afterbay. The North Forebay Aquatic Center has kayaks, paddle boards, and other watercraft available for rent. Non-motorized boating is also permitted in the Thermalito Diversion Pool with kayak access just before the restroom on Cherokee Road. Lake Oroville and the Oroville Wildlife Area also have car-top boat launch areas.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 713 feet elevation and storage is about 1.35 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 38 percent of its total capacity and 62 percent of historical average. Temperatures are forecasted to continue in the low-100s through the weekend and slightly dropping to the high-90s next week.
The Feather River releases are currently at 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flows through the City of Oroville are 1,000 cfs with 2,000 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 3,000 cfs downstream of the Outlet. Flows through the low flow channel may fluctuate through the week for fisheries purposes. 
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 8/18/2022​

July 29, 2022

Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Meeting
​The California Natural Resources Agency held its 11th Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission meeting on July 29, 2022. The public meeting at Oroville’s Southside Community Center included a brief update on the development of the Commission report, a recap of a flood safety stakeholder technical workshop held in April, and a presentation from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) on dam facilities management and annual maintenance planning.
Members of the public offered comments and asked questions. The Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission is a forum for questions and feedback from the communities surrounding Oroville Dam. The meeting transcript and presentations will be available on the Commission’s website in the coming weeks at https://bit.ly/OrovilleCAC.

WATER SAFETY
​The hot weather is pushing more people to visit and explore our local waterways, lakes, and reservoirs, including the Feather River and Lake Oroville. Boaters are reminded to place safety as their top priority by making sure they and their passengers are wearing life jackets.
U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that 80 percent of all drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket. Abiding by posted speed limits and signage, particularly regarding locations where swimming is prohibited such as in marinas or near boat docks or launch ramps, as well as paying attention to warning buoys, especially in reservoirs or other waterbodies with fluctuating water elevations, can greatly increase the safety of those with and around you.
Lake Oroville has a lake-wide 5-mph speed limit at nighttime and personal watercraft or jet skis are prohibited from nighttime operation, even if they have navigation lights. Hours of operation at Thermalito Afterbay are 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Boaters there are reminded of that waterbody’s 5-mph limit north of the Highway 162 bridge and within 200 yards of shore for all waterbodies in California.
Water enthusiasts are also reminded that, even on a hot day, the water temperature can be cold and trigger cold water immersion shock. Cold water reduces body heat 25 to 30 times faster than air does at the same temperature and can quickly turn a good time into a life-threatening situation. Knowing the symptoms of hypothermia (when your body loses heat faster than it be produced) such as uncontrollable shivering, blue lips, clumsiness or lack of coordination, or bright red, cold skin, particularly among children who may be unaware of, or desire to ignore, their symptoms, can prevent a tragedy from occurring. If you suspect you or someone else is having these symptoms, act quickly to get out of the water, seek help, and begin gradual warming of the body.
Taking sensible and even extra precautions when recreating around or in the water will help keep you and your family safe this summer. For more information on boating requirements and safety, visit the California Division of Boating and Waterways and cold-water safety tips at the National Weather Service’s Safety webpage.

OROVILLE RECREATION
​The Lake Oroville area has over 92 miles of trails, many open to horseback riding, with spectacular views of Lake Oroville and the valley, home to the Sutter Buttes – named the smallest mountain range in the world. Trails, permitted uses, day use areas, boat ramps and other recreation facilities are featured on DWR’s interactive map on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. And step inside the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to learn about the State Water Project and history of the area.
At Lake Oroville, the Lime Saddle, Bidwell Canyon, Spillway, and Loafer Point boat ramps are open, along with the Lime Saddle and Bidwell Canyon marinas, and reservations for campgrounds in the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) can be made by visiting the California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) LOSRA website.
The Thermalito Forebay and Afterbay also provide a wide range of recreation opportunities including fishing, hiking, biking and boating. Non-motorized boating is permitted in the North Forebay, and motorized boating is only permitted in the South Forebay and Afterbay. The North Forebay Aquatic Center has kayaks, paddle boards, and other watercraft available for rent. Non-motorized boating is also permitted in the Thermalito Diversion Pool with kayak access just before the restroom on Cherokee Road. Lake Oroville and the Oroville Wildlife Area also have car-top boat launch areas.

BLUE GREEN ALGAE MONITORING
DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor for blue-green algae and their toxins during the summer months. There are currently no harmful algal bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay.
Water samples are taken at various locations regularly from Memorial Day through Labor Day. To learn more about HABs, or to report a HAB visit the Water Board’s website.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 727 feet elevation and storage is about 1.47 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 42 percent of its total capacity and 62 percent of historical average. Temperatures are forecasted to continue in the low 100s through the weekend and into next week.
The Feather River releases are currently at 3,750 cubic feet per second (cfs) to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flows through the City of Oroville are 1,300 cfs with 2,450 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 3,750 cfs downstream of the Outlet. Flows through the low flow channel may fluctuate through the week for fisheries purposes. 
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 7/28/2022 

July 22, 2022

Water Safety
The hot weather is pushing more people to visit and explore our local waterways, lakes, and reservoirs, including the Feather River and Lake Oroville. Boaters are reminded to place safety as their top priority by making sure they and their passengers are wearing life jackets. U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that 80 percent of all drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket. Abiding by posted speed limits and signage, particularly regarding locations where swimming is prohibited such as in marinas or near boat docks or launch ramps, as well as paying attention to warning buoys, especially in reservoirs or other waterbodies with fluctuating water elevations, can greatly increase the safety of those with and around you.
Lake Oroville has a lake-wide 5-mph speed limit at nighttime and personal watercraft or jet skis are prohibited from nighttime operation, even if they have navigation lights. Hours of operation at Thermalito Afterbay are 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Boaters there are reminded of that waterbody’s 5-mph limit north of the Highway 162 bridge and, for all waterbodies, within 200 yards of shore.
Water enthusiasts are also reminded that, even on a hot day, the water temperature can be cold and trigger cold water immersion shock. Cold water reduces body heat 25 to 30 times faster than air does at the same temperature and can quickly turn a good time into a life-threatening situation. Knowing the symptoms of hypothermia (when your body loses heat faster than it be produced) such as uncontrollable shivering, blue lips, clumsiness or lack of coordination, or bright red, cold skin, particularly among children who may be unaware of, or desire to ignore, their symptoms, can prevent a tragedy from occurring. If you suspect you or someone else is having these symptoms, act quickly to get out of the water, seek help, and begin gradual warming of the body.
Taking sensible and even extra precautions when recreating around or in the water will help keep you and your family safe this summer. For more information on boating requirements and safety, visit the California Division of Boating and Waterways and cold-water safety tips at the National Weather Service’s Safety webpage.

Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Meeting
​The California Natural Resources Agency is hosting its 11th Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission meeting on July 29, 10 a.m. to Noon. The public meeting will be held at the Southside Community Center in Oroville, located at 2959 Lower Wyandotte Road, Oroville, CA 95966, and will include presentations and public comment.
The Commission will receive a brief update on the development of the Commission report, a recap of a flood safety stakeholder technical workshop held in April, and a presentation from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) on dam facilities management and annual maintenance planning.
Time for public input is also scheduled. The Oroville Dam 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.

OROVILLE RECREATION
​Four paved boat ramps at Lime Saddle, Bidwell Canyon, Spillway, and Loafer Point are open at Lake Oroville, along with the Lime Saddle and Bidwell Canyon marinas, and reservations for campgrounds in the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) can be made by visiting the California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) LOSRA website.
Restrooms, potable water, and fish cleaning stations are not in service at the Spillway Boat Ramp area, but portable toilets are provided – please plan visits accordingly. A water and sewer pipeline replacement project is underway to restore these utilities. Please be aware of construction traffic in the vicinity of the Spillway Day Use Area.
The Thermalito Forebay and Afterbay provide a wide range of recreation opportunities including fishing, hiking, biking and boating. Non-motorized boating is permitted in the North Forebay, and motorized boating is only permitted in the South Forebay and Afterbay. Boaters are reminded to abide by speed limits near boat launch areas and north of the Highway 162 bridge where Afterbay speed limits are five (5) miles per hour. Visitors are reminded to abide by all posted signage regarding permitted swimming areas (never near boating docks) to ensure public safety for all. Swimming near boat docks is dangerous – risks include propeller strikes and boat collisions, carbon monoxide poisoning from boat exhaust, electrical shock from shorted wiring in boats or docks, and an increased chance of polluted waters where boats are launched and retrieved. 
The North Forebay Aquatic Center has kayaks, paddle boards, and other watercraft available for rent Thursday through Sunday. Non-motorized boating is also permitted in the Thermalito Diversion Pool with kayak access just before the restroom on Cherokee Road. Lake Oroville and the Oroville Wildlife Area also have car-top boat launch areas. Visit the interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. And step inside the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to learn about the State Water Project and history of the area.

