May 2, 2019Oroville Operations and Main Spillway UpdateLake Level
The current Oroville reservoir elevation is 884 feet. Total releases into the Feather River continue at 10,500 cubic feet per second (cfs). DWR is safely managing Oroville reservoir inflows from melting snowpack and plans to keep lake levels high through spring and summer. DWR is operating the reservoir in accordance with normal state and federal regulations. A full lake is a welcome sight after years of drought and low levels to accommodate reconstruction. Good news as we head into the summer months for all those who love to recreate on the lake!
Thermalito Diversion Pool and Brad Freeman Trail Reopening
The Thermalito Diversion Pool and Brad Freeman Trail will reopen to the public on Friday, May 3. Kayakers, mountain bikers and hikers can access both areas seven days a week from 8 a.m. to sunset. Kayaks, non-motorized boats (electric motors allowed) and non-trailered boats can access the day use area located along Burma Road and bikers and hikers can take advantage of the two-mile section of the Brad Freeman Trail along the northern shore of the Diversion Pool.
Main Spillway
Releases from the Hyatt Powerplant are adequate to meet operational requirements of the reservoir and there is no need to use the main spillway at this time. However, DWR may need to use the main spillway again this spring to manage inflows from snowmelt and will notify the public and media if this is necessary.
The Oroville main spillway is fully reconstructed and performed as designed when it was used in early April. DWR and expert consultants continue to monitor the main spillway, so workers may be visible on the spillway structure. When it is not in use, water on the spillway is from normal seepage through the spillway gates, which were not designed to be watertight.
Road Construction
Repaving operations continue on Oroville Dam Crest Road, the Spillway Boat Launch facility, and other nearby roads. Paving construction vehicles will continue to use Hyatt Access Road through May 29. Motorists and residents should anticipate additional construction traffic on Canyon Drive and on Oro Dam Blvd. East to the Hyatt Access Road Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. DWR apologizes for any inconvenience and will notify the public when there are any changes to this information. Thank you for your continued patience.
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For more information please contact oroville@water.ca.gov or visit:https://water.ca.gov/Programs/State-Water-Project/SWP-Facilities/Oroville/Oroville-Spillways

April 26, 2019Oroville Operations and Main Spillway UpdateCORRECTION: In our earlier notification, we stated that repaving operations on area roadways will be underway Monday to Friday through May 29. Paving will also take place this Sunday April 29 and on Saturdays through the end of May.
Oroville’s current reservoir elevation is 877 feet, an increase of 10 feet from last week. Total releases to the Feather River have also increased slightly to 10,500 cubic feet per second (cfs). Oroville’s operations plan is designed to safely accommodate inflows from the above average snowpack, and DWR is aiming to keep lake levels high through spring and summer. Currently, releases from the Hyatt Powerplant are adequate to meet operational requirements of the reservoir and there is no need to use the main spillway at this time. However, we may need to use the main spillway again this year to manage inflows from increased snow melt. DWR will notify the public and media of any planned use of the main spillway.
The main spillway performed as designed when it was used April 2 through April 10, with releases topping out at 25,000 cfs. DWR engineers will continue to perform a thorough inspection of the main spillway to further evaluate its performance and will continue to be visible on the spillway structure. Water currently seen on the spillway results from normal seepage through the spillway radial gates, which are not designed to be watertight. Sandbags are used to direct the flow of water to one side of the spillway or the other to allow for safe access by DWR engineers.
DWR contractors have begun repaving operations on the Oroville Dam Crest Road, the Spillway Boat Launch facility and other area roadways. Paving construction vehicles will continue to use Hyatt Access Road through May 29. Motorists and residents should anticipate additional construction traffic on Canyon Drive and on Oro Dam Blvd. East to the Hyatt Access Road Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience and will notify you if there are any changes. Thank you for your continued patience.
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For more information, follow us on Twitter or Facebook and read our news releases and DWR updates.

