  October 9, 2020 North Complex Fire Update Butte County’s “North Complex – West Zone Fire” is now 98 percent contained with over 84,595 acres burned as of Friday, Oct. 9. The fire severely damaged communities around Lake Oroville. Several Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) facilities were also damaged including Loafer Creek Recreation Area which remains closed. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is working closely with California State Parks (CA Parks), CALFIRE, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), and wildfire response partners in fire recovery efforts and in planning for winter precipitation impacts in burn scar areas. Oroville Recreation Openings Update The Lime Saddle and Oroville Dam Spillway boat ramps are open and the Bidwell Canyon boat launch is open on weekends while construction, expected to be completed in November, is underway. (See below for information.) Bidwell Canyon and Lake Oroville (Lime Saddle) marinas are open for normal operation under regular winter schedules. Visit the CA Parks LOSRA webpage for current information on facility status as well as current requirements to protect public health during the COVID pandemic. Area trails, including a newly opened portion of the Brad Freeman Trail from the Spillway boat ramp area to the Thermalito Diversion Pool, are open. Exceptions are the Potter’s Ravine and North Fork trails near the Spillway boat launch area and trails in the Loafer Creek recreation area, which will remain closed through the winter to repair fire damage. Enterprise, Stringtown, and Foreman Creek boat ramp areas, the Loafer Creek Recreation Area, and Lake Oroville Visitor Center also remain closed. The Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, remains open from 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Current recreation facility information can be found on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage, CA Parks LOSRA webpage, and the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Closed Weekdays for Facility Improvements The Bidwell Canyon boat ramp will be closed weekdays, Monday through Friday, from Oct. 5 to Nov. 18 to continue construction started in 2018 to expand the parking area and provide two additional boat ramp lanes to 700 feet. The boat ramp will open at 5 a.m. on Saturdays and close at midnight Sundays. Kelly Ridge and Arroyo Drive residents should anticipate large construction equipment and rock and concrete deliveries in the area. As they do every fall, lake levels are decreasing, and the Bidwell Canyon Stage One boat ramp is now out of the water. Both the Lime Saddle and Spillway boat ramps are available for use during Stage Two construction activities. The Bidwell Canyon Marina and shuttle services remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Loafer Creek Recreation Area remains closed for fire recovery and its boat ramps are also out of the water. Photo: Construction of new boat ramp at Bidwell Canyon Recreation Area  Chinook Salmon Return to the Feather River
Chinook salmon are completing their life cycle and returning home to the Feather River to lay eggs for the next generation of salmon. The Feather River Fish Hatchery’s fish ladder is open and hatchery spawning operations – which enable millions of Chinook salmon to be released to the river every spring – are underway. To protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hatchery will not be open for tours this year. Visitors can still enjoy seeing salmon climb the fish ladder at the Viewing Area near the Feather River’s Fish Diversion Dam north of the Hatchery. The public is urged to maintain physical distancing and abide by requirements for mask-wearing to protect personal health and the health of others. Photo: Salmon about to jump the fish ladder at the Feather River Fish Hatchery's viewing window Installation of Piezometers Completed at Oroville Dam Four new piezometers have been installed at the headworks of Oroville Dam’s main, or flood control outlet (FCO), spillway. The piezometers will collect data from the FCO foundation which houses the spillway’s eight gates which control water flow down the main spillway. The data will be used to confirm drain performance, inform on-going structural modeling and analyses, and inform future improvements to the structure. This work, completed on Oct. 5, is part of early implementation of the Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA), which is focused on identifying priorities and appropriate solutions to bolster the integrity and resiliency of the Oroville Dam complex to ensure public safety. Several piezometers were originally installed in the dam over fifty years ago which, as anticipated, have since stopped functioning. DWR continues its work to install additional instrumentation throughout the facility to provide ongoing, real-time data to DWR engineers, including eight new piezometers installed earlier this year at the base of Oroville Dam. DWR Water Wednesdays It’s not too early to start thinking about winter storms and flood risk. DWR’s Water Wednesdays program is currently focusing on how DWR prepares for severe winter storms and flood events, and how you can be prepared too. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The episodes are live, allowing participants who have signed up on Zoom to ask real time questions of the speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join or register for next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Water Wednesdays began in May 2020 and previous episodes are available on DWR’s YouTube channel – enter Water Wednesdays in the search bar. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 741 feet and storage is about 1.60 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,035 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,295 over the past week. Weather will be cloudy with a slight chance of rainfall Oct. 10-11. During the week of Oct. 12, temperatures are projected to warm into the mid to high 80’s. The total releases to Feather River continue at 2,600 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 1,800 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 2,600 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. During the week of Oct. 12, total releases to the Feather River will be slightly reduced. The reduction will be from the Outlet - the Low Flow Channel will be maintained at 800 cfs. All data as of midnight 10/8/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  October 2, 2020 Bear/North Complex Fire Impacts Oroville The Butte County’s Bear Fire, called “North Complex – West Zone Fire” is now 95 percent contained with over 84,595 acres burned as of Friday, Oct. 2. The fire severely damaged communities around Lake Oroville, including several Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) facilities including Loafer Creek Recreation Area which remains closed. The Bidwell Canyon Marina and Lime Saddle Marina have not sustained damage and there are currently no risks to Oroville Dam or its related structures. The fire remains active near the upper reaches of Lake Oroville’s North Fork of the Feather River. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is working closely with California State Parks (CA Parks), CALFIRE, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E,) and local law enforcement partners in fire recovery efforts. DWR’s water delivery and other critical operations are ongoing with essential staff on site. Photo: A smoky haze sits over the Bidwell Bar Bridge near Lake Oroville’s Bidwell Canyon Marina - courtesy S. McReynolds Oroville Recreation Openings Update As containment of the North Complex – West Zone grows, fire risks to Lake Oroville recreation facilities have decreased. Effective Friday, Oct. 2, the Bidwell Canyon, Lime Saddle, and Oroville Dam Spillway boat launches are open. (See below for upcoming closure of Bidwell Canyon boat ramp.) Bidwell Canyon and Lake Oroville (Lime Saddle) marinas are open for normal operation under regular winter schedules. Please visit the CA Parks LOSRA webpage for information on current status of all LOSRA facilities. Oroville Dam Crest Road across the top of Oroville Dam is open to bicyclists and pedestrians. The newly opened Brad Freeman Trail down to the now open Thermalito Diversion Pool may be accessed from the new gravel parking lot at the north side of the Spillway Day Use Area. The Dan Beebe Trail on the south side of the Diversion Pool; the North and South Forebay Recreation Areas; the Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area; and the Saddle Dam trailhead are all open. Potter’s Ravine and North Fork trails near the Spillway boat launch will remain closed through the winter to repair fire damage. Enterprise, Stringtown, and Foreman Creek boat launch areas, the Loafer Creek Recreation Area, and Lake Oroville Visitor Center also remain closed. The Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, remains open from 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Current recreation facility information can be found on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage, CA Parks LOSRA webpage, and the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. Bidwell Canyon Stage Two Boat Ramp to Close for Facility Improvements The Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Stage Two Improvement Project resumed work on Sept. 23 after being temporarily halted due to the North Complex – West Zone fire. The Project continues construction started in 2018 to expand the parking area and provide two additional boat ramp lanes to 700 feet. The Stage Two boat ramps will be closed weekdays, Monday through Friday, from Oct. 5 to Nov. 18. Kelly Ridge and Arroyo Drive residents should anticipate large construction equipment and rock and concrete deliveries in the area. As they do every fall, lake levels are decreasing, leaving the Bidwell Canyon Stage One boat ramps with only a few days left for access. It is anticipated that lake levels will drop below the boat ramp between Oct. 5 and Oct. 7. Both the Lime Saddle and Spillway boat ramps will be available for use. Loafer Creek Recreation Area remains closed for fire recovery and its boat ramps are out of the water. The Bidwell Canyon Marina and shuttle services remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors are reminded to be safe and obey access restrictions.  Chinook Salmon Return to the Feather River
Chinook salmon are completing their life cycle and returning home to the Feather River to lay eggs for the next generation of salmon. The Feather River Fish Hatchery’s fish ladder is open and hatchery spawning operations – which enable millions of Chinook salmon to be released to the river every spring – are underway. To protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hatchery will not be open for tours this year. Visitors can still enjoy seeing salmon climb the fish ladder at the Viewing Area near the Feather River’s Fish Diversion Dam north of the Hatchery. The public is urged to maintain physical distancing and abide by requirements for mask-wearing to protect personal health and the health of others. Photo: Children watch salmon swim up the fish ladder at the Feather River Fish Hatchery's viewing window DWR Water Wednesdays It’s not too early to start thinking about winter storms and flood risk. Over the next few weeks, DWR’s Water Wednesdays program will focus on how DWR prepares for severe winter storms and flood events, and how you can be prepared too. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The episodes are live, allowing participants who have signed up on Zoom to ask real time questions of the speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join or register for next Wednesday’s chat which starts a series on flood preparedness. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Water Wednesdays began in May 2020 and previous episodes are available on DWR’s YouTube channel – enter Water Wednesdays in the search bar. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 744 feet and storage is about 1.62 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 864 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 1,499 over the past week. During the week of Oct. 5, temperatures are projected to drop from the mid-90s to the low 80s by the end of the week. The water year begins Oct. 1 and with no measurable precipitation, the Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals begin at zero percent. The total releases to Feather River continue at 2,600 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 1,800 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet for a total of 2,600 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 10/1/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.   