BLUE GREEN ALGAE MONITORING
DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor for blue-green algae and their toxins during the summer months. There are currently no harmful algal bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay.
Water samples are taken at various locations regularly from Memorial Day through Labor Day. To learn more about HABs, or to report a HAB visit the Water Board’s website.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 733 feet elevation and storage is about 1.53 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 43 percent of its total capacity and 62 percent of historical average. Very warm temperatures are anticipated over the weekend and into next week. Expect to see temperatures over 100 degrees throughout the week.
The Feather River releases, currently at 4,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), are scheduled to decrease to 3,750 cfs on Friday, July 22, to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flows through the City of Oroville will be reduced to 1,300 cfs with 2,450 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 3,750 cfs downstream of the Outlet. Flows through the low flow channel may fluctuate through the week for fisheries purposes. 
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 7/21/2022 

July 15, 2022

Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Meeting
​The California Natural Resources Agency is hosting its 11th Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission meeting on July 29, 10 a.m. to Noon. The public meeting will be held at the Southside Community Center in Oroville, located at 2959 Lower Wyandotte Road, Oroville, CA 95966, and will include presentations and public comment.
The Commission will receive a brief update on the development of the Commission report, a recap of a flood safety stakeholder technical workshop held in April, and a presentation from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) on dam facilities management and annual maintenance planning.
Time for public input is also scheduled. The Oroville Dam 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.

OROVILLE RECREATION
​Four paved boat ramps at Lime Saddle, Bidwell Canyon, Spillway, and Loafer Point are open at Lake Oroville, along with the Lime Saddle and Bidwell Canyon marinas, and reservations for campgrounds in the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) can be made by visiting the California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) LOSRA website.
Restrooms, potable water, and fish cleaning stations are not in service at the Spillway Boat Ramp area, but portable toilets are provided – please plan visits accordingly. A water and sewer pipeline replacement project is underway to restore these utilities. Please be aware of construction traffic in the vicinity of the Spillway Day Use Area.
The Thermalito Forebay and Afterbay provide a wide range of recreation opportunities including fishing, hiking, biking and boating. Non-motorized boating is permitted in the North Forebay, and motorized boating is only permitted in the South Forebay and Afterbay. Boaters are reminded to abide by speed limits near boat launch areas and north of the Highway 162 bridge where Afterbay speed limits are five (5) miles per hour. Visitors are reminded to abide by all posted signage regarding permitted swimming areas (never near boating docks) to ensure public safety for all. Swimming near boat docks is dangerous – risks include propeller strikes and boat collisions, carbon monoxide poisoning from boat exhaust, electrical shock from shorted wiring in boats or docks, and an increased chance of polluted waters where boats are launched and retrieved. 
The North Forebay Aquatic Center has kayaks, paddle boards, and other watercraft available for rent Thursday through Sunday. Non-motorized boating is also permitted in the Thermalito Diversion Pool with kayak access just before the restroom on Cherokee Road. Lake Oroville and the Oroville Wildlife Area also have car-top boat launch areas. Visit the interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. And step inside the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to learn about the State Water Project and history of the area.

GRAZING GOATS REDUCE FIRE RISK
​Four hundred goats and sheep just completed the 50-acre grazing operation around Hyatt Powerplant and Canyon Drive towards Oroville Dam’s Upper Overlook. The goal of this project is to minimize the rate of spread of a potential fire by reducing ground fuels, ladder fuels (vegetation that reaches up from the ground into trees), and overgrown vegetation.
Grazing is gaining popularity across California as a sustainable method to minimize wildfire risk and lessen the spread of a wildfire through vegetation management. The goats and sheep graze on grasses, leaves, poison oak, and a variety of shrubs and trees. By standing on their hind legs, they can reduce ladder fuels up to six feet high. Plus, they love to eat weeds, especially invasive ones.
The goat grazing project is part of DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan, which helps reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest health in areas around Lake Oroville within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) project boundary. In partnership with Butte County Fire Safe Council, DWR continues to use grazing as a sustainable method of fuel reduction around DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex.  
To learn more and to see goat grazing in action, visit DWR’s YouTube Channel for a video of the March 2021 Lakeland Boulevard goat grazing project on DWR’s YouTube webpage.

BLUE GREEN ALGAE MONITORING
DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor for blue-green algae and their toxins during the summer months. There are currently no harmful algal bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay.
Water samples are taken at various locations regularly from Memorial Day through Labor Day. To learn more about HABs, or to report a HAB visit the Water Board’s website.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 739 feet elevation and storage is about 1.58 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 45 percent of its total capacity and 63 percent of historical average. Very warm temperatures are anticipated over the weekend and into next week. Expect to see temperatures over 100 degrees throughout the week.
The Feather River releases were increased last week and are currently at 4,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flows through the City of Oroville are at planned at 1,550 cfs with 2,450 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 4,000 cfs downstream of the Outlet. Flows through the low flow channel may fluctuate through the week for fisheries purposes. 
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 7/14/2022 

July 8, 2022

Oroville Radial Gates Project
​On July 12 the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and contractor staff will begin a multi-year project to perform maintenance repairs on the eight radial gate hoist assemblies of Oroville Dam’s Flood Control Outlet (FCO), or main spillway, as part of the Oroville Radial Gates Maintenance Repair Project. This project was established after the 2017 Oroville Spillway emergency to maintain the safe and reliable operation of the FCO, Thermalito Diversion Dam, and Thermalito Power Canal radial gates.      
In order to perform maintenance repairs on the existing eight radial gate hoist assemblies at the Oroville Dam FCO to address routine wear, the contractor Unico will perform an as-found site inspection of radial gate hoist assembly number eight to obtain dimensional and operational data that will be used to finalize the maintenance repair plan and to reverse-engineer the hoist assembly design for the fabrication of a replica hoist assembly. The spare radial gate hoist assembly (gear motor, wire ropes, gears and pinons, etc.) will be installed while an existing hoist is removed for inspection and maintenance to address any deficiencies due to wear, age, and serviceability of the equipment.
Occurring yearly beginning in 2023, maintenance repairs will be performed on one gate hoist assembly per year during the dry season (May 1 and October 31), to ensure that all eight existing radial gate hoist assemblies are available and fully operational throughout flood season. Visitors to Oroville Dam and the Spillway Day Use/Boat Launch Area are advised to be aware of increased activity and construction equipment on Lakeside Access Road and around the top of the FCO gates the week of July 11.

GRAZING GOATS REDUCE FIRE RISK
​Four hundred goats and sheep just completed the 50-acre grazing operation around Hyatt Powerplant and Canyon Drive towards Oroville Dam’s Upper Overlook. The goal of this project is to minimize the rate of spread of a potential fire by reducing ground fuels, ladder fuels (vegetation that reaches up from the ground into trees), and overgrown vegetation.
Grazing is gaining popularity across California as a sustainable method to minimize wildfire risk and lessen the spread of a wildfire through vegetation management. The goats and sheep graze on grasses, leaves, poison oak, and a variety of shrubs and trees. By standing on their hind legs, they can reduce ladder fuels up to six feet high. Plus, they love to eat weeds, especially invasive ones.
The goat grazing project is part of DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan, which helps reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest health in areas around Lake Oroville within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) project boundary. In partnership with Butte County Fire Safe Council, DWR continues to use grazing as a sustainable method of fuel reduction around DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex.  
To learn more and to see goat grazing in action, visit DWR’s YouTube Channel for a video of the March 2021 Lakeland Boulevard goat grazing project on DWR’s YouTube webpage.

 AMERICAN ICON INCREASES IN OROVILLE
​ DWR environmental scientists have discovered a new bald eagle nesting territory at Lake Oroville, bringing the total number of nesting pairs who call this area home to eight. All but one of the eight nesting pairs who live around the lake and the Feather River are raising chicks, called ‘eaglets’.
This year DWR’s scientists have been eagerly watching the development of ten eaglets – an increase from the nine spotted in 2021. The chicks have been spotted around Lake Oroville and in the Oroville Wildlife Area near the Feather River. Chicks typically fledge – grow flight feathers and become strong enough to attempt flying – during the months of June and July.
Lake Oroville and the Feather River area provide ideal habitat for bald eagles, a species with both state and federal protections. Fish are one of the eagles' main food sources and large water bodies like Lake Oroville provide a wide variety of fish as well as other favorite food sources such as waterfowl, small birds, and mammals. The many trees and snags (tall dead trees) near water areas provide prime nesting and hunting locations for the resident pairs.
When DWR’s first bald eagle surveys were conducted in 2002, three nesting territories were identified for protection. Currently, DWR has management plans and implements protections for all eight territories to help protect America’s national bird.

DWR AND CDFW RELEASE SALMON 
​The Feather River Fish Hatchery in Oroville is one of the most productive and successful fish hatcheries on the West Coast of the United States. Millions of fish are raised every year including Chinook fall and spring run salmon and salmon’s cousin, steelhead trout. During February, over 500,000 steelhead smolts were released to the Feather River and between March and June this year, the hatchery released over 11.3 million young Chinook salmon smolts (juvenile fish) into the waters of the Feather River, San Pablo Bay, and San Francisco Bay.
The smolts were loaded onto specialized trucks and transported to their various release locations. Transportation to the Bays, especially in drought conditions such as this year, improves survival by avoiding predators and numerous other obstacles and dangers in the Feather River, Sacramento River, and Delta. From these release locations, the smolts will make their way out to the Pacific Ocean where they will feed and grow for two to five years, supporting California’s commercial and sport fishery, before instinctively returning back to the Feather River to spawn and complete their life cycle. Read more about this annual release on the DWR Updates webpage.
The Feather River Fish Hatchery is a California State Water Project (SWP) facility built in the late 1960s to mitigate fish migration impacts resulting from the construction of Oroville Dam. DWR maintains the facility and funds the hatchery operations, fish spawning, rearing, and stocking activities provided by California Department of Fish and Wildlife staff.