Feather Fiesta Days, our hometown celebration kicks off this Saturday! This unique festival is more than a one day run. There is plenty to do for the nine days this festival lasts.
Today, we will be talking about what is happening during this first weekend of festivities. If you want all the details, head to FeatherFiestaDays.org.
May 3First Friday Margarita & Salsa Taste-Off
Historic Downtown Oroville
5:00 to 8:00 pm
Tickets: $15
Dan Cribb at Purple Line Urban Winery
Purple Line Urban Winery, 760 Safford St.
6:00 to 9:00 pm
May 42nd Annual Color Run/Walk
Centennial Park
7:00 to 9:00 am
Registration: $25
Oroville Aerie FOE 196 5th Annual BBQ Rib Cook-Off
Eagles Hall at Myers & Montgomery St.
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
The Exchange Club's Ugly Dog Contest
Bedrock Park, 1101 5th Ave.
11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Mother and Son Superhero Dance
FRRPD Activity Center, 1875 Feather River Blvd.
1:00 to 4:00 pm
Tickets: $20 a couple, $5 each additional child, $15 each additional adult
Days of Wine and Rose'
Purple Line Urban Winery, 760 Safford St.
6:00 to 8:00 pm
Donation: $20
The Pump and Dump Show: 2019 Parentally Incorrect Tour
Gold Country Casino Resort, 4020 Olive Hwy.
8:00 to 9:00 pm
Tickets: $25-$45
**Must be 21 or older to attend
May 51st Sunday Pancake Breakfast
Wyandotte Grange, 4910 Foothill Blvd.
7:30 to 10:30 am
Cost: $8 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under.

​OROVILLE — A city with a bright future, ready to help its citizens and boost up businesses is how Mayor Chuck Reynolds described Oroville during his State of the City Address.To an audience of about 40 Thursday night in the State Theater, Reynolds noted there have been challenges, but they are being outweighed by the positives. Those ranged from a hard-working citizenry to a dedicated city staff to resources like nearby Chico State University and Butte College.
He applauded the $200 million expansion of Oroville Hospital, which will put the community in the forefront of health care services in the north valley, while providing well-paying jobs.The sales tax measure that voters supported will help with the year-over-year deficits caused by the economic downturn and demanding state. The estimated $4 million addition to the city’s coffers will result in hiring of more in police, fire, parks, trees and public works departments, he said.
Elected mayor by the voters, Reynolds noted there have been plenty of challenges in the short time he’s served on the council, but he said his optimism is strong.
“No success, none of it, happens as a result of chance but because of choice.”
Reynolds sees bright spots for Oroville in health care, manufacturing and services.
“Oroville has the necessary tools” to attract businesses that will provide more jobs. Reynolds committed to careful attention to business needs, saying if the city’s permitting process or wait times are too long that will be tackled.
As an indicator, he mentioned the launching of the new Chipotle restaurant which will be the first Chipotle with a drive thru in California.
One challenge Reynolds hopes to focus attention is Oroville’s inadequate housing stock, which is top heavy in “starter homes” with little in the middle range. He noted that coming residential project Sierra Heights will provide affordable senior housing.
Another involves Oroville’s young people. In 2016, Oroville, he said, had one of the state’s “highest rates of young people not going to school or not having a job.”
With the help of the community, schools, families, nonprofit and city leaders, that can change to create a robust workforce that will attract companies looking for skilled and talented workers, he noted.
And like other California cities, Oroville residents struggle with opioid addiction and homelessness. Reversing those trends will take resources and patience.
Regarding homelessness, he acknowledged contributions from the Hope Center, Haven of Hope on Wheels which provides shower and laundry services, as well as the Oroville Rescue Mission. All of which, he noted, need support from the private sector.
In addition to the mayor’s address, the evening included the awarding of the first-ever Voice for the Arts awards, and the annual Samuel Norris award.
Voice for the Arts AwardFor the first time, the Voice for the Arts Awards were delivered to an individual and a group.
Recipient James Christensen was honored for being an “avid supporter of young people and an appreciator of music.” A music instructor at Oroville High School, he was a founding member of Oroville Community Concert Band, and at one time managed the State Theatre.
As a group recipient, the State Theatre Arts Guild was honored for its work as “guardian of the theater,” from raising money to diversifying arts and entertainment available in Oroville
Sam Norris Award
 