September 25, 2020 Bear/North Complex Fire Impacts Oroville Firefighters are gaining traction against Butte County’s Bear Fire, called “North Complex – West Zone Fire”. Severely damaging communities around Lake Oroville, including several Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) facilities, the fire is now 73 percent contained with over 84,000 acres burned as of Friday, Sept. 25. Locations along the North Fork of Lake Oroville, as well as areas on the South Fork remain active fire zones. The Bidwell Canyon Marina and Lime Saddle Marina have not sustained damage and there are currently no risks to Oroville Dam or its related structures. Due to continuing fire behavior, many LOSRA facilities are currently closed. (See more recreation information below.) The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to monitor the fire’s status and is actively working with CALFIRE, local law enforcement partners, and California State Parks (CA Parks) staff to ensure employee and public safety. CA Parks staff are providing support to firefighters by boat from Lake Oroville, and a camp for fire support has been established at the Loafer Creek recreation area – which is still closed to the public. DWR’s water delivery and other critical operations are ongoing with essential staff on site. Photo: A smoky haze sits over the Bidwell Bar Bridge near Lake Oroville’s Bidwell Canyon Marina - courtesy S. McReynolds Oroville Recreation Closures Update Due to fire impacts and continued danger to the public from the North Complex – West Zone fire, many Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) facilities are closed until further notice, including boat launches, day use areas, and trails. The Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle marinas are open only for houseboat owners who may access their houseboats with proof of ownership. No overnight houseboat stays or boating is allowed on Lake Oroville. Current status of openings and closings can be found on the CA Parks LOSRA webpage. Oroville Dam Crest Road across the top of Oroville Dam is open to bicyclists and pedestrians. Although the Spillway Boat Ramp and Day Use Area are closed, the newly opened Brad Freeman Trail down to the Thermalito Diversion Pool may be accessed from the new gravel parking lot at the north side of the Spillway Day Use Area. The Diversion Pool is now open to non-motorized watercraft. All other trails around Lake Oroville are currently closed. The Dan Beebe Trail on the south side of the Diversion Pool; the North and South Forebay Recreation Areas; and the Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area are all open. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay is temporarily closed but has scheduled kayak floats to view salmon spawning in the Feather River (see information below). The Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, remains open from 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Current recreation facility information can be found on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage, CA Parks LOSRA webpage, and the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. See below for information about the Feather River Fish Hatchery.  Chinook Salmon Return to the Feather River
Chinook salmon are completing their life cycle and returning home to the Feather River to lay eggs for the next generation of salmon. The Feather River Fish Hatchery opened the fish ladder on Sept. 14 to begin hatchery spawning operations which enables millions of Chinook salmon to be released to the river every spring. To protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hatchery will not be open for tours this year. Visitors can still enjoy seeing salmon climb the fish ladder at the Viewing Area near the Feather River’s Fish Diversion Dam north of the Hatchery. Oroville’s annual Salmon Festival has been scaled down to protect public health with only a few activities scheduled, including kayak ‘floats’ organized by the Forebay Aquatic Center to watch salmon in the Feather River Sept. 26 and Sept. 27. Information about the Festival, and a link to sign up for the kayak ‘floats’, can be found on the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce website. Photo: Children watch salmon swim up the fish ladder at the Feather River Fish Hatchery's viewing window Learn all about Salmon – DWR’s Water Wednesdays The Feather River Fish Hatchery is closed, but you can still learn about salmon through DWR’s Water Wednesdays program on DWR’s YouTube channel. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The recent five-part series took a look at the lifecycle of the Chinook salmon that spawn in the Feather River, travel downriver, through the Delta, and finally to the ocean. The episodes are live, allowing participants who have signed up on Zoom to ask real time questions of the speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join or register for next Wednesday’s chat which starts a series on flood preparedness. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Water Wednesdays began in May 2020 and previous episodes are available on DWR’s YouTube channel – enter Water Wednesdays in the search bar. Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Improvement Project The Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Stage Two Improvement Project temporarily halted due to the North Complex – West Zone fire, is back underway, and will continue as long as air quality and lake levels allow. Kelly Ridge and Arroyo Drive residents can expect to see large construction equipment, as well as rock and concrete deliveries, in the area from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays as the contractor works to complete the project by mid-November. As lake levels decrease, this construction continues a project that started in Fall 2018 to expand the Stage Two parking area and provide two additional Stage Two boat ramp lanes to 700 feet. In February of 2019, construction was halted due to rising lake levels, but not before completion of a new lower-level, concrete parking lot, expansion of Bidwell Canyon’s mid-level boat launch from three to five lanes, and the addition of two boarding float lanes. Construction also improved the vertical curve at the top of the boat ramp to accommodate larger trailers. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 747 feet and storage is about 1.65 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,560 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,898 over the past week. Temperatures will increase to the low 100s this weekend and early next week but are forecasted to drop to the mid- to upper-90s in the middle of the week. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 62 percent of normal. The total releases to Feather River continue at 2,600 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 1,800 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet for a total of 2,600 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 9/25/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  September 18, 2020 Bear/North Complex Fire Impacts Oroville Butte County’s Bear Fire, now named “North Complex – West Zone Fire”, has burned over 78,000 acres with 43 percent containment as of Friday, Sept. 18. The fire has severely damaged communities around Lake Oroville, including several Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) facilities. Locations along the North Fork of Lake Oroville, as well as areas on the Middle and South Forks remain an active fire zones. The Bidwell Canyon Marina and Lime Saddle Marina have not sustained damage and there are currently no risks to Oroville Dam or its related structures. Due to continuing fire behavior, many LOSRA facilities are currently closed. (See more recreation information below.) The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to monitor the fire’s status and is actively working with CALFIRE, local law enforcement partners, and California State Parks (CA Parks) staff to ensure employee and public safety. CA Parks staff are providing support to firefighters by boat from Lake Oroville, and a camp for fire support has been established at the Loafer Creek recreation area – which is still closed to the public. DWR’s water delivery and other critical operations are ongoing with essential staff on site. Photo: Firefighter staging area at Lime Saddle Recreation Area at Lake Oroville North Fork's West Branch of the Feather River. Oroville Recreation Closures Update Due to fire impacts and continued danger to the public from the North Complex – West Zone fire, many Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) facilities are closed until further notice, including boat launches, day use areas, and trails. The Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle marinas are open only for houseboat owners who may access their houseboats with proof of ownership. No overnight houseboat stays or boating is allowed on Lake Oroville. Oroville Dam Crest Road across the top of Oroville Dam is open to bicyclists and pedestrians. Although the Spillway Boat Ramp and Day Use Area are closed, the newly opened Brad Freeman Trail down to the Thermalito Diversion Pool may be accessed from the new gravel parking lot at the north side of the Spillway Day Use Area. The Diversion Pool is now open to non-motorized watercraft. All other trails around Lake Oroville are currently closed. The Dan Beebe Trail on the south side of the Diversion Pool; the North and South Forebay Recreation Areas; and the Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area are all open. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay is temporarily closed. The Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, remains open from 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Current recreation facility information can be found on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage, CA Parks LOSRA webpage, and the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage. See below for information about the Feather River Fish Hatchery.  Chinook Salmon Return to the Feather River
Chinook salmon are completing their life cycle and returning home to the Feather River to lay eggs for the next generation of salmon. The Feather River Fish Hatchery opened the fish ladder on Sept. 14 to begin hatchery spawning operations which enables millions of Chinook salmon to be released to the river every spring. In order to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hatchery will not be open for tours this year. Visitors can still enjoy seeing salmon climb the fish ladder at the Viewing Area near the Feather River’s Fish Diversion Dam north of the Hatchery. Oroville’s annual Salmon Festival has been scaled down to protect public health with only a few activities scheduled, including kayak ‘floats’ organized by the Forebay Aquatic Center to watch salmon in the Feather River Sept. 26 and Sept. 27. Information about the Festival, and a link to sign up for the kayak ‘floats’, can be found on the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce website. Learn all about Salmon – DWR’s Water Wednesdays The Feather River Fish Hatchery is closed but you can still learn about salmon this month through DWR’s Water Wednesdays program at 1 p.m. on DWR’s YouTube channel. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The fall season began Aug. 26 with a five-part look at the lifecycle of the Chinook salmon that spawn in the Feather River, travel downriver, through the Delta, and finally to the ocean. Interested participants can pre-register through Zoom which will allow them to ask real time questions of the speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join or register for next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Water Wednesdays began in May 2020 and previous episodes are available on DWR’s YouTube channel – enter Water Wednesdays in the search bar. Diversion Pool Trails and Area Roadways to Close for Utility Work Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) crews are scheduled to remove three conductors from the Caribou-Palermo 115KV transmission line that crosses the Thermalito Diversion Pool Sept.18 through Sept. 25. Visitors and area residents will see helicopter activity in the area during conductor removal. Portions of the Brad Freeman Trail north and south of the Thermalito Diversion Pool; the Dan Beebe Trail; and areas around the trailhead on Lakeland Boulevard on the south side of the Diversion Pool will close for various periods Sept. 18 to Sept. 25. Traffic on Lakeland Boulevard west of Reyman Street will also experience temporary delays when work is occurring on the conductors crossing the road. Signage regarding upcoming work will be posted on area trails in advance of closures. Visitors are reminded to be safe and obey access restrictions. Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Improvement Project The Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Stage Two Improvement Project was temporarily halted due to the North Complex – West Zone fire. The project plans to resume work in the upcoming week. Kelly Ridge and Arroyo Drive residents can expect to see large construction equipment, as well as rock and concrete deliveries, in the area from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays as the contractor works to complete the project by mid-November. This is a continuation of a project that started in Fall 2018 to expand the Stage Two parking area and provide two additional Stage Two boat ramp lanes to 700 feet. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 749 feet and storage is about 1.67 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,963 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,653 over the past week. Temperatures continue to be relatively moderate into the week of Sept. 21 as the temperatures are forecast to be in the 80s. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 62 percent of normal. The total releases to Feather River continue at 2,100 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 1,300 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet for a total of 2,100 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 9/17/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  September 11, 2020 Bear/North Complex Fire Impacts Oroville The Bear Fire, ignited by lightning strikes on Aug. 17, swelled into a fire storm on Tuesday, Sept. 8 with the onset of an intense wind event. As it merged with another lightning-sparked fire near Quincy, it became known as the North Complex Fire. The Butte County “Bear Fire” portion, now named “the North Complex’s West Zone”, has burned over 70,000 acres with five percent containment as of Friday, Sept. 11. The fire has severely damaged communities around Lake Oroville, including several Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) facilities. The Loafer Creek recreation area remains an active fire zone as do areas around the Enterprise Boat Ramp, Foreman Creek and other locations along the Middle and North Forks of Lake Oroville. The Bidwell Canyon Marina and Lime Saddle Marina have not sustained damage and there are currently no risks to Oroville Dam or its related structures. Due to continuing fire behavior, all LOSRA facilities are currently closed. (See more recreation information below) The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to monitor the fire’s status and is actively working with CALFIRE, local law enforcement partners, and California State Parks staff to ensure employee and public safety. DWR’s water delivery and other critical operations are ongoing with essential staff on site. Oroville Recreation Closures Update Due to fire impacts and continued danger to the public from the North Complex – West Zone fire, all Lake Oroville State Recreation Area facilities are closed until further notice, including the North Forebay and Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area. The Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay remain open from 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Current recreation facility information can be found on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage and the LOSRA webpage. See below for information about the Feather River Fish Hatchery.  Chinook Salmon Return to the Feather River
Chinook salmon are completing their life cycle and returning home to the Feather River to lay eggs for the next generation of salmon. The Feather River Fish Hatchery plans to open up the fish ladder the week of Sept. 14 to begin hatchery spawning operations which enables millions of Chinook salmon to be released to the river every spring. In order to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hatchery will not be open for tours this year. Visitors can still enjoy seeing salmon climb the fish ladder at the Viewing Area near the Feather River’s Fish Diversion Dam north of the Hatchery. Oroville’s annual Salmon Festival has been scaled down to protect public health with only a few activities scheduled. Information about the Festival can be found on the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce website. Learn all about Salmon – DWR’s Water Wednesdays The Feather River Fish Hatchery is closed but you can still learn about salmon this month through DWR’s Water Wednesdays program at 1 p.m. on DWR’s YouTube channel. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The fall season began Aug. 26 with a five-part look at the lifecycle of the Chinook salmon that spawn in the Feather River, travel downriver, through the Delta, and finally to the ocean. Interested participants can pre-register through Zoom which will allow them to ask real time questions of the speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join or register for next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Water Wednesdays began in May 2020 and previous episodes are available on DWR’s YouTube channel – enter Water Wednesdays in the search bar. Area Projects Postponed Due to Fire The Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Stage Two Improvement Project to continue on a project that started in Fall 2018 to expand the Stage Two parking area and provide two additional Stage Two boat ramp lanes to 700 feet has been halted due to the North Complex – West Zone fire. The Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) project to remove three conductors from the Caribou-Palermo 115KV transmission line that crosses the Thermalito Diversion Pool, previously scheduled Sept. 8 through Sept. 16 has also been postponed due to the North Complex – West Zone fire. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 749 feet and storage is about 1.67 million acre-feet. Continued reprieve from the extreme heat is expected into the week of Sept. 14 where temperatures are forecasted in the low 90s and dropping into the 80s later in the week. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 62 percent of normal. The total releases to Feather River continue at 2,100 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. The Feather River flows consist of 800 cfs through the Low Flow Channel adjacent to the City of Oroville, and 1,300 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet for a total of 2,100 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 9/10/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  September 4, 2020 Oroville Recreation Update Oroville area recreation facilities are expected to be popular destinations for the Labor Day holiday. With the exception of the Potters Ravine trail complex near the Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area (damaged in last month’s Potters Fire), all Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open, including North and South Forebay facilities. The Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp and day use area is open for use 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The Potters Ravine and North Fork trail complex experienced significant damage from the Potters Fire and will be closed through the winter for rehabilitation work. The recent Potters Fire burned over 900 acres, including areas adjacent to Oroville Dam’s main and emergency spillways, the Spillway Boat Ramp area, and the Thermalito Diversion Pool. California State Parks (CA Parks) has completed repairs to fire-damaged areas on the Thermalito Diversion Pool’s Brad Freeman Trail between Burma Road and the Spillway Boat Ramp trailhead. Bikers and hikers are now able to enjoy this challenging trail with its spectacular views of the valley. The Dan Beebe and Lakeland trails on the south side of the Diversion Pool are also open for use and the Diversion Pool’s car-top boat launch is open for non-motorized boating. Information about and current status of Lake Oroville recreation facilities is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage and on the LOSRA webpage. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains closed and boat-in, floating, and group campsites are not currently available to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For information about available State Parks camping, as well as COVID-19 public health requirements while recreating, visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping. Diversion Pool Trails and Area Roadways to Close for Utility Work Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) crews are scheduled to remove three conductors from the Caribou-Palermo 115KV transmission line that crosses the Thermalito Diversion Pool Sept. 8 through Sept. 16. Boating activity on the Diversion Pool will be restricted by in-water control boats on Sept. 9. Visitors and area residents will also see helicopter activity in the area during conductor removal. Portions of the Brad Freeman Trail north and south of the Thermalito Diversion Pool, and the Dan Beebe Trail, and areas around the trailhead on Lakeland Boulevard on the south side of the Diversion Pool will also close for various periods Sept. 10 to Sept. 16. Traffic on Lakeland Boulevard west of Reyman Street will experience temporary delays when work is occurring on the conductors crossing the road. Signage regarding upcoming work will be posted on area trails in advance of closures. Visitors are reminded to be safe and obey access restrictions. Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Work to Resume in September The Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Stage Two Improvement Project’s contractor started mobilizing on Sept. 1 and will begin work in the next couple of weeks depending on Lake Oroville elevation. Work will not occur over the Labor Day weekend. As lake levels decrease, construction will continue on a project that started in Fall 2018 to expand the Stage Two parking area and provide two additional Stage Two boat ramp lanes to 700 feet. Construction was halted in February 2019 due to rising lake levels. Kelly Ridge and Arroyo Drive residents can expect to see large construction equipment, as well as rock and concrete deliveries, in the area beginning early September from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays as the contractor works to complete the project by mid-November. Last year, the Stage Two project constructed a new lower-level, concrete parking lot, expanded Bidwell Canyon’s mid-level boat launch from three to five lanes, and added two boarding float lanes. Construction also improved the vertical curve at the top of the boat ramp to accommodate larger trailers.  Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status
DWR’s Oroville Field Division has concluded recreational swim beach cyanotoxin monitoring this week. Monitoring for cyanotoxins at the Thermalito Forebay and Afterbay occurs weekly from Memorial Day to Labor Day. DWR’s Environmental Scientists will continue to assess any reported algal blooms as visitors continue to enjoy these recreation areas. At Lake Oroville, harmful algal blooms (HAB’s) continue to be present in many locations and DWR’s Environmental Scientists will continue to monitor these blooms until they dissipate. If elevated levels of cyanotoxins are found, staff will work with California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board and recreation area managers to notify the public and post advisory signs at the affected waterbody. At this time there are no advisories in place. How can you keep yourself, your family, and your pets safe from HAB’s? Visit the Water Board’s website and DWR’s digital article on the DWR Updates webpage. The public is encouraged to report algal blooms on the HAB reporting webpage. Learn All About Salmon Join us for Water Wednesdays at 1 p.m. on DWR’s YouTube channel and learn all about salmon over the next few weeks. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The fall season began Aug. 26 with a five-part look at the lifecycle of the Chinook salmon that spawn in the Feather River, travel downriver, through the Delta, and finally to the ocean. Interested participants can pre-register through Zoom which will allow them to ask real time questions of the speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join or register for next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Water Wednesdays began in May 2020 and previous episodes are available on DWR’s YouTube channel – enter Water Wednesdays in the search bar. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 751 feet and storage is about 1.68 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,354 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,442 over the past week. High temperatures will continue into the week of September 7. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal. The total releases to Feather River are 2,100 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville are about 950 cfs. Currently, flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) are about 1,150 cfs for a total of 2,100 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. Generating additional hydroelectric power to address increased energy demands due to the heat wave may result in increased river flows over the Labor Day weekend. During the week of September 7, total flows to the Feather River will be reduced from 2,100 cfs to 1,950 cfs to conserve storage. After this decrease, flows through the City of Oroville will be 800 cfs and 1,150 cfs will be from the Outlet for a total of 1,950 cfs to the Feather River below the Outlet. All data as of midnight 9/3/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  August 28, 2020 Oroville Recreation Update The Potters Fire burned over 900 acres, including areas adjacent to Oroville Dam’s main and emergency spillways, the Spillway Boat Ramp area, and the Thermalito Diversion Pool.Visitors are advised to remain mindful of air quality and to stay away from fire-damaged areas. All Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open, including North and South Forebay facilities. The Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp and day use area is open for use 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The nearby Potters Ravine trail complex experienced significant damage from the Potters Fire and will be closed through the winter for rehabilitation work. Affected trails on the south side of the Thermalito Diversion Pool, including the Dan Beebe and Lakeland trails are open for use. The Brad Freeman Trail on the north side of the Diversion Pool remains closed just before Morris Ravine. The Diversion Pool’s car-top boat launch is open. Information about and current status of Lake Oroville recreation facilities is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage and on the LOSRA webpage The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains closed and boat-in, floating, and group campsites are not currently available to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For information about available State Parks camping, as well as COVID-19 public health requirements while recreating, visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping. Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Work to Resume in September The Bidwell Canyon Boat Ramp Stage Two Improvement Project is scheduled to resume September 1, depending on Lake Oroville elevation. As lake levels decrease, construction will continue on a project that started in Fall 2018 to expand the Stage Two parking area and provide two additional Stage Two boat ramp lanes to 700 feet. Construction was halted in February 2019 due to rising lake levels. Kelly Ridge and Arroyo Drive residents can expect to see large construction equipment, as well as rock and concrete deliveries, in the area beginning early September from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays as the contractor works to complete the project by mid-November. Work will not occur over the Labor Day weekend. Last year, the Stage Two project constructed a new lower-level, concrete parking lot, expanded Bidwell Canyon’s mid-level boat launch from three to five lanes and added two boarding float lanes. Construction also improved the vertical curve at the top of the boat ramp to accommodate larger trailers. Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Meeting Held by California Natural Resources Agency The California Natural Resources Agency’s (CNRA) virtual meeting of the fourth Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission (CAC) on August 21 covered ongoing dam safety initiatives, including the Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment, and discussed planned improvements based on the study’s risk-assessment findings. DWR’s current and planned recreation improvement projects were highlighted and information about Lake Oroville State Recreation Area’s facilities was shared. The public was able to ask questions and make comments. The presentation slides are available on the CAC website and a video recording, transcript, and summary of the meeting will be added in the coming weeks. The Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission, created by Senate Bill 955 (Nielsen) in 2018, established a public forum for discussing issues related to Oroville Dam facilities. The Commission, housed within CNRA, represents the communities surrounding Oroville Dam for the purposes of providing public input as well as receiving information from state agencies related to the Oroville Dam, its related structures, the Feather River Fish Hatchery, and the Oroville-Thermalito Complex.  Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status
DWR’s Oroville Field Division will wrap up recreational swim beach cyanotoxin monitoring next week. Monitoring for cyanotoxins at the Thermalito Forebay and Thermalito Afterbay occurs weekly from Memorial Day to Labor Day. DWR’s Environmental Scientists will continue to assess any reported algal blooms in these areas. At Lake Oroville, harmful algal blooms (HAB’s) continue to be present in many locations and DWR’s Environmental Scientists will continue to monitor these blooms until they dissipate. If elevated levels of cyanotoxins are found, staff will work with California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board and recreation area managers to notify the public and post advisory signs at the affected waterbody. At this time there are no advisories in place. How can you keep yourself, your family, and your pets safe from HAB’s? Visit the Water Board’s website and DWR’s digital article on the DWR Updates webpage. The public is encouraged to report algal blooms on the HAB reporting webpage. Learn all about Salmon Join us for Water Wednesdays at 1 p.m. on DWR’s YouTube channel and learn all about salmon over the next few weeks. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The fall season began August 26 with a five-part look at the lifecycle of the Chinook salmon that spawn in the Feather River, travel downriver, through the Delta, and finally to the ocean. Interested participants can pre-register through Zoom which will allow them to ask real time questions of the speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join or register for next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Water Wednesdays began in May 2020 and previous episodes are available on DWR’s YouTube channel – enter Water Wednesdays in the search bar. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 753 feet and storage is about 1.7 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,588 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,437 over the past week. High temperatures will continue into the first week of September. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal. The total releases to Feather River are 2,100 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville are about 950 cfs and likely to be slightly reduced for fisheries purposes in early September. Flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) are about 1,150 cfs for a total of 2,100 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. Throughout the week flows through the City of Oroville and the Outlet may fluctuate for fisheries purposes. All data as of midnight 8/27/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  August 21, 2020 Potters Fire Impacts Area Around Oroville Dam The Potters Fire, part of the Butte Lightning Complex of fires ignited by lightning strikes in the early morning of Monday, August 17, started in Potters Ravine near Oroville Dam’s Spillway Boat Launch area. The fire has burned nearly 1,000 acres, including areas adjacent to Oroville Dam’s main and emergency spillways and the Thermalito Diversion Pool. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to monitor the fire’s status and DWR operations are ongoing with essential staff on site. The fire did not damage Oroville Dam. The high voltage transmission lines that are used to provide generation to the California electrical grid have been assessed and show no signs of fire damage. DWR environmental staff are providing assessments of fire damage to vegetation and soils. Please see the Oroville Recreation section below for the current status of recreation facilities. Oroville Recreation Update The Potters Fire and smoke from other northern California fires have impacted area recreation. All Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open, including North and South Forebay facilities. Visitors are advised to be mindful of air quality and to stay away from fire-damaged areas. The Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp and day use area, previously closed due to the Potters Fire, has reopened for use 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The nearby Potters Ravine trail complex experienced significant damage from the Potters Fire and will be closed indefinitely for rehabilitation work. Affected trails on the south side of the Thermalito Diversion Pool, including the Dan Beebe and Lakeland trails are open for use. The Brad Freeman Trail on the north side of the Diversion Pool, and Burma Road, remain closed as of August 21. Information about and current status of Lake Oroville recreation facilities is available on the DWR Lake Oroville Recreation webpage and on the LOSRA webpage. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains closed and floating campsites and group campsites are not currently available to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For information about available State Parks camping, as well as COVID-19 public health requirements while recreating, visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping. Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Meeting Held by California Natural Resources Agency The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), in accordance with Governor Newsom’s directives and to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, held the fourth Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission (CAC) meeting virtually on August 21 from 10 a.m. to noon. The meeting covered ongoing dam safety initiatives, including the Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment, and discussed planned improvements based on the study’s risk-assessment findings. DWR’s current and planned recreation improvement projects were highlighted and information about Lake Oroville State Recreation Area’s facilities was shared. The public was able to ask questions and make comments. The presentation slides are available on the CAC website and a video recording, transcript, and summary of the meeting will be added in the coming weeks. The Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission, created by Senate Bill 955 (Nielsen) in 2018, established a public forum for discussing issues related to Oroville Dam facilities. The Commission, housed within CNRA, represents the communities surrounding Oroville Dam for the purposes of providing public input as well as receiving information from state agencies related to the Oroville Dam, its related structures, the Feather River Fish Hatchery, and the Oroville-Thermalito Complex. Postponed - PG&E Work to Close West Branch of Lake Oroville Utility work by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) previously scheduled for Friday, August 21 on the West Branch of the Feather River at Lake Oroville – affecting boat traffic in the area – has been postponed. The work to remove conductors from transmission lines extending over the West Branch waterway near where it joins the Feather River’s North Fork of Lake Oroville is anticipated to be rescheduled later in August.  Grebes Nest 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, nest on the water. DWR voluntarily restricts the elevation of the Thermalito Afterbay 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 at the DWR Updates webpage. Photos can be found on DWR’s Pixel webpage – enter Grebes in the search bar after creating a user name and password to log in.  Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status
DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and their toxins. There are currently no Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. Algal blooms continue to be present in many locations around Lake Oroville. Lab analysis of water samples from these water bodies continues to find minimal or no amounts of cyanobacteria in the algae. Sampling continues weekly and if elevated levels of cyanobacteria or toxins are found, 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 the affected waterbody. Non-toxic algal blooms can be irritating or even dangerous to pets and small children. To learn more about HABs, visit the Water Board’s website and DWR’s digital article on the DWR Updates webpage. The public is encouraged to report algal blooms on the HAB reporting webpage Online Water Education Program Returns to the DWR YouTube Channel Join us for Water Wednesdays at 1 p.m. on DWR’s YouTube channel and learn all about salmon over the next few weeks. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. We’re kicking off the fall season with a five-part look at the lifecycle of the Chinook salmon that spawn in the Feather River, travel downriver, through the Delta, and finally to the ocean. Interested participants can pre-register through Zoom which will allow them to ask real time questions of the speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join or register for next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Water Wednesdays began in May 2020 and previous episodes are available on DWR’s YouTube channel – enter Water Wednesdays in the search bar. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 756 feet and storage is about 1.73 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,485 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,462 over the past week. High temperatures will continue into the week of August 24. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal. The total releases to Feather River are 2,300 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville are about 950 cfs. Flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) are about 1,350 cfs for a total of 2,300 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. Throughout the week flows through the City of Oroville and the Outlet may fluctuate for fisheries purposes. Additionally, in response to energy demands from the recent heat wave, DWR increased power generation from Hyatt Power Plant by increasing Feather River releases by 500 cfs August 18-20. Flows return to 2,300 on August 21. All data as of midnight 8/20/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  August 14, 2020 California Natural Resources Agency to Host Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Public Meeting The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), in accordance with Governor Newsom’s directives and to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, is hosting the fourth Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission (CAC) meeting virtually on Friday, August 21 from 10 a.m. to noon. The meeting’s agenda will focus on ongoing dam safety initiatives and current recreation access as well as planned improvements; there will also be an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions and make comments. Persons interested in participating are directed to the CAC’s website for information on how to join the meeting. Links to meeting materials will be posted on the CAC website the week of August 17. The Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission, created by Senate Bill 955 (Nielsen) in 2018, established a new public forum for discussing issues related to Oroville Dam facilities. The Commission, housed within CNRA, represents the communities surrounding Oroville Dam for the purposes of providing public input as well as receiving information from state agencies related to the Oroville Dam, its related structures, the Feather River Fish Hatchery, and the Oroville-Thermalito Complex. PG&E Work to Close West Branch of Lake Oroville Utility work by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) on the West Branch of the Feather River at Lake Oroville will require intermittent closure of boating from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, August 21. PG&E crews will be removing conductors from transmission lines extending over the West Branch waterway near where it joins the Feather River’s North Fork of Lake Oroville. Boat traffic will not be permitted to cross under the transmission lines until they can be safely escorted through by traffic control boats identified by flashing lights. Boaters in the Lime Saddle Marina area and those entering the West Branch are advised to prepare for temporary delays. The waterway is anticipated to reopen by 1 p.m.  Oroville Recreation Update Lake Oroville and the North and South Forebay boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. Except for the Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area, which is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and day use areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Floating campsites and group campsites are not currently available to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For information about State Parks camping, as well as COVID-19 public health requirements while recreating, visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping. The Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA), including the Thermalito Afterbay, is open 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset and offers miles of trails and wildlife viewing. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay Recreation Area is open Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for boat, kayak, and other aquatic equipment rentals. Information and an interactive map of Lake Oroville and OWA recreation facilities is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains closed due to COVID-19.  Grebes Nest 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, actually nest on the water. DWR voluntarily restricts the elevation of the Thermalito Afterbay 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 at the DWR Updates webpage. Photos can be found on DWR’s Pixel webpage – enter Grebes in the search bar after creating a user name and password to log in.  Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status
DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and their toxins. There are currently no Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. Algal blooms continue to be present in many locations around Lake Oroville. Lab analysis of water samples from these water bodies continues to find minimal or no amounts of cyanobacteria in the algae. Sampling continues weekly and if elevated levels of cyanobacteria or toxins are found, 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 the affected waterbody. Non-toxic algal blooms can be irritating or even dangerous to pets and small children. To learn more about HABs, visit the Water Board’s website and DWR’s digital article on the DWR Updates webpage. The public is encouraged to report algal blooms on the HAB reporting webpage. DWR Water Education Program Educates Youth Online This Summer Missing Summer Camp? Join DWR’s virtual Summer Camp. DWR Staff will be providing fun activities relating to DWR’s recent Water Wednesday’s videos. The family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. Each video is available on DWR’s YouTube channel and a listing of all the program’s episodes can be found by clicking the Playlists tab. Activity suggestions and information can be found in the video’s comment section as they are added each week. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 760 feet and storage is about 1.77 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,365 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,025 over the past week. An excessive heat watch is in effect this weekend through Sunday evening and high temperatures will continue into the week of August 17. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal. The total releases to Feather River are 2,300 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville are about 1,550 cfs. Flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) are about 750 cfs for a total of 2,300 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. Throughout the week flows through the City of Oroville and the Outlet may fluctuate for fisheries purposes. All data as of midnight 8/13/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.  August 7, 2020 California Natural Resources Agency to Host Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Public Meeting The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), in accordance with Governor Newsom’s directives and to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, is hosting the fourth Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission (CAC) meeting virtually on Friday, August 21 from 10 a.m. to noon. The meeting’s agenda will focus on ongoing dam safety initiatives and current recreation access as well as planned improvements; there will also be an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions and make comments. Persons interested in participating are directed to the CAC’s website for information on how to join the meeting. Instructions and links to the planned webinar will be posted on the CAC website the week of August 17. The Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission, created by Senate Bill 955 (Nielsen) in 2018, established a new public forum for discussing issues related to Oroville Dam facilities. The Commission, housed within CNRA, represents the communities surrounding Oroville Dam for the purposes of providing public input as well as receiving information from state agencies related to the Oroville Dam, its related structures, the Feather River Fish Hatchery, and the Oroville-Thermalito Complex. Oroville Recreation Update Lake Oroville and the North and South Forebay boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. Except for the Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area, which is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and day use areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Floating campsites and group campsites are not currently available to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For information about State Parks camping, as well as COVID-19 public health requirements while recreating, visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping. The Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA), including the Thermalito Afterbay, is open 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset and offers miles of trails and wildlife viewing. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay Recreation Area is open Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for boat, kayak, and other aquatic equipment rentals. Information and an interactive map of Lake Oroville and OWA recreation facilities is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains closed due to COVID-19. Temporary Closure of Dan Beebe Trail The portion of the Dan Beebe Trail between the Lake Oroville Visitors Center and the Oroville Dam Upper Overlook will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11 for excavation work. Signage to notify the public of the closure will be placed at the trail’s access points near the Visitors Center and the Upper Overlook. Installation of Piezometers at Oroville Dam DWR continues installation of four new piezometers at the headworks of Oroville Dam’s main, or flood control outlet (FCO), spillway. The piezometers will collect data from the FCO foundation. The data will be used to confirm drain performance, inform on-going structural modeling and analyses, and inform future improvements to the structure. The work is expected to be completed by August 21. Water used in the drilling process will be visible as it flows down the spillway. This work is part of early implementation of the Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA), which is focused on identifying priorities and appropriate solutions to bolster the integrity and resiliency of the Oroville Dam complex to ensure public safety. A number of piezometers were originally installed in the dam fifty years ago which, as anticipated, have since stopped functioning. DWR continues its work to install additional instrumentation throughout the facility including eight new piezometers installed earlier this year at the base of Oroville Dam.  Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status
DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and their toxins. There are currently no Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. Algal blooms continue to be present in the West Branch and the North Fork of Lake Oroville. Lab analysis of water samples from these water bodies continues to find minimal or no amounts of cyanobacteria in the algae. Sampling continues weekly and if elevated levels of cyanobacteria or toxins are found, 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 the affected waterbody. Non-toxic algal blooms can be irritating or even dangerous to pets and small children. To learn more about HABs, visit the Water Board’s website and DWR’s digital article on the DWR Updates webpage. The public is encouraged to report algal blooms on the HAB reporting webpage. DWR Water Education Program Educates Youth Online This Summer Missing Summer Camp? Join DWR’s virtual Summer Camp. DWR Staff will be providing fun activities relating to DWR’s recent Water Wednesday’s videos. The family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. Each video is available on DWR’s YouTube channel and a listing of all the program’s episodes can be found by clicking the Playlists tab. Activity suggestions and information can be found in the video’s comment section as they are added each week. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 765 feet and storage is about 1.82 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 859 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 1,993 over the past week. Dry conditions and warm temperatures continue this weekend and into the week of August 10. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal. The total releases to Feather River are 2,300 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville are at 1,550 cfs. Flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) are about 750 cfs for a total of 2,300 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. Throughout the week flows through the City of Oroville and the Outlet may fluctuate for fisheries purposes. All data as of midnight 8/6/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov. July 31, 2020