OROVILLE RECREATION 
​The Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) is open for boating, camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and much more. The four main paved boat ramps at Lime Saddle, Bidwell Canyon, Spillway, and Loafer Point are open, along with the Lime Saddle and Bidwell Canyon marinas, and campground reservations can be made by visiting the California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) LOSRA website. Restrooms, potable water, and fish cleaning stations are not in service at the Spillway Boat Ramp area but portable toilets are provided – please plan visits accordingly. A water and sewer pipeline replacement project will break ground this week to restore these utilities. Please be aware of construction traffic in the vicinity of the Spillway Day Use Area.
Visitors to the Thermalito North Forebay will find a full CA Parks facility with restrooms, picnic areas, a swim beach, and the Forebay Aquatic Center with kayaks, paddle boards, and other watercraft available for rent Thursday through Sunday. The Monument Hill facility at the Thermalito Afterbay also provides boat ramp access, restrooms, a picnic area, and a swim beach. The 11,000 acres of prime wildlife viewing in the Oroville Wildlife Area also contains the Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation area for Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) (south of Oroville Airport). The OWA is administered for DWR by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and information about the Oroville Wildlife Area is available on the CDFW webpage. The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
An interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Visitors are encouraged to be fire smart, bring plenty of sunscreen, stay hydrated, avoid leaving valuables in visible areas, be prepared for cold water temperatures, and be mindful of personal safety and the safety of those around you.

BLUE GREEN ALGAE MONITORING
DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor for blue-green algae and their toxins during the summer months. There are currently no harmful algal bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay.
Water samples are taken at various locations regularly from Memorial Day through Labor Day. To learn more about HABs, or to report a HAB visit the Water Board’s website.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 747 feet elevation and storage is about 1.65 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 47 percent of its total capacity and 63 percent of historical average. Temperatures over the weekend are projected to be in the mid-90s and increasing to the low-100s next week. 
The Feather River releases were increased last week and are currently at 4,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flows through the City of Oroville are at planned at 1,050 cfs with 3,450 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 4,500 cfs downstream of the Outlet. Flows through the low flow channel may fluctuate through the week for fisheries purposes. 
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 7/7/2022

June 24, 2022

Apprentice Opportunities
​The Department of Water Resources (DWR) paid apprenticeship program exams will be available June 24 to June 30 for those interested in applying for electrician, operator, mechanic, or utility craftsworker positions in California’s hydroelectric industry. Most apprenticeship positions have education requirements of equivalent to graduation from high school and knowledge of basic arithmetic and algebra, electrical fundamentals, and mechanical principles.
The online exams are currently posted on DWR’s CalCareers webpage with links to the individual exams for Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) Electrician Apprentice, HEP Mechanic Apprentice, HEP Operator Apprentice, and Utility Craftsworker Apprentice. Applying for more than one apprenticeship position is permitted but interested persons are reminded the online exams will only be available Friday, June 24 through Thursday, June 30. Passing applicants will be ranked and those with scores higher than 70 will be placed on the position’s eligible for hire list and can then apply for the apprenticeship program’s position openings. More information is available on the DWR Updates webpage.
DWR has eight hydroelectric powerplants in the State Water Project, three of which are in the Oroville-Thermalito Complex – Edward Hyatt Powerplant, Thermalito Diversion Dam Powerplant, and Ronald B. Robie Thermalito Pumping-Generating Plant.

FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS
​The City of Oroville’s Noon Rotary Club fireworks will begin at approximately 9 p.m. on July Fourth and will be launched from the Oroville Airport. A Red Flag (severe fire danger) Warning from the National Weather Service for July Fourth will cancel the display. The morning at the airport will be filled with an airplane “fly-in”, pancake breakfast, car show, and airplane rides.
Viewers are encouraged to observe the fireworks show from their homes, if possible, or higher locations throughout the City of Oroville and surrounding area. The Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area will close at sunset on Sunday, July 3 and remain closed until 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 5. The Nelson Avenue Sports Complex will be open but the pool will be closed. The Oroville Wildlife Area and Thermalito Afterbay will also maintain normal operating hours on July Fourth: 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Information on morning activities at the airport, suggested viewing locations for the fireworks, and other event information is available on the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce website. 

WATER QUALITY WORKING GROUP
​In November and December 2020, a multi-agency task force comprised of the State Water Resources Control Board and Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board; Butte County Department of Public Works; California Department of Water Resources; California Department of Fish and Wildlife; California Department of Parks and Recreation; and Governor’s Office of Emergency Services came together as the ‘Watershed Working Group’ to address water quality concerns in the North Complex Wildfire burn area and downstream. In 2021, the burn area of the Dixie Wildfire was added for monitoring, and additional partner agencies were added to the working group.
Widespread testing of surface waters throughout these burn scars in Butte and Plumas counties has been completed. Sampling results over the winter of 2021-22 revealed that while contaminant levels were slightly elevated in some instances, they did not exceed primary drinking water contaminant thresholds, and did not adversely impact drinking water treatment facilities or the quality of drinking water they deliver to their communities.
The working group’s agencies will now transition to routine water quality monitoring, which includes monitoring for issues such as Harmful Algal Blooms. Building on the success of the collaboration, this working group will continue to meet to discuss watershed health and be ready for the upcoming fire season. The public is reminded to always treat surface waters before drinking or cooking when recreating outdoors. Homeowners with wells in burn scar areas should review their well construction and consider contacting their county Environmental Health Division for information about testing well water.

BLUE GREEN ALGAE MONITORING
​The Department of Water Resources (DWR) environmental scientists regularly monitor for blue-green algae and their toxins during the  summer months. There are currently no harmful algal bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, Upper Feather River lakes, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. Water samples are taken at various locations regularly from Memorial Day through Labor Day and sent to a lab for toxin analysis.
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 HAB is present and report the possible HAB immediately.
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
​The Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) is open for boating, camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and much more. The four main paved boat ramps at Lime Saddle, Bidwell Canyon, Spillway, and Loafer Point are open, along with the Lime Saddle and Bidwell Canyon marinas, and campground reservations can be made by visiting the CA Parks LOSRA website.
Restrooms, potable water, and fish cleaning stations are not in service at the Spillway Boat Ramp area but portable toilets are provided – please plan visits accordingly.
The Thermalito Forebays and Afterbay also provide a wide range of water recreation opportunities along with hiking trails, the Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation area for Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) (south of Oroville Airport), and the 11,000 acres of prime wildlife viewing in the Oroville Wildlife Area. The OWA is administered for DWR by the CDFW and information about the 11,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area is available on the CDFW webpage. The Forebay Aquatic Center in the North Forebay Recreation Area is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday to Sunday with kayaks, paddle boards, and other watercraft available for rent. The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
An interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Visitors are encouraged to be fire smart, bring plenty of sunscreen, stay hydrated, avoid leaving valuables in visible areas, be prepared for cold water temperatures, and be mindful of personal safety and the safety of those around you.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 761 feet elevation and storage is about 1.78 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 50 percent of its total capacity and 66 percent of historical average. Extreme heat above 100 degrees is expected to continue through the weekend and temperatures are forecasted to drop to the upper 90s next week.
The Feather River releases were increased last week and are currently at 3,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Currently, flows down the low flow channel will be ramping down beginning on Saturday and by Monday, flows through the City of Oroville are planned to be at 650 cfs with 2,850 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 3,500 cfs downstream of the Outlet. 
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
 All data as of midnight 6/23/2022

June 10, 2022

Protecting Against Quagga and Zebra Mussels
​As boating season kicks off, The Department of Water Resources (DWR), California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW), and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) urge boaters to always remember to clean, drain, and dry their boats before entering and leaving lakes, rivers, and other waterways to help prevent the spread of quagga or zebra mussels.
These two non-native freshwater mollusks – quagga and zebra mussels – pose a serious threat to California’s aquatic ecosystems. Quagga and zebra mussels are small, invasive species that colonize on hard surfaces, such as boat hulls and pontoons, docks and pilings, rocks, concrete, plastics, and even discarded bottles and cans. DWR’s Oroville Field Division biologists regularly sample Lake Oroville -for indicators the mollusks are present and, to date, none have been found.
Quagga and zebra mussels can be spread to new waterbodies when attached to boats as adults, or as microscopic juveniles in water in motors, bilges, and livewells. They are smaller than a dime, and juvenile mussels may even be difficult to detect with the naked eye. Despite their small size, they can cause major damage to water delivery systems, hydroelectric facilities, and watercraft engines.
When boating, make it a habit to do the following:

• Remove all plants and animal material from your boat, trailer, and equipment
• Wash the hull of your boat or other watercraft thoroughly, preferably with high-pressure hot water
• Clean your gear before entering and leaving the recreation area
• Drain bilge, ballast, wells, and buckets before you leave the area
• Inspect all exposed surfaces -- small mussels feel like sandpaper to the touch
• Dry equipment before launching into another body of water
• Allow at least a seven to eight day dry-out period before entering another body of water

Report any mussels you find to the local marina and the CDFW hotline at (866) 440-9530.