 
 
 Nominated by the community, the Samuel J. Norris Award for Excellence went to Orville “Bud” Tracy.
In his introduction, Councilor Scott Thomson called Tracy “an advocate, visionary, achiever and inspirational leader” for Oroville.
Named for a city engineer who contributed mightily to Oroville, the annual award is for improving the quality of life in Oroville, among other contributions.
Tracy was nominated for his many years of involvement with Oroville’s development, from attracting the Northwest Lineman College, to purchasing and renovating the Oroville Inn for lineman students and local events.
He was also acknowledged for his effort to form a downtown business improvement district.
Courtesy Enterprise Record Article
 

​On Thursday, April 11 we held our sold out 75th Oroville Chamber Annual Dinner. We wanted to take this time and thank everyone who attended and everyone who sponsored our event.
Our Annual Dinner was fantastic and full of super fun! With the theme of superheroes, Butte County's very own superhero Sheriff Kory Honea was the guest keynote speaker. We also took the time to honor some of our members who stepped up during the Camp Fire incident: The Hope Center, Jordan Crossing Ministry, River of Life Church, Ampla Health, The Salvation Army, Northwest SPCA, Ed Gilbert with Feather Falls Casino & Lodge, Oroville Rescue Mission, YMCA of Oroville, African American Family & Cultural Center, and The Father's House Church.
Feather Falls Casino & Lodge served an amazing dinner of prime rib, chicken cordon bleu, mahi mahi, and custom cakes for the event. We also held an amazing raffle with prizes donated from local companies.
If you missed this year's event you can see all the fun through our pictures on the Oroville Chamber's Facebook page. Also, keep an eye out for our Annual BBQ this September that promises to offer a family-friendly picnic atmosphere.
Thank You Sponsors!
Title Sponsor
California Water Service
Platinum Sponsors
Oroville Hospital, Feather Falls Casino, Deer Creek Broadcasting
Bronze Sponsors
Golden Valley Bank, Recology, Rabobank
Thank You Raffle Item Donators!
Gallery Interiors, The Restored Boutique, Feather River Lapidary Society, Mountain Mikes Pizza, Gold Country Casino Resort, Table Mountain Golf Club, Taco Bell, Bolt’s Antique Tool Museum, Alpine Portable Toilets, Forebay Aquatic Center, High Tech Carpet Cleaning, Purple Line Urban Winery, Tong Fong Low, Yoville Yogurt, Oroville Car Wash, Feather Falls Casino & Lodge, Table Mountain Property Management, AAA,
Butte College