Oroville Recreation Update Lake Oroville and the North and South Forebay boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. Except for the Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area, which is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and day use areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Floating campsites and group campsites are not currently available to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For information about State Parks camping, as well as COVID-19 public health requirements while recreating, visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping. The Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA), including the Thermalito Afterbay, is open 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset and offers miles of trails and wildlife viewing. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay Recreation Area is open Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for boat, kayak, and other aquatic equipment rentals. Information and an interactive map of Lake Oroville and OWA recreation facilities is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains closed due to COVID-19. Installation of Piezometers at Oroville Dam DWR will begin installation of four new piezometers at the headworks of Oroville Dam’s main, or flood control outlet (FCO), spillway on August 3. The piezometers will collect data from the FCO foundation. The data will be used to confirm drain performance, inform on-going structural modeling and analyses, and inform future improvements to the structure. The work is expected to be completed by August 21. This work is part of early implementation of the Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA), which is focused on identifying priorities and appropriate solutions to bolster the integrity and resiliency of the Oroville Dam complex to ensure public safety. A number of piezometers were originally installed in the dam fifty years ago which, as anticipated, have since stopped functioning. DWR continues its work to install additional instrumentation throughout the facility including eight new piezometers installed earlier this year at the base of Oroville Dam. Trails at Oroville Facility Offer a Variety of Scenery The Oroville Facility Trail system features 91 miles of trails, with access to Lake Oroville, Thermalito Diversion Pool, Thermalito Afterbay, and Thermalito Forebay. Pedestrians, hikers, bikers, and equestrians can take advantage of an array of single track, fire roads, and paved trails which border beautiful natural areas, provide stunning views, and allow plentiful opportunities for wildlife viewing. Trail users can seasonally view salmon, grebes, loons, waterfowl, bald eagles, turkey vultures, snakes, frogs, and more throughout the trail network. Find area trails and their use restrictions by viewing the interactive map on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and their toxins. There are currently no Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. Algal blooms continue to be present in the West Branch and the North Fork of Lake Oroville. Lab analysis of water samples from these water bodies continues to find minimal or no amounts of cyanobacteria in the algae. Sampling continues weekly and if elevated levels of cyanobacteria or toxins are found, 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 the affected waterbody. Non-toxic algal blooms can be irritating or even dangerous to pets and small children. To learn more about HABs, visit the Water Board’s website and DWR’s digital article on the DWR Updates webpage. The public is encouraged to report algal blooms on the HAB reporting webpage. DWR Water Education Program Educates Youth Online This Summer Missing Summer Camp? Join DWR’s virtual Summer Camp. DWR Staff will be providing fun activities relating to DWR’s recent Water Wednesday’s videos. The family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. Each video is available on DWR’s YouTube channel and a listing of all the program’s episodes can be found by clicking the Playlists tab. Activity suggestions and information can be found in the video’s comment section as they are added each week. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 771 feet and storage is about 1.88 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,248 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,621 over the past week. Dry conditions and warm temperatures continue this weekend and into the week of August 3. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal. The total releases to Feather River are 2,700 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville are at 1,550 cfs. Flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) are about 1,150 cfs for a total of 2,700 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. Throughout the week flows through the City of Oroville and the Outlet may fluctuate for fisheries purposes. All data as of midnight 7/30/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov July 24, 2020
Oroville Recreation Update Lake Oroville and the North and South Forebay boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. Except for the Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area, which is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and day use areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Floating campsites and group campsites are not currently available to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For information about State Parks camping, as well as COVID-19 public health requirements while recreating, visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping. The Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA), including the Thermalito Afterbay, is open 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset and offers miles of trails and wildlife viewing. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay Recreation Area is open Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for boat, kayak, and other aquatic equipment rentals. Information and an interactive map of Lake Oroville and OWA recreation facilities is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains closed due to COVID-19. DWR Undertakes Trail Clean-up Effort Working with the Feather River Nature Center and the City of Oroville, DWR continues efforts to address the issue of trash and debris along Old Ferry Road and the Sewim Bo Trail near the Thermalito Diversion Dam. DWR has funded contracts with crews to remove trash, clean up graffiti, clear out invasive vegetation, and perform trail maintenance. Trail users and visitors are advised to be aware of work crews and are encouraged to “pack out” what they bring in. New Trail Signage Informs Area Visitors DWR and CA Parks staff have installed new trail signposts and new trail marker icons in numerous locations around Lake Oroville and the Thermalito Diversion Pool to help area visitors identify the activity (hiking, biking and/or horseback riding) allowed on the trails. New signposts also provide directions to newly realigned trails with more sign and icon installations planned for other areas including the Oroville Wildlife Area. The Oroville Facility Trail system features 91 miles of trails, with access to Lake Oroville, Thermalito Diversion Pool, Thermalito Afterbay, and Thermalito Forebay. The trails consist of an array of single track, fire roads, and paved trails which border beautiful natural areas, provide stunning views, and allow plentiful opportunities for wildlife viewing. Trail users can seasonally view salmon, grebes, loons, waterfowl, bald eagles, turkey vultures, snakes, frogs, and more throughout the trail network. Find area trails on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage’s interactive map Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and their toxins. There are currently no Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. Algal blooms continue to be present in the West Branch and the North Fork of Lake Oroville. Lab analysis of water samples from these water bodies continues to find minimal or no amounts of cyanobacteria in the algae. Sampling continues weekly and if elevated levels of cyanobacteria or toxins are found, 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 the affected waterbody. Non-toxic algal blooms can be irritating or even dangerous to pets and small children. To learn more about HABs, visit the Water Board’s website and DWR’s digital article on the DWR Updates webpage. The public is encouraged to report algal blooms on the HAB reporting webpage. CAL FIRE Forebay Control Burns Postponed The CAL FIRE/Butte County Fire Department has postponed a scheduled a series of four control burns of about 245 acres of grassland at different locations around the North and South Forebay due to increased Northern California fire activity and the number of Butte Unit resources assisting those fires. This important vegetation management project (VMP) will take place when weather and Butte Unit staffing permits. The project is planned in cooperation with DWR and CA Parks to clear the area around the Forebays of thick grass, which reduces fire risk and benefits vernal pool habitat. DWR Water Education Program Educates Youth Online This Summer Missing Summer Camp? Join DWR’s virtual Summer Camp. DWR Staff will be providing fun activities relating to DWR’s recent Water Wednesday’s videos. The family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. Each video is available on DWR’s YouTube channel and a listing of all the program’s episodes can be found by clicking the Playlists tab. Activity suggestions and information can be found in the video’s comment section as they are added each week. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 776 feet and storage is about 1.9 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,577 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,313 over the past week. Dry conditions and warm temperatures continue this weekend and into the week of July 27. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal. The total releases to Feather River are 2,700 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville are 950 cfs. Flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) are about 1,750 cfs for a total of 2,700 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 7/23/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov. July 10, 2020