SOUTH FOREBAY CLOSED
​The California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) announced today the South Forebay and the Nelson Bridge Day Use Area will be closed from 8 a.m. Saturday, June 11 to 8 a.m. Monday, June 13 for a private boat racing event. Entrances to the South Forebay at Grand Avenue, Nelson Avenue Bridge Day Use Area and behind Poplar Avenue Elementary School will be closed, including the levee system to the east and south of the forebay. CA Parks has closed these areas to public use, entry, or occupancy.

CAL FIRE CONTROL BURNS
​In cooperation with DWR and CA Parks, CAL FIRE conducted control burns around the North Forebay, the Nelson Sports Complex, and along Grand Avenue this past week. The vegetation management-control burns have multiple beneficial impacts for the natural environment and public safety.
Around the Thermalito Forebay are many seasonal wetlands called vernal pools which support a high diversity of California native plants and animals, including rare and endangered species and species endemic to California (i.e., found nowhere else in the world). Fire from carefully controlled burns is the most powerful tool to combat invasive plants and dry invasive grass buildup called ‘thatch’ within these grasslands and vernal pools, as well as from grassland adjacent to private property and near high-use areas.
Additional plots may be burned over the next two weeks at Loafer Creek Recreation Area as weather conditions allow. Smoke will be visible at times in the Kelly Ridge and Greater Oroville areas throughout the duration of the project.

OROVILLE RECREATION
​The Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) is open for boating, camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and much more. The four main paved boat ramps at Lime Saddle, Bidwell Canyon, Spillway, and Loafer Point are open, along with the Lime Saddle and Bidwell Canyon marinas, and campground reservations can be made by visiting the CA Parks LOSRA website.
Restrooms, potable water, and fish cleaning stations are not in service at the Spillway Boat Ramp area but portable toilets are provided – please plan visits accordingly.
The Thermalito Forebays and Afterbay also provide a wide range of water recreation opportunities along with hiking trails, the Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation area for Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) (south of Oroville Airport), and the 11,000 acres of prime wildlife viewing in the Oroville Wildlife Area. The OWA is administered for DWR by the CDFW and information about the 11,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area is available on the CDFW webpage. The Forebay Aquatic Center in the North Forebay Recreation Area is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday to Sunday with kayaks, paddle boards, and other watercraft available for rent.
An interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Visitors are encouraged to be fire smart, bring plenty of sunscreen, stay hydrated, avoid leaving valuables in visible areas, be prepared for cold water temperatures, and be mindful of personal safety and the safety of those around you.

GRAZING EFFORTS REDUCE FIRE RISK
​More than 100 goats and sheep continue to provide vegetation management along Canyon Drive from Royal Oaks Drive to Oroville Dam’s Upper Overlook Parking Area as part of DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan to reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest health in areas around Lake Oroville.
To increase the amount of vegetation removed, a mixture of goats and sheep are used by contractor Hanski Family Farms because the animals prefer different vegetation types. Goats prefer ladder fuels (shrubs, bushes, smaller trees, or tree branches near the ground) and sheep prefer grasses. When goats stand on their hind legs, they can reduce ladder fuels up to six feet high.
DWR, in partnership with Butte County Fire Safe Council, continues to use grazing as a sustainable method of fuel reduction around DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex, including Lake Oroville. 

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 770 feet elevation and storage is about 1.87 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 53 percent of its total capacity and 68 percent of historical average. The forecast calls for a chance of rain over the weekend with dry conditions next week. Temperatures are forecasted to be in the low-100s on Saturday and will be dropping beginning on Sunday into next week. Temperatures are expected to fluctuate from the low-80s-to-mid-90s through the week.   
The Feather River releases were increased last week and are currently at 3,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Currently, flows down the low flow channel through the City of Oroville have increased to 1,450 cfs and 2,050 cfs is being released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 3,500 cfs downstream of the Outlet. Flows are assessed daily and may fluctuate through the low flow channel for fisheries purposes during the week.
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 6/9/2022​

May 27, 2022

CAL FIRE Control Burns
​In cooperation with the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks), CAL FIRE conducted control burns of around 185 acres this past week at South Forebay near Grand Avenue (~65 acres), near Wilbur Road and Tres Vias Road (~120 acres), and at the Loafer Creek Recreation Area (~55 acres). The vegetation management-control burns have multiple beneficial impacts for the natural environment and public safety.
Around the Thermalito Forebay are many seasonal wetlands called vernal pools which support a high diversity of California native plants and animals, including rare and endangered species and species endemic to California (i.e., found nowhere else in the world). Fire from carefully controlled burns is the most powerful tool to combat invasive plants and dry invasive grass buildup called ‘thatch’ within these grasslands and vernal pools, as well as from grassland adjacent to private property and near high-use areas.
The control burn at Loafer Creek Recreation Area removed fuels such as brush and dry grasses from several plots totaling around 55 acres. Prescribed fires, when conducted on a regular basis, help to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires on area landscapes and surrounding communities by reducing the amount of fire hazardous vegetation. Previous CAL FIRE prescribed fires, and vegetation management reduction work in the Loafer Creek area done through DWR’s Fuel Load Management Program, as credited with slowing the North Complex Fire in 2020 enough for firefighters to gain the upper hand, establish a successful fire line, and prevent further forward progression of the fire.
Additional plots may be burned over the next two weeks at Loafer Creek as weather conditions allow. Smoke will be visible at times in the Kelly Ridge and Greater Oroville areas throughout the duration of the project.

OROVILLE RECREATION
​With Memorial Day – the unofficial start of summer – just behind us, DWR invites the public to take advantage of the many recreation opportunities at the State Water Project’s Oroville Thermalito Complex.
Lake Oroville: The Spillway, Loafer Point, Bidwell Canyon, and Lime Saddle boat ramps are open 24-hours, seven days a week and car-top boat ramps are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Both the Lime Saddle and Bidwell Canyon Marinas are open and provide boat rentals. Restrooms, potable water, and fish cleaning stations are not in service at the Spillway Boat Ramp area but portable toilets are provided – please plan visits accordingly.
Thermalito Forebays and Afterbay: Visitors to the Thermalito North Forebay will find a full California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) facility with restrooms, picnic areas, a swim beach, and the Forebay Aquatic Center with kayaks, paddle boards, and other watercraft available for rent. Power boating is not allowed on the North Forebay but is permitted on the Thermalito South Forebay where the boat ramp area has a sandy beach, picnic tables, shade trees and vault toilets (no drinking water is available).
The Monument Hill and Wilbur Road boat ramp areas on the Thermalito Afterbay are open as well as the Larkin Road car-top boat ramp. The Monument Hill facility provides boat ramp access, restrooms, a picnic area, and a swim beach. The Wilbur Road boat ramp has boat launch lanes and a vault toilet. Boaters on the Afterbay are reminded of the 5-mph speed limit north of the Highway 162 bridge and that access to the Afterbay is from 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
Oroville Wildlife Area: Primarily a primitive wildlife area managed for fishing, wildlife viewing and hunting, the Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA) is accessed primarily by boat on the Feather River, by area trails, or from developed and primitive roads off Highway 162, Highway 70, and Larkin Road. The Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation area for Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs), a CA Parks facility, is located south of the Oroville Airport and the clay used to build the core of Oroville Dam was excavated from this area. The OWA is administered for DWR by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and information about the 11,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area is available on the CDFW webpage.
Lake Oroville Visitor Center and Area Trails: The Visitor Center is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. where visitors can view educational exhibits, walk area trails, and climb the 47-foot-tall viewing tower. The Lake Oroville Trails Map, which shows more than 91 miles of trails available to equestrians, bicyclists, and hikers all around the facilities mentioned above, is available at the Visitor Center, at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) kiosks, the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce, or at the Feather River Recreation and Parks office.
An interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage at https://water.ca.gov/What-We-Do/Recreation/Lake-Oroville-Recreation. Visitors are encouraged to be fire smart, bring plenty of sunscreen, stay hydrated, avoid leaving valuables in visible areas, and be mindful of personal safety and the safety of those around you.

COLD WEATHER ALERT
​With the Memorial Day holiday and warm weather starting the summer months, DWR reminds those recreating in area lakes and rivers that waters are still very cold. The Feather River below Oroville Dam is around 55 to 60 degrees. While surface temperatures of Lake Oroville can be warmer, colder water is present only a few feet below the surface. Additionally, inflows from snowmelt are feeding the upper reaches of the Feather River’s forks where cold water shock can impair breathing and heart rate after a sudden immersion.
Outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to be mindful of water temperatures and wear a life jacket if near or on the water. For more information, visit the National Weather Service’s Safety webpage.

PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST
​Several recreation sites on the Plumas National Forest have opened, including on DWR’s Upper Feather Lakes of Lake Davis, Frenchman Lake, and Antelope Lake. Recreation facilities such as day use areas, beaches, and campgrounds, are managed by the U.S. Forest Service and their contractors. For information about recreation facility locations, amenities, and current conditions and restrictions, visit the Plumas National Forest webpage.

GRAZING EFFORTS REDUCE FIRE RISK
​Drivers along Canyon Drive from Royal Oaks Drive to Oroville Dam’s Upper Overlook Parking Area will see how grazing is used in DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan to reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest health in areas around Lake Oroville. For the next couple of weeks, goats and sheep will be visible along the hillside adjacent to the roadway.
To increase the amount of vegetation removed, a mixture of goats and sheep are used by contractor Hanski Family Farms because the animals prefer different vegetation types. Goats prefer ladder fuels (shrubs, bushes, smaller trees, or tree branches near the ground) and sheep prefer grasses. When goats stand on their hind legs, they can reduce ladder fuels up to six feet high.
DWR, in partnership with Butte County Fire Safe Council, continues to use grazing as a sustainable method of fuel reduction around DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex, including Lake Oroville. To learn more, visit DWRs YouTube Channel for a video of the March 2021 Lakeland Boulevard goat grazing project.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 772 feet elevation and storage is about 1.9 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 54 percent of its total capacity and 68 percent of historical average. The forecast calls for a chance of rain over the weekend with dry conditions next week. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-to-upper-70s over the weekend and increasing to the mid-90s by the middle of the week.
The Feather River releases were increased last week and are currently at 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flow in the low-flow channel through the City of Oroville is 650 cfs and flow through the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet is currently 2,350 cfs. Flows are assessed daily.
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 6/2/2022​

May 27, 2022

Oroville Recreation
​With Memorial Day – the unofficial start of summer – upon us, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) invites the public to take advantage of the many recreation opportunities at the State Water Project’s Oroville Thermalito Complex.
Lake Oroville: The Spillway, Loafer Point, Bidwell Canyon, and Lime Saddle boat ramps are open 24-hours, seven days a week and car-top boat ramps are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Both the Lime Saddle and Bidwell Canyon Marinas are open and provide boat rentals. Restrooms, potable water, and fish cleaning stations are not in service at the Spillway Boat Ramp area but portable toilets are provided – please plan visits accordingly.
Thermalito Forebays and Afterbay: Visitors to the Thermalito North Forebay will find a full California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) facility with restrooms, picnic areas, a swim beach, and the Forebay Aquatic Center with kayaks, paddle boards, and other watercraft available for rent. Power boating is not allowed on the North Forebay but is permitted on the Thermalito South Forebay where the boat ramp area has a sandy beach, picnic tables, shade trees and vault toilets (no drinking water is available).
The Monument Hill and Wilbur Road boat ramp areas on the Thermalito Afterbay are open as well as the Larkin Road car-top boat ramp. The Monument Hill facility provides boat ramp access, restrooms, a picnic area, and a swim beach. The Wilbur Road boat ramp has boat launch lanes and a vault toilet. Boaters on the Afterbay are reminded of the 5-mph speed limit north of the Highway 162 bridge and that access to the Afterbay is from 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
Oroville Wildlife Area: Primarily a primitive wildlife area managed for fishing, wildlife viewing and hunting, the Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA) is accessed primarily by boat on the Feather River, by area trails, or from developed and primitive roads off Highway 162, Highway 70, and Larkin Road. The Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation area for Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs), a CA Parks facility, is located south of the Oroville Airport and the clay used to build the core of Oroville Dam was excavated from this area. The OWA is administered for DWR by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and information about the 11,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area is available on the CDFW webpage.
Lake Oroville Visitor Center and Area Trails: The Visitor Center is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. where visitors can view educational exhibits, walk area trails, and climb the 47-foot-tall viewing tower. The Lake Oroville Trails Map, which shows more than 91 miles of trails available to equestrians, bicyclists, and hikers all around the facilities mentioned above, is available at the Visitor Center, at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) kiosks, the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce, or at the Feather River Recreation and Parks office.
An interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage at https://water.ca.gov/What-We-Do/Recreation/Lake-Oroville-Recreation. Visitors are encouraged to be fire smart, bring plenty of sunscreen, stay hydrated, avoid leaving valuables in visible areas, and be mindful of personal safety and the safety of those around you.

COLD WEATHER ALERT
​With the Memorial Day holiday and warm weather starting the summer months, DWR reminds those recreating in area lakes and rivers that waters are still very cold. The Feather River below Oroville Dam is around 55 to 60 degrees. While surface temperatures of Lake Oroville can be warmer, colder water is present only a few feet below the surface. Additionally, inflows from snowmelt are feeding the upper reaches of the Feather River’s forks where cold water shock can impair breathing and heart rate after a sudden immersion.
Outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to be mindful of water temperatures and wear a life jacket if near or on the water. For more information, visit the National Weather Service’s Safety webpage.

PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST
​Several recreation sites on the Plumas National Forest have opened, including on DWR’s Upper Feather Lakes of Lake Davis, Frenchman Lake, and Antelope Lake. Recreation facilities such as day use areas, beaches, and campgrounds, are managed by the U.S. Forest Service and their contractors. For information about recreation facility locations, amenities, and current conditions and restrictions, visit the Plumas National Forest webpage.

THERMALITO FOREBAY CONTROL BURNS
​A series of vegetation management burns around the Thermalito Forebay were conducted by CAL FIRE/Butte County Fire Department on May 27 in cooperation with the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and CA Parks. A total of about 60 acres near the Forebay Aquatic Center (~20 acres) and west of the Nelson Sports Complex (~40 acres) were successfully treated along with 30 acres of grassland at the Rabe Road Shooting Range south of Oroville Airport. An additional treatment of 185 acres is planned for the week of May 30 at South Forebay near Grand Avenue (~65 acres), and near Wilbur Road and Tres Vias Road (~120 acres).
The vegetation management-controlled burns have multiple benefits for the natural environment and public safety. The grasslands around the Thermalito Forebay are home to many seasonal wetlands called vernal pools. Although vernal pools are only a small component of these grasslands, they support a high diversity of California native plants and animals, including rare and endangered species and species endemic to California (i.e., found nowhere else in the world).
Fire from carefully controlled burns is the most powerful tool to combat invasive plants and dry invasive grass buildup called ‘thatch’ within these grasslands and vernal pools. Removal of invasive species allows native plants and animal species, such as fairy shrimp, to thrive. The burns will also remove dangerous fire fuels from grassland adjacent to private property and near high-use areas. CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Jason Dyer also noted that the projects allow firefighters to practice skills in a controlled environment.

GRAZING EFFORTS REDUCE FIRE RISK
​Drivers along Canyon Drive from Royal Oaks Drive to Oroville Dam’s Upper Overlook Parking Area will see how grazing is used in DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan to reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest health in areas around Lake Oroville. For the next couple of weeks, goats and sheep will be visible along the hillside adjacent to the roadway.
To increase the amount of vegetation removed, a mixture of goats and sheep are used by contractor Hanski Family Farms because the animals prefer different vegetation types. Goats prefer ladder fuels (shrubs, bushes, smaller trees, or tree branches near the ground) and sheep prefer grasses. When goats stand on their hind legs, they can reduce ladder fuels up to six feet high.
DWR, in partnership with Butte County Fire Safe Council, continues to use grazing as a sustainable method of fuel reduction around DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex, including Lake Oroville. To learn more, visit DWRs YouTube Channel for a video of the March 2021 Lakeland Boulevard goat grazing project on DWR’s YouTube webpage.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 776 feet elevation and storage is about 1.9 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 54 percent of its total capacity and 69 percent of historical average. Expect dry and temperatures in the mid-70s to 80s this weekend, increasing to the low- to mid-90s next week. 
The Feather River releases were increased last week and are currently at 2,700 cubic feet per second (cfs) to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flow in the low-flow channel through the City of Oroville is 650 cfs and flow through the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet is currently 2,050 cfs. Flows are assessed daily. 
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 5/26/2022​

May 20, 2022

Inland Salmon Released into Lake Oroville
​California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) staff from the Feather River Fish Hatchery released 129,200 triploid fall-run “inland” Chinook fingerling salmon into Lake Oroville on May 12 at the Loafer Point Stage II Boat Ramp to support the recreational fishery. Of the 129,200 fish planted, 110,200 were direct release from the boat ramp and 19,000 fish were released into the main body of Lake Oroville from boats equipped with well holding tanks.
This is the first year the fish were released into the main body of the lake to diversify and increase fishing opportunities. The inland Chinook measured about four to five inches in length and were raised at the Feather River Fish Hatchery. The fish are triploid, meaning unable to reproduce, which allows them to grow larger in size instead of putting energy into reproducing and it prevents any of these fish escaping Lake Oroville from hybridizing with sensitive downstream Chinook salmon populations.
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) built, maintains, and funds the Feather River Fish Hatchery in partnership with CDFW staff who conduct fish spawning, rearing, and stocking activities at the hatchery. The Hatchery’s fish planting program has been in operation since 1968. A virtual tour of the Hatchery can be viewed on DWR’s YouTube channel and additional information can be found on the CDFW website.