​River Bend Park, of Feather River Recreation and Park District, was featured on the M-R front page in a story about a group of “Park Watch” volunteers watching out for the well-being of the park.
Park District board member Kent Fowler, directing the Park Watch, has advocated park watching, even a number of years ago when his wife Margaret was Feather River Nature Center president, and he was helping watch for invasive plants and providing protection around the Old Bathhouse park. I especially remember him defending our wildflower habitat along the riverside.
When the Hmong people first arrived in Oroville, they had some “living off the land habits” from Vietnam, and before they learned about our park laws, were attacking local wildlife to eat — especially edible plants, including pea-family plants near the nature center. Kent corrected that misunderstanding –quite adamantly!
Kent is the conscience and compassion of Oroville parks. He has organized a squad of Park Watch volunteers just to have a citizenry presence to discourage hoodlums and encourage nature watching and proper use of the parks. The facilities and habitats have taken a heavy hit in recent times, which makes it bad for wildlife and people.
“Park Watch” is quite appropriate in this age of cellphones for seeing and reporting, plus the handy phone-camera makes it a “Dick Tracy” special! (Remember years before smart phones when comic-book character Dick Tracy had a “smart phone wristwatch?”)
Kent said, “If you can spare five minutes, just go off the main road and keep your eyes open. You might see something!” I like that. He was largely referring to park mischief, but I also saw a bit of nature wisdom in those words.
“Go off the main road and keep your eyes open!” “You can observe a lot by just watching!” Yogi had it right. Kent has it right. “Watch!” Even Jesus of the Holy Bible said it: “What I say unto you, I say unto all, ‘watch!’” Mark 13:37.
The Biblical wisdom may have directly been referring to a different dimension of watching, but it is equivalent to watching for a vandal, or watching for the coming of the swallow after a cold winter. Watching for the salmon in the fall, or the coming of the migratory waterfowl from the Arctic … those are worthy things to watch for. You can watch for wildlife while watching for miscreants! “Be a good River Watcher!”
As such, my job was as a park watcher-naturalist for 32 years at Oakland Nature Center and Lake Merritt Wildlife Refuge — at a time when I was agile and could run down those thieving gosling and purse snatchers.
There are many things you can watch for while watching for specific subjects. Artists and photographers know that. Bird watchers know that. Rock hunters know that. Wildlife just happens to be part of a healthy environment, and you have two eyes so you can watch twice as much! Actually, we should be very thankful for having sight at all, as miraculous as it is. You catch on to that truth when dealing with cataracts or sight problems.
There have been numerous advocates for the out-of-doors down through the ages for those who, in the love of nature, hold communion with her visible forms, and who have developed exceptional eyesight and been privileged to use it for enhancing the wilderness they love.
The list is long for the past few hundred years when the likes of John Muir and nature people have crusaded together to contribute to the understanding and conservation of our environment. The list encompasses those Oroville park watchers who are joining the gathering of people concerned with the appearance and understanding of our wild heritage. I stand with you.
Courtesy of a Mercury Register Article

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

​OROVILLE — Citizens of Oroville came together Saturday to help clean up the downtown area for the first Service Saturday of the year.
Read more at the Oroville MR article Click Here

 

OROVILLE — Kids and adults of all ages were looking high and low around Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Oroville Saturday for the sixth annual Southside Easter Egg Hunt.
This year, Haven of Hope on Wheels sponsored the event and organized it along with other community organizations such as Positive Reaction, Tree of Hope and African American Family Culture Center.
Pastor Kevin Thompson with Haven of Hope on Wheels said this was an event to help the community come together.
Read more in the Mercury Register Article

In this member spotlight we will be focusing on our agriculture and farm members. These Chamber Members offer a very valuable and delicious resource to the Oroville and surrounding communities.
(Click the business name for more information.)
Berkeley Olive Grove 1913 - This olive grove started in 1913 and has been creating award winning olive oils ever since. Their extra virgin olive oils have one best of show, best of class, and gold medals among various other awards.
Butte View Olive Oil - This small oil plant that started in the early 2000s allows the producers to control the entire production process, which maximizes the quality of their oils and flavored oils. Located at 2950, Oroville, CA.
California Olive Ranch - This olive ranch produces one of the highest quality extra virgin olive oil. Based in Chico this company blends olive oils from California and around the world.
Tri-L Mandarin Ranch - This ranch offers delicious juicy mandarins during their harvest season in November and December. To celebrate they also host an annual Harvest Festival.
To view the full list of Chamber Members, visit our Business Directory.