GRAZING EFFORTS REDUCE FIRE RISK
​Drivers traveling Oroville Dam Boulevard East below Oroville Dam have been treated to views of hundreds of goats and sheep grazing on nearly 35 acres along the Brad Freeman Trail, Hyatt Powerplant, and the Lower Overlook. Next week they will be moved to Canyon Drive where they will be grazing for the next couple of weeks along the hillside from Royal Oaks Drive to the Upper Overlook Parking Area.
To increase the amount of vegetation removed, a mixture of goats and sheep are used by contractor Hanski Family Farms because the animals prefer different vegetation types. Goats prefer ladder fuels (shrubs, bushes, smaller trees, or tree branches near the ground) and sheep prefer grasses. When goats stand on their hind legs, they can reduce ladder fuels up to six feet high.
The grazing project is part of DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan, which helps reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest health in areas around Lake Oroville. In partnership with Butte County Fire Safe Council, DWR continues to use grazing as a sustainable method of fuel reduction around DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex, including Lake Oroville.  
To learn more and to see goat grazing in action, visit DWRs YouTube Channel for a video of the March 2021 Lakeland Boulevard goat grazing project on DWR’s YouTube webpage.

DROUGHT UPDATE
​Warming temperatures, along with the driest January through March on record, has left the statewide snowpack at 14 percent of average for this date despite the recent late season storms. The main benefit of late season storms will be to prevent soils from drying out early in the season, which can aid runoff efficiency of the remaining snowpack to the state’s reservoirs.
Reservoir levels across California vary depending on their location and source of inflows but all are reflective of the state entering its third year of drought. Locally, record-setting precipitation from the late October 2021 atmospheric river (AR) storm fell mainly in the Feather River (Oroville Dam) and American River (Folsom Dam) watersheds, missing a large part of the Lake Shasta watershed. Lake Oroville currently has more storage than on this date last year and the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is working to preserve as much storage as possible for future needs to maintain Delta water quality, protect endangered species, and meet senior water right obligations.
DWR is also administering a number of grant programs to help mitigate and address drought impacts. One program, the Small Community Drought Relief Program, has already awarded more than $33 million to local counties and cities around Oroville for projects such as water system improvements and connections in Orland, Berry Creek, and Williams and for water hauling in Butte, Glenn, and Colusa counties.
The DWR hydrology team and a California Water Board data specialist held a media briefing with reporters and meteorologists May 10 to discuss the latest drought data points and where we stand in terms of current conditions. A recording of the briefing is available on the DWR YouTube webpage.
As we enter the warmer months, everyone is encouraged to find ways to save water, because despite current reservoir levels, the state is going to have water challenges later this year. 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. Visit DWR’s Drought webpage for the latest information.

OROVILLE RECREATION
​The Spillway Boat Ramp opened on April 29, joining the open Loafer Point, Bidwell Canyon, and Lime Saddle boat ramps. The Foreman Creek and Stringtown cartop boat ramps are also open. Restrooms, potable water, and fish cleaning stations are not in service at the Spillway Boat Ramp area but portable toilets are provided – please plan visits accordingly.
Information on current boat ramp status can be found on the California State Parks’ Lake Oroville State Recreation Area webpage. Scroll down to the link for “Current Launch Ramp Status”.
Visitors to Oroville Dam and the Spillway Boat Ramp area will be able to use the newly constructed Lakeside Access Road which descends into the lake inundation zone before travelling back up to the Spillway Boat Ramp parking lot where they can access boat launch lanes, a shaded day use area with picnic tables, and multi-use trails suitable for hikers, bikers, and equestrians. The previous access road through the CHP screening booths and below the Emergency Spillway will only need to be used when lake elevations rise high enough to flood the new Lakeside Access Road.
The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pick up the Lake Oroville Trails Map, which shows more than 91 miles of trails available to equestrians, bicyclists, and hikers, at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) kiosks, the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Feather River Recreation and Parks District. 
Visit the California Parks LOSRA webpage for current information on facility status and campground reservations. An interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Information about the 11,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area is available on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 776 feet elevation and storage is about 1.93 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 55 percent of its total capacity and 69 percent of historical average. Lake Oroville likely hit its peak storage for this Water Year on May 8 at 1.94 MAF, about 400,000 acre-feet higher than the peak in 2021. Expect dry and very warm temperatures over the weekend with forecasted temperatures increasing to the mid- to upper 90s into next week.
The Feather River releases are at 2,200 cfs to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flow in the low-flow channel through the City of Oroville is 650 cfs and flow through the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet is currently 1,550 cfs. Flows are assessed daily. 
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 5/19/2022
​

May 13, 2022

Drought Update
​California has experienced the driest January through March on record, leaving the statewide snowpack at 23 percent of average for this date despite the recent late season storms. The main benefit of late season storms will be to prevent soils from drying out early in the season, which can aid runoff efficiency of the remaining snowpack to the state’s reservoirs.
Reservoir levels across California vary depending on their location and source of inflows but all are reflective of the state entering its third year of drought. Locally, record-setting precipitation from the late October 2021 atmospheric river (AR) storm fell mainly in the Feather River (Oroville Dam) and American River (Folsom Dam) watersheds, missing a large part of the Lake Shasta watershed. Lake Oroville currently has more storage than on this date last year and the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is working to preserve as much storage as possible for future needs to maintain Delta water quality, protect endangered species, and meet senior water right obligations.
DWR is also administering a number of grant programs to help mitigate and address drought impacts. One program, the Small Community Drought Relief Program, has already awarded more than $33 million to local counties and cities around Oroville for projects such as water system improvements and connections in Orland, Berry Creek, and Williams and for water hauling in Butte, Glenn, and Colusa counties.
The DWR hydrology team and a California Water Board data specialist held a media briefing with reporters and meteorologists Tuesday to discuss the latest drought data points and where we stand in terms of current conditions. A recording of the briefing is available on the DWR YouTube webpage.
As we enter the warmer months, everyone is encouraged to find ways to save water, because despite current reservoir levels, the state is going to have water challenges later this year. 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. Visit DWR’s Drought webpage for the latest information.

COLLABORATING TO SUPPORT SALMON
​Managing California's water needs during our severe drought means minimizing impacts on our environment while also meeting the health and safety, economic, and agriculture needs of our communities. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) and Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are actively working to respond to drought and climate change impacts posing challenges to our native species and ecosystems, including California’s salmon populations.
Scientists and fish biologists from both DWR and CDFW have a long history of working together and collaborating with federal, state, local, non-governmental, tribal, and academic partners who have joined forces to protect and support California’s salmon populations. Collaborating through shared projects, funding, and research efforts, DWR and CDFW are identifying critical challenges facing salmon and using the best available science and technology to find ways to promote salmon health and survival.
The state has embarked on dozens of projects to ensure the success of California’s salmon population. Some of these projects are highlighted in the recent DWR-CDFW news release. These projects include restoring critical habitat for salmon and other fish species, improving salmon migration corridors to and from the ocean, and increasing our monitoring efforts so we can better track the status of populations and devise new strategies to improve their status. View the latest video on the DWR YouTube channel.
To learn more about collaborative projects protecting our salmon populations, check out the DWR website highlighting these efforts and more. Additional projects will be featured throughout the summer.

WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS WEEK RECAP
​California Governor Gavin Newsom recently proclaimed May 1 to May 7, 2022, as “Wildfire Preparedness Week”. With California experiencing some of the largest and most destructive fires over the last few years and lingering drought conditions leaving fuel moisture levels very low, the state is taking action to help make communities more resilient to wildfire and improve forest health. “I urge all Californians to take lifesaving steps to stay prepared, including making their homes more fire-resistant, creating defensible space, and developing a wildfire action plan well ahead of time” Governor Newsom said.
CAL FIRE kicked off the week with educational events across the state to raise awareness on wildfire preparedness, including how state, federal, and local public safety organizations are preparing for the 2022 fire season. CAL FIRE stresses the importance of fuel reduction and vegetation management projects and ways the public can prepare for wildfire through making your home more fire resistant (home hardening), creating defensible space, and developing a wildfire action plan well ahead of time.
DWR continues to prepare for wildfire around the Oroville-Thermalito Complex by implementing fuel reduction projects and creating defensible space around infrastructure and adjacent to residential communities. Through the use of grazing, brush removal, chipping, and controlled burns DWR with area partners including CAL FIRE, California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks), Butte County Fire Safe Council (BCFSC) aim to reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and promote forest health. Currently, DWR in partnership with BCFSC and goats from Hanski Family Farms are grazing 35 acres along Oro Dam Blvd. East with the goal of reducing ladder fuels to help lessen the spread of a potential wildfire, protecting infrastructure and nearby communities.  
Californians are encouraged to join these wildfire preparedness efforts by taking actions now to protect your home and family. Develop your personalized plan by visiting https://plan.readyforwildfire.org/.

OROVILLE RECREATION
​The Spillway Boat Ramp opened on April 29, joining the open Loafer Point, Bidwell Canyon, and Lime Saddle boat ramps. The Foreman Creek and Stringtown cartop boat ramps are also open. Restrooms, potable water, and fish cleaning stations are not in service at the Spillway Boat Ramp area but portable toilets are provided – please plan visits accordingly.
Information on current boat ramp status can be found on the California State Parks’ Lake Oroville State Recreation Area webpage. Scroll down to the link for “Current Launch Ramp Status”.
Visitors to Oroville Dam and the Spillway Boat Ramp area will be able to use the newly constructed Lakeside Access Road which descends into the lake inundation zone before travelling back up to the Spillway Boat Ramp parking lot where they can access boat launch lanes, a shaded day use area with picnic tables, and multi-use trails suitable for hikers, bikers, and equestrians. The previous access road through the CHP screening booths and below the Emergency Spillway will only need to be used when lake elevations rise high enough to flood the new Lakeside Access Road.
The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pick up the Lake Oroville Trails Map, which shows more than 91 miles of trails available to equestrians, bicyclists, and hikers, at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) kiosks, the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Feather River Recreation and Parks District. The Loafer Creek Recreation Area continues to be closed due to waterline repair (boat ramp and trail access allowed).
Visit the California Parks LOSRA webpage for current information on facility status and campground reservations. An interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Information about the 11,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area is available on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 776 feet elevation and storage is about 1.93 million acre-feet, which is 55 percent of its total capacity and 70 percent of historical average. Lake Oroville likely hit its peak storage for this Water Year on May 8 at 1.94 million acre-feet (MAF), about 400 thousand acre-feet higher than the peak in 2021. Dry and warmer temperatures in the mid-to-upper-80s are forecast over the weekend and into next week.
Average daily inflows this week have been in the range of 3,000 to 4,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and are expected to be in this range or slightly lower over the coming week. The Feather River releases are at 2,200 cfs to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flow in the low-flow channel through the City of Oroville is 650 cfs and flow through the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet is currently 1,550 cfs. Flows are assessed daily. 
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 5/12/2022
​

May 6, 2022

Collaborating to Support Salmon
​Managing California's water needs during our severe drought means minimizing impacts on our environment while also meeting the health and safety, economic, and agriculture needs of our communities. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) and Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are actively working to respond to drought and climate change impacts posing challenges to our native species and ecosystems, including California’s salmon populations.
Scientists and fish biologists from both DWR and CDFW have a long history of working together and collaborating with federal, state, local, non-governmental, tribal, and academic partners who have joined forces to protect and support California’s salmon populations. Collaborating through shared projects, funding, and research efforts, DWR and CDFW are identifying critical challenges facing salmon and using the best available science and technology to find ways to promote salmon health and survival.
The state has embarked on dozens of projects to ensure the success of California’s salmon population. Some of these projects are highlighted in the recent DWR-CDFW news release. These projects include restoring critical habitat for salmon and other fish species, improving salmon migration corridors to and from the ocean, and increasing our monitoring efforts so we can better track the status of populations and devise new strategies to improve their status. View the latest video on the DWR YouTube channel.
To learn more about collaborative projects protecting our salmon populations, check out the DWR website highlighting these efforts and more. Additional projects will be featured throughout the summer.

WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS WEEK
California Governor Gavin Newsom has proclaimed May 1 to May 7, 2022, as “Wildfire Preparedness Week”. With California experiencing some of the largest and most destructive fires over the last few years and lingering drought conditions leaving fuel moisture levels very low, the state is taking action to help make communities more resilient to wildfire and improve forest health. “I urge all Californians to take lifesaving steps to stay prepared, including making their homes more fire-resistant, creating defensible space, and developing a wildfire action plan well ahead of time” Governor Newsom said.
CAL FIRE kicked off the week with educational events across the state to raise awareness on wildfire preparedness, including how state, federal, and local public safety organizations are preparing for the 2022 fire season. CAL FIRE stresses the importance of fuel reduction and vegetation management projects and ways the public can prepare for wildfire through making your home more fire resistant (home hardening), creating defensible space, and developing a wildfire action plan well ahead of time.
DWR continues to prepare for wildfire around the Oroville-Thermalito Complex by implementing fuel reduction projects and creating defensible space around infrastructure and adjacent to residential communities. Through the use of grazing, brush removal, chipping, and controlled burns DWR with area partners including CAL FIRE, California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks), Butte County Fire Safe Council (BCFSC) aim to reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and promote forest health. Currently, DWR in partnership with BCFSC and goats from Hanski Family Farms are grazing 35 acres along Oro Dam Blvd. East with the goal of reducing ladder fuels to help lessen the spread of a potential wildfire, protecting infrastructure and nearby communities.  
Californians are encouraged to join these wildfire preparedness efforts by taking actions now to protect your home and family. Develop your personalized plan by visiting https://plan.readyforwildfire.org/.

OROVILLE RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
​The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee met today, May 6 at the Southside Community Center in Oroville. ORAC was established by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review and provide recommendations regarding DWR’s recreation plan for the Project No. 2100 – Oroville Facilities. The 13-member committee is made up of representatives from state and local government, sports and recreation groups, and business and community organizations. To obtain a summary of the meeting, send a request to oroville@water.ca.gov.

MAPPING STATE’S GROUNDWATER BASINS
​DWR is conducting an innovative, helicopter-based technology of airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys to gather information about the state’s groundwater aquifer structure to support drought response and the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The AEM surveys are scheduled in groundwater basins within portions of Colusa, Butte, Glenn, Tehama, and Shasta counties during May.
Survey data creates an image of the subsurface down to a depth of about 1,000 feet below ground surface and provides information about large-scale aquifer structures and geology. This information supports the implementation of local groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs), which can help local agencies sustainably manage groundwater during drought. DWR has a short 2-minute video about the AEM method, provided in both English and Spanish, as well as an AEM project website.
DWR encourages residents to get involved in their local groundwater management activities and GSP implementation through your groundwater sustainability agency (GSA). Information about local GSAs can be found on the SGMA portal.​

LAKESIDE ACCESS ROAD OPENS
​Visitors to the Spillway Boat Ramp and Day Use Area and nearby trails are now using the newly constructed Lakeside Access Road. The new, more direct road, which can be used when lake elevations are below 800 feet, begins from the Oroville Dam Crest Parking lot at the northwest of Oroville Dam. 
The new road descends into the lake inundation zone before travelling back up to the Spillway Boat Ramp parking lot. The previous access road through the CHP screening booths and below the Emergency Spillway will only need to be used when lake elevations rise high enough to flood the new Lakeside Access Road. Visitors are cautioned to be alert for continuing construction activities and to follow signage.

OROVILLE RECREATION
The Spillway Boat Ramp opened on April 29, joining the open Loafer Point, Bidwell Canyon, and Lime Saddle boat ramps. The Foreman Creek and Stringtown cartop boat ramps are also open. Restrooms, potable water, and fish cleaning stations are not in service at the Spillway Boat Ramp area but portable toilets are provided – please plan visits accordingly.
Information on current boat ramp status can be found on the California State Parks’ Lake Oroville State Recreation Area webpage. Scroll down to the link for “Current Launch Ramp Status”.
The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pick up the Lake Oroville Trails Map, which shows more than 91 miles of trails available to equestrians, bicyclists, and hikers, at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) kiosks, the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Feather River Recreation and Parks District. The Loafer Creek Recreation Area continues to be closed due to waterline repair (boat ramp and trail access allowed).
Visit the California Parks LOSRA webpage for current information on facility status and campground reservations. An interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Information about the 11,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area is available on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 776 feet elevation and storage is about 1.95 million acre-feet, which is 55 percent of its total capacity and 70 percent of historical average. Cooler temperatures in the mid-60s and low-70s are anticipated through the weekend and into next week with a chance of rain later in the weekend and into next week.
Average daily inflows this week have been tapering off and have been in the range of 4,000 to 5,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) and will continue to taper off and are projected to be in the range 3,000 to 4,000 cfs.  On Friday, May 6, 2022, flows to the Feather River were increased to 1,200 cfs to meet downstream Delta water quality and outflow needs. Flow in the low-flow channel through the City of Oroville is 650 cfs and flow through the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet is currently 550 cfs. Flows are assessed daily. 
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 5/6/2022​

April 22, 2022

DWR Partners with California Rice Commission
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has provided $8 million dollars to the California Rice Commission’s ‘California Ricelands Waterbird Foundation’ to help increase the amount of available flooded habitat for migratory birds making their journey along the Pacific Flyway this year. Current drought conditions have reduced summer flooding of semi-permanent wetlands in the Sacramento Valley, reducing essential resources for breeding waterfowl, shorebirds, and other wetland-dependent species that are severely impacted by the drought.
This past winter and through the spring, DWR supported a collaboration of multiple partners, including Audubon California, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and others, to create nearly 55,000 acres of flooded waterbird habitat on rice fields and private wetlands by providing incentive payments to wetland owners to flood (or hold water from winter flooding) their wetlands to a depth of 12 to 24 inches beginning April 1, 2022 until July 15, 2022. After July 15, wetland managers will rely on evaporation (vs. draining) to draw down flooded fields, extending vital habitat for migrating shorebirds who prefer shallow waters. 
As the DWR manages California’s water needs during this water supply crisis, actions and projects like this one to minimize the impacts of drought and water management on our environment (while still meeting the needs of our communities’ health and safety, our economy, and agriculture), will significantly benefit wildfowl migrating up and down the Western United States as well as those who live in the Valley year-round.