For all of you interested in the great outdoors, Feather Falls is a must see. The view of the towering waterfall is a 4.5-mile hike from the base. The total round trip from top to bottom is over 8 miles, so be sure to stay hydrated throughout your journey.
The falls reach a 410-foot vertical granite slab where it projects its energy through a narrow passageway. During the late winter months, the water levels reach maximum levels and allow Feather Falls to come alive.
The top of the falls is easily accessible and delivers a breathtaking scene of the deep valley that lies beneath. For those who are not fans of heights, an additional viewpoint was constructed that allows viewers to observe from a comfortable distance.
There is a big parking lot and pit toilets at the trailhead. There's only one trail from the parking lot and about 1/2 mi in it splits off to Upper/Lower Trails. The lower more strenuous trail is 3.5 miles and a moderate to heavy hike. The upper trail is moderate but a little longer hike of 4.5 miles. Most of all don't forget your camera! Feather Falls never disappoints and it is definitely a bucket list hike.
Click here for trail map.

If you’ve ever wished you could walk through fields of wildflowers with waterfalls around every corner then North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve in the springtime is the place for you! It is best to take your time and make a day of it. Start off by getting a picnic lunch at Wagon Wheel Market where you can find fresh local food and a delicious deli! Official access to the reserve is through a parking lot on the west side of Cherokee Road. You will know you’ve arrived when you see a blue gate. There are no specific trails so you have to explore this area old-school style by following streams to get to the waterfalls or by using a compass. There are several species of flowers that bloom during this period. The most common are lupine, frying-pan poppy, and goldfields. The flowers are protected by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, so picking them is illegal, but visitors are allowed to look and even touch the flowers, as long as they are not damaged. The best flowers are usually found in the area between Fern and Phantom Falls.
After spending the day chasing waterfalls and hiking through ancient lava fields, you can grab a bite to eat and a beer at The Exchange in Oroville, just a 20-minute drive away.   
Passes: A CDFW Lands Pass must be carried by each visitor who is 16 years of age or older, however, visitors who are carrying a valid California hunting or fishing license in their name are exempt from this requirement. Lands passes may be purchased on-line, by phone at (800) 565-1458, or in-person at locations wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold. Lands passes cannot be substituted for Wildlife Area Hunting Passes, which are required for adult hunters on Type-A and Type-B wildlife areas.

APRIL 6 RIVERBEND PARK 60 MONTGOMERY ST | OROVILLE, CA
Come celebrate springtime at the Wildflower & Nature Festival. The free family-friendly event will be held at the newly reopened River Bend Park. This event is centered around the nature of Butte County focusing mainly on the Oroville area.
There will be bus tours to see the wildflowers on Table Mountain, a children’s craft and game area, food vendors, and live music. Local businesses will have handmade and natural items for sale and provide educational information. The two guided bus tours to table mountain during the event. Seats for the two guided bus tours to table mountain are reserved with a $10 donation per person and seats fill up fast!  For more information call the Feather River Recreation and Park District at (530) 533-2011 or Click Here.

We would like to proudly announce our upcoming Oroville Chamber Annual Dinner on April 11 with special guest keynote speaker Sheriff Kory Honea! Join us as we look back on our last year's accomplishments and celebrate local super heroes.
The event will be held at Feather Falls Brewing Company and will include dinner, entertainment, a photo booth, and a raffle. Tickets are only $40 per person!
We are also still looking for sponsorships and raffle item donations.
For full event details, Click Here.

This is part two of our spotlight on our advertising and media members. Whether you are looking to advertise, want a resource for local news, or need assistance creating your own media, our Chamber Members are here to help you.
(Click the business name for more information.)
Oroville Mercury-Register – This local newspaper serves the whole Butte County Area. They are the perfect place to advertise your upcoming events and specials.
Oroville News Live – With an enormous Facebook following and a blog, Oroville News Live covers everything that has to do with Oroville.
Stott Outdoor Advertising – Want to advertise your business in a big way? Stott Outdoor Advertising has billboard space throughout California.
Valley Yellow Pages – Reach Northern California with Valley Yellow Pages. This everlasting form of media makes it easy for anybody to find your business.
To view the full list of Chamber Members, visit our Business Directory.