Flood Safety Stakeholder Technical Workshop  
​The Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission held a virtual Flood Safety Stakeholder Technical Workshop on April 22 to allow the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), DWR, and other government officials hear directly from and speak directly to community stakeholders about their goals, interests and concerns related to flood safety and downstream communities. Presentations on extreme precipitation, managing floods, forecasting, and how dams, channels, floodplains, burn scars, and adequate preparations impact flooding and response were provided. Stakeholders and public participants asked questions and offered comments. The meeting transcript and presentations will be available on the Commission’s website in the coming weeks https://bit.ly/OrovilleCAC.  ​

GRAZING GOATS REDUCE FIRE RISK
​Hillsides along the Dan Beebe trail near Hyatt Powerplant and Oroville Dam’s Lower Overlook are looking different as 600 goats and sheep from the Hanski Family Farms are visiting the area. The goal for this grazing effort is to minimize the rate of spread of a potential fire by reducing ground fuels, ladder fuels, and overgrown vegetation on approximately 35 acres near Oro Dam Boulevard East.
Grazing is gaining popularity across California as a sustainable method to minimize wildfire risk and lessen the spread of a wildfire through vegetation management. The goats and sheep near Hyatt Powerplant will graze on grasses, leaves, poison oak, and a variety of shrubs and trees. By standing on their hind legs, they can reduce ladder fuels up to six feet high. Plus, they love to eat weeds, especially invasive ones.
The goat grazing project is part of DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan, which helps reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest health in areas around Lake Oroville within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) project boundary. In partnership with Butte County Fire Safe Council, DWR continues to use grazing as a sustainable method of fuel reduction around DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex.  
To learn more and to see goat grazing in action, visit DWRs YouTube Channel for a video of the March 2021 Lakeland Boulevard goat grazing project on DWR’s YouTube webpage.

OROVILLE RECREATION
The Loafer Point, Bidwell Canyon, and Lime Saddle boat ramps are open. The Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramp remains closed for repairs. The Foreman Creek and Stringtown cartop boat ramps are also open.
Information on current boat ramp status can be found on the California State Parks’ Lake Oroville State Recreation Area webpage. Scroll down to the link for “Current Launch Ramp Status”.
The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pick up the Lake Oroville Trails Map, which shows more than 91 miles of trails available to equestrians, bicyclists, and hikers, at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) kiosks, the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Feather River Recreation and Parks District. The Loafer Creek Recreation Area continues to be closed due to waterline repair (boat ramp and trail access allowed).
Visit the California Parks LOSRA webpage for current information on facility status and campground reservations. An interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Information about the 11,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area is available on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage.

CURRENT LAKE OPERATIONS
​The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 764 feet elevation and storage is about 1.81 million acre-feet, which is 51 percent of its total capacity and 68 percent of historical average. Dry and warmer conditions are forecasted this weekend and into the week with temperatures in the mid-70s to low-80s.    
Because of the recent rain, average daily inflows this week have been between 6,000 to 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and are projected to remain in this range through the weekend and into next week. Flows to the Feather River are 800 cfs. Flow in the low-flow channel through the City of Oroville is 650 cfs and flow through the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet currently is 150 cfs. Flows are assessed daily. 
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 4/21/2022

April 15, 2022

Flood Safety Stakeholder Technical Workshop  
On Friday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to noon, the Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission will be sponsoring a Flood Safety Stakeholder Technical Workshop. The purpose of this virtual workshop is to allow the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and other government officials to hear directly from and speak directly to community stakeholders about their goals, interests and concerns related to flood safety and downstream communities. There will be time for community stakeholder questions and comments following each presentation, and there will be additional time for questions and comments from community stakeholders during a public comment period following the presentations.
For more information about the virtual workshop please visit: https://bit.ly/OrovilleCAC.  

Grazing Goats Reduce Fire Risk
​Hillsides along the Dan Beebe Trail near Hyatt Powerplant and Oroville Dam’s Lower Overlook will look different after 600 goats and sheep from the Hanski Family Farms visit the area. The goal for this grazing effort is to minimize the rate of spread of a potential fire by reducing ground fuels, ladder fuels, and overgrown vegetation on approximately 35 acres near Oro Dam Boulevard East.
Grazing is gaining popularity across California as a sustainable method to minimize wildfire risk and lessen the spread of a wildfire through vegetation management. The goats and sheep near Hyatt Powerplant will graze on grasses, leaves, poison oak, and a variety of shrubs and trees. By standing on their hind legs, they can reduce ladder fuels up to six feet high. Plus, they love to eat weeds, especially invasive ones.
The goat grazing project is part of DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan, which helps reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and enhance forest health in areas around Lake Oroville within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) project boundary. In partnership with Butte County Fire Safe Council, DWR continues to use grazing as a sustainable method of fuel reduction around DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex.  
To learn more and to see goat grazing in action, visit DWRs YouTube Channel for a video of the March 2021 Lakeland Boulevard goat grazing project on DWR’s YouTube webpage.

Feather River Fish Hatchery Opens
All but one of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) fish hatcheries are open. The hatcheries have been closed for nearly two years during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main Feather River Fish Hatchery facility in Oroville is now open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. The viewing window and overlook side will continue to be open sunrise to sunset.
Learn how the hatchery raises Chinook salmon and steelhead to support California’s salmon populations during your visit. Interpretive panels describing the salmon life cycle, hatchery operations, and more are available for visitors. A virtual tour of the hatchery is also available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) YouTube channel. Guided tours of the hatchery will resume when the fall-run Chinook salmon return to the river later this year.
The Feather River Fish Hatchery (FRFH) is divided into 2 sections:

• The first section (viewing window side) includes the fish barrier dam, observation platform, and underwater viewing window, located on the east side of Table Mountain Boulevard. The underwater viewing windows are best for viewing fish from mid-September through June. This side of the facility is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
• The second section (main facility) includes the spawning room, hatchery, and rearing ponds located on the west side of Table Mountain Boulevard. Salmon spawning operations can be observed Monday through Friday beginning mid-September until mid-November. Steelhead spawning can be observed mid-December through mid-February. Fish are present in the rearing ponds year-round. This side of the facility is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Over 8 million spring-run and fall-run Chinook salmon are produced by the hatchery annually, along with nearly 450,000 steelhead who are returned to the Feather River or planted in the Thermalito Afterbay for recreational users. To mitigate impacts from this third year of drought conditions, the facility will be raising an additional 1.7 million fall-run Chinook salmon to support the Feather River population. An additional 125,000 Inland Chinook will be planted in Lake Oroville this spring.
The Feather River Fish Hatchery is a California State Water Project facility owned and maintained by DWR, which funds hatchery operations. CDFW operates the hatchery, including fish spawning, rearing, and stocking activities. DWR built the fish hatchery to mitigate the impact of the Oroville Dam on Chinook salmon and steelhead populations because the dam blocks access to natural spawning grounds further upstream.

Oroville Recreation
The Loafer Point, Bidwell Canyon, and Lime Saddle boat ramps are open. The Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramp remains closed for repairs. The Foreman Creek and Stringtown cartop boat ramps are also open.
Information on current boat ramp status can be found on the California State Parks’ Lake Oroville State Recreation Area webpage. Scroll down to the link for “Current Launch Ramp Status”.
The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pick up the Lake Oroville Trails Map, which shows more than 91 miles of trails available to equestrians, bicyclists, and hikers, at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) kiosks, the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Feather River Recreation and Parks District. The Loafer Creek Recreation Area continues to be closed due to waterline repair (boat ramp and trail access allowed).
Visit the California Parks LOSRA webpage for current information on facility status and campground reservations. An interactive map of recreation facilities in DWR’s Oroville-Thermalito Complex is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Information about the 11,000-acre Oroville Wildlife Area is available on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage.

Current Lake Operations
The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 754 feet elevation and storage is about 1.71 million acre-feet, which is 48 percent of its total capacity and 66 percent of historical average. Temperatures in the mid-to-upper-60s and rain is forecasted on Saturday with cooler temperatures and chance of rain continuing into next week. 
The average daily inflows this week have been between 3,000 to 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). Inflows into Lake Oroville this weekend may be in the range of 5,000 to 7,000 cfs due to the forecasted rain in the Feather River Basin.   
Throughout April, total flows to the Feather Rivers have been reduced to conserve storage. As of Friday, April 15, total flows to the Feather River are at 800 cfs. At 800 cfs to the Feather River, flow in the low-flow channel through the City of Oroville is 650 cfs and flow through the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet currently is 150 cfs. Flows are assessed daily. 
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center at www.cdec.water.ca.gov. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”.
All data as of midnight 4/14/2022​