Oroville Recreation Update Lake Oroville and the North and South Forebay boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. The Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. with other Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and day use areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Floating campsites and group campsites are not currently available to reduce the spread of COVID-19. To make a reservation, visit www.ReserveCalifornia.com or call 800-444-7275. For more information about camping, visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping. California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) encourages visitors to practice physical distancing and avoid congregating with people outside their immediate household. The state now requires face coverings indoors and outdoors when you cannot maintain a safe 6-foot distance from people outside of your immediate household. Additional information regarding public health practices and requirements is available on the LOSRA webpage. The Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA), including the Thermalito Afterbay, is open 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset and offers miles of trails and wildlife viewing. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay Recreation Area is open Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for boat, kayak, and other aquatic equipment rentals. Information and an interactive map of Lake Oroville and OWA recreation facilities is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains closed due to COVID-19. Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for blue-green algae and their toxins. There are currently no Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay. A large bloom has been identified in the West Branch of Lake Oroville. Samples have been sent to the lab for analysis. If elevated levels of cyanobacteria toxins are found, 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 the affected waterbody. To learn more about HABs, visit the Water Board’s website and DWR’s digital article on the DWR Updates webpage. DWR to Install Additional Piezometers at Oroville Dam Next week, DWR will begin work to install four new piezometers at the headworks of Oroville Dam’s main, or flood control outlet (FCO), spillway. The piezometers will continuously collect data from the FCO foundation. The data will be used to confirm drain performance, inform on-going structural modeling and analyses, and to inform future improvements to the structure. This work is part of early implementation of the Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA), which is focused on identifying priorities and appropriate solutions to bolster the integrity and resiliency of the Oroville Dam complex to ensure public safety. Work to improve access to the headworks structure from the lakeside will begin on July 13. A type of scaffolding will be installed inside the gate structures to protect worker safety. Installation of the piezometers is anticipated to begin in early August. A number of piezometers were originally installed in the dam fifty years ago which, as anticipated, have since stopped functioning. Including the four headworks piezometers, and the eight new piezometers installed earlier this year at the base of Oroville Dam, DWR continues its work to install additional instrumentation throughout the facility. New Trail Signage Informs Area Visitors DWR and CA Parks staff have installed new trail signposts and new trail marker icons in numerous locations around Lake Oroville and the Thermalito Diversion Pool to help area visitors identify the activity (hiking, biking and/or horseback riding) allowed on the trails. New signposts also provide directions to newly realigned trails with more sign and icon installations planned for other areas including the Oroville Wildlife Area. The Oroville Facility Trail system features 91 miles of trails, with access to Lake Oroville, Thermalito Diversion Pool, Thermalito Afterbay, and Thermalito Forebay. The trails consist of an array of single track, fire roads, and paved trails which border beautiful natural areas, provide stunning views, and allow plentiful opportunities for wildlife viewing. Trail users can seasonally view salmon, grebes, loons, waterfowl, bald eagles, turkey vultures, snakes, frogs, and more throughout the trail network. Find area trails on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage’s interactive map. An American Icon Calls Lake Oroville Home Did you know that seven nesting pairs of bald eagles call Lake Oroville home? This year they are successfully raising nine young eaglets, many of whom have grown their feathers and are now able to fly. Lake Oroville provides prime habitat for bald eagles with tall trees and access to one of their primary food sources – fish. Discover how DWR Environmental Scientists help protect our Oroville eagles on the DWR Updates webpage. DWR Water Education Program Educates Youth Online This Summer Missing Summer Camp? Join DWR’s virtual Summer Camp. DWR Staff will be providing fun activities relating to DWR’s recent Water Wednesday’s videos. The family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. Each video is available on DWR’s YouTube channel and a listing of all the program’s episodes can be found by clicking the Playlists tab. Activity suggestions and information can be found in the video’s comment section as they are added each week. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 790 feet and storage is about 2.08 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,296 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 1,607 over the past week. Dry conditions and very warm temperatures continue this weekend and into the week of July 13. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal. The total releases to Feather River are 3,300 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville are about 950 cfs and flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) are about 2,350 cfs to achieve 3,300 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 7/9/2019 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov. For more information on local recreation, head to LakeOroville.net July 3, 2020
Local Recreation Areas Plan for Busy Holiday Weekend Lake Oroville and the North and South Forebay boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. The Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. with other LOSRA boat ramps open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and Day Use Areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Floating campsites and group campsites are not currently available to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, Lake Oroville’s boat-in campsites are not available for camping until Sunday, July 5. To make a reservation, visit www.ReserveCalifornia.com or call 800-444-7275. For more information about camping, visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping. For July 2nd – July 5th only, trailered boat launching is restricted at the Larkin Road Boat Ramp, and only launching of car-top boats is allowed. The Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, is open 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset, including the 4th of July weekend. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains closed to protect public health. Information and an interactive map of Lake Oroville and OWA recreation facilities is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) encourages visitors to practice physical distancing and avoid congregating with people outside their immediate household. The state now requires face coverings indoors and outdoors when you cannot maintain a safe 6-foot distance from people outside of your immediate household. Additional information regarding public health practices and requirements is available on the LOSRA webpage. Oroville to Celebrate Fourth of July with Fireworks Display 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. Viewers are encouraged to observe the show from their homes, if possible, or higher locations throughout the City and surrounding area. Participants must abide by physical distancing and face covering requirements to protect public health. The Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area will close at sunset on Friday, July 3 and remain closed until 8 a.m. Sunday, July 5. The OWA will also maintain normal operating hours on July Fourth: 1.5 hours before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset. Please visit the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce website for information. An American Icon Calls Lake Oroville Home Did you know that seven nesting pairs of bald eagles call Lake Oroville home? This year they are successfully raising nine young eaglets, many of whom have grown their feathers and are now able to fly. Lake Oroville provides prime habitat for bald eagles with tall trees and access to one of their primary food sources – fish. Discover how DWR Environmental Scientists help protect our Oroville eagles on the DWR Updates webpage. “New’ Trails Around Thermalito Diversion Pool Trails on the north side of the Thermalito Diversion Pool, previously closed for the Oroville Dam Spillways Reconstruction Project, are open for hikers and bikers, including from Burma Road to the Spillway Boat Ramp area and North Fork Trails. A new trail access parking lot has been constructed west of the Kelly Ridge Power Plant on the south side of the Diversion Pool. The graveled parking lot is accessible from Oro Powerhouse Road (off Oro Dam Boulevard East) and provides access to hiking, biking, and fishing opportunities. Boating is not allowed in this upstream area of the Diversion Pool, but boating is allowed on the Diversion Pool further downstream, with access from the Burma Road car-top boat launch off of Cherokee Road. Boating is limited to kayaks, canoes, and other non-gas-powered boats. Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for blue-green algae and their toxins. 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, visit the Water Board’s website and DWR’s digital article on the DWR Updates webpage. DWR Water Education Program Educates Youth Online This Summer Missing Summer Camp? Join DWR’s virtual Summer Camp. DWR Staff will be providing fun activities relating to DWR’s recent Water Wednesday’s videos. The family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. Each video is available on DWR’s YouTube channel and a listing of all the program’s episodes can be found by clicking the Playlists tab. Activity suggestions and information can be found in the video’s comment section as they are added each week. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 796 feet and storage is about 2.15 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,625 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,242 over the past week. Dry conditions and very warm temperatures continue this weekend and into the week of July 6. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal of year. The total releases to Feather River are 3,300 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville are about 650 cfs for and flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet. All data as of midnight 7/2/2019 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov. For more information on local recreation, head to LakeOroville.net June 26, 2020
Lake Oroville State Recreation Area Opens Individual and Horse Campgrounds California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) announced camping is available at all individual family campsites at the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA), including equestrian campgrounds at Loafer Creek. Floating campsites and group campsites are not currently available to reduce the spread of COVID-19. To make a reservation, visit www.ReserveCalifornia.com or call 800-444-7275. For more information about camping, visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping. CA Parks encourages visitors to continue to practice physical distancing and avoid congregating with people outside their immediate household. The state now requires face coverings indoors and outdoors when you cannot maintain a safe 6-foot distance from people outside of your immediate household. Additional information regarding public health practices and requirements is available on the LOSRA webpage. Lake Oroville and the North and South Forebay boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. The Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. with other Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and Day Use Areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. The Lake Oroville Visitors Center remains closed to protect public health. Information and an interactive map of Lake Oroville recreation facilities is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. Oroville to Celebrate Fourth of July with Fireworks Display 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. Viewers are encouraged to observe the show from their homes, if possible, or higher locations throughout the City and surrounding area. Participants must abide by physical distancing and face covering requirements to protect public health – especially if unable to maintain a six-foot distance from others not in your household. Information can be found on the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce website. A Red Flag (severe fire danger) Warning from the National Weather Service for July Fourth will cancel the display. DWR Water Education Program Educates Youth Online This Summer Missing Summer Camp? Join DWR virtual Summer Camp starting the week of July 29. As part of the virtual Summer Camp, DWR Staff will be providing fun activities relating to each Water Wednesday’s video, starting with “Home Sweet Home: Where the Native Fish Roam”. The family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. Each video is available on DWR’s YouTube channel and a listing of all the program’s episodes can be found by clicking the Playlists tab. Activity suggestions and information can be found in the video’s comment section as they are added each week. ‘New’ Trails Around Thermalito Diversion Pool Trails on the north side of the Thermalito Diversion Pool, previously closed for the Oroville Dam Spillways Reconstruction Project, are open for hikers and bikers. Visitors are now able to travel from Burma Road to the Spillway Boat Ramp area and North Fork Trails. Partnering with CA Parks, DWR has improved and re-aligned trails in the area, both on the north and south sides of the Diversion Pool, including sections of the Brad Freeman Trail. This trail ‘switchbacks’ up a new hill made from rock and dirt left over from the spillways project, providing beautiful views of the Valley, Table Mountain, and the Diversion Pool. On the south side of the Diversion Pool, DWR constructed a new trail access parking lot west of the Kelly Ridge Power Plant. The graveled parking lot is accessible from Oro Powerhouse Road (off Oro Dam Boulevard East) and provides access to hiking, biking, and fishing opportunities. Boating is not allowed in this upstream area of the Diversion Pool, but boating is allowed on the Diversion Pool further downstream, with access from the Burma Road car-top boat launch off of Cherokee Road. Boating is limited to kayaks, canoes, and other non-gas-powered boats. Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for blue-green algae and their toxins. 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, visit the Water Board’s website. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 802 feet and storage is about 2.22 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,279 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,481 cfs over the past week. Dry conditions and very warm temperatures continue this weekend and into the week of June 29. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal of year. Recently DWR increased flows through the City of Oroville from 650 cfs to 1,250 cfs for fisheries purposes. During the week of June 29, flows through the City of Oroville will be reduced from 1,250 cfs to 650 over the course of a couple of days. As flows are reduced through the City of Oroville, flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) will be increased to 2,650 cfs. The total release to the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet will remain at 3,300 cfs to meet environmental requirements in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. All data as of midnight 6/25/20 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov. June 19, 2020
Lake Oroville State Recreation Area Lake Oroville and the North and South Forebay boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. The Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. with other Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and Day Use Areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Lake Oroville recreation information is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage and the LOSRA webpage. California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) staff are working closely with Butte County health officials to develop procedures to open LOSRA campgrounds this summer. All campgrounds - including floating campsites, and the Lake Oroville Visitors Center remain closed to protect public health. CA Parks encourages visitors to maintain a physical distance of six feet or more and that gatherings, picnics, and parties are not allowed if physical distancing cannot be maintained. State health officials now require face coverings outdoors when you cannot maintain a safe 6-foot distance from others who are not members of your household. Visit the “State Parks COVID-19 Resource Center” website or the Butte County website for additional information on how to protect public health. ‘New’ Trails Around Thermalito Diversion Pool Trails on the north side of the Thermalito Diversion Pool, previously closed for the Oroville Dam Spillways Reconstruction Project, are open for hikers and bikers. Visitors are now able to travel from Burma Road to the Spillway Boat Ramp area and North Fork Trails. Partnering with CA Parks, DWR has improved and re-aligned trails in the area, both on the north and south sides of the Diversion Pool, including sections of the Brad Freeman Trail where visitors will ‘switchback’ up a new hill made from rock and dirt left over from the spillways project, providing beautiful views of the Valley, Table Mountain, and the Diversion Pool. On the south side of the Diversion Pool, DWR constructed a new trail access parking lot west of the Kelly Ridge Power Plant. The graveled parking lot is accessible from Oro Powerhouse Road (off Oro Dam Boulevard East) and provides access to hiking, biking, and fishing opportunities. Boating is not allowed in this upstream area of the Diversion Pool, but boating is allowed on the Diversion Pool further downstream, with access from the Burma Road car-top boat launch off of Cherokee Road. Boating is limited to kayaks, canoes, and other non-gas-powered boats. Oroville to Celebrate Fourth of July with Fireworks Display The City of Oroville’s Noon Rotary Club fireworks will begin at approximately 9 p.m. and will be launched from the Oroville Airport. Viewers are encouraged to observe the show from their homes, if possible, or higher locations throughout the City and surrounding area. Viewers are also encouraged to abide by physical distancing and face covering requirements to protect public health, especially if unable to maintain a six-foot distance from others not in your household. Information can be found on the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce website. Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for blue-green algae and their toxins. 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, visit the Water Board’s website. Online Water Education Program Goes Live on DWR YouTube Channel Join us for Water Wednesdays at 1 p.m. on DWR’s YouTube channel. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. Recent and upcoming ‘episodes’ discuss where our water comes from: reservoirs, snowpack, and groundwater. Interested participants can pre-register through Zoom; this will allow participants to pose questions to that week’s speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Previous episodes of Water Wednesdays are available on DWR’s YouTube channel. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 808 feet and storage is about 2.2 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 98 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 1,745 cfs over the past week. Dry conditions and warm temperatures are forecasted this weekend with continued dry conditions and warm temperatures during the week of June 22. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 31.7 percent of normal of year. On Thursday, June 18, and on Friday, June 19, DWR increased the flow by 300 cfs each day through the City of Oroville to 1,250 cfs for fisheries purposes. The flow released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) will be at 2,050 cfs. The total release to the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet remains at 3,300 cfs to meet environmental requirements in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. All data as of midnight 6/19/20 For more information on local recreation, head to LakeOroville.net June 12, 2020
Lake Oroville State Recreation Area Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) boat ramps, parking lots, and day use areas are open. The Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. with other LOSRA boat ramps open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and Day Use Areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Lake Oroville recreation information is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage and the LOSRA webpage. The Thermalito Diversion Pool and the North Forebay Recreation Area are also open to the public. Additionally, the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, recently changed its operating hours to 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Other local recreation facilities are also open, including both the Bidwell Canyon and Lake Oroville (Lime Saddle) Marinas and the Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay Recreation Area which is open Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for boat, kayak, and other aquatic equipment rentals. California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) staff are working closely with Butte County health officials to develop procedures to open LOSRA campgrounds this summer. At this time, all campgrounds - including floating campsites, and the Lake Oroville Visitors Center remain closed to protect public health. CA Parks encourages visitors to maintain a physical distance of six feet or more and that gatherings, picnics, and parties are not allowed if physical distancing cannot be maintained. Local health officials also recommend face coverings, especially when you cannot maintain a safe 6-foot distance from others. Please visit the “State Parks Covid-19 Resource Center” website or the Butte County website for additional information on how to protect public health. DWR and Partners Reduce Fire Risk DWR has successfully completed their 2019-2020 fuels reduction season. Approximately 180 acres around the Oroville Facilities Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project boundary was treated through DWR’s Fuel Load Management Program (FLMP). The FLMP, administered by DWR in coordination with federal, state, and local fire and resources management agencies, aims to reduce wildfire risk, improve public safety, and enhance forest health around Lake Oroville. Work typically starts in the fall when rainy weather arrives and continues through the winter and spring months. Treatment methods such as thinning, pile burning, grazing, lop and scatter, and prescribed burning are used to achieve fuels reduction. DWR and partners CAL FIRE, California Conservation Corps, Butte County Sheriff Office, Butte County Fire Safe Council, and private contractors are currently developing plans to start work again this fall when weather conditions allow. Oroville Area Algal Blooms Status DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for blue-green algae and their toxins. 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, visit the Water Board’s website. Online Water Education Program Goes Live on DWR YouTube Channel Join us for Water Wednesdays at 1 p.m. on DWR’s YouTube channel. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. Recent and upcoming ‘episodes’ discuss where our water comes from: reservoirs, snowpack and groundwater. Interested participants can pre-register through Zoom; this will allow participants to pose questions to that week’s speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Previous episodes of Water Wednesdays are available on DWR’s YouTube channel. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 813 feet and storage is about 2.35 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 1,597 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,487 cfs over the past week. Dry conditions and mild temperatures are forecasted this weekend with continued dry conditions and warming temperatures during the week of June 15. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal, and snowpack is significantly below average, measuring 7 percent of normal for this time of year. On Thursday, June 11, the total releases to Feather River were increased from 3,000 cfs to 3,300 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville are about 650 cfs and flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) are about 2,650 cfs to achieve 3,300 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 6/11/20 For more information on local recreation, head to LakeOroville.net June 5, 2020
Lake Oroville State Recreation Area Resumes Summer Hours Lake Oroville boat ramp areas are now open along with all Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) facility parking lots and day use areas. While the Oroville Dam Spillway Boat Ramp area is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., remaining Lake Oroville boat ramps are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trails and Day Use Areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Lake Oroville recreation information is available on the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Lake Oroville Recreation webpage and the LOSRA webpage. The Bidwell Canyon and Lake Oroville (Lime Saddle) Marinas are open providing shuttle service, restrooms, and fuel. The Thermalito Diversion Pool and the North Forebay Recreation Area are also open to the public. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay facility is now open Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for boat, kayak, and other aquatic equipment rentals. LOSRA campgrounds, including floating campsites, and the Lake Oroville Visitors Center remain closed to protect public health. California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) encourages visitors to maintain a physical distance of six feet or more, to keep moving, and to be mindful of congestion on one-way trails. Gatherings, picnics, and parties are not allowed if social distancing cannot be maintained. The Butte County Health Officer recommends face coverings, especially when you cannot maintain a safe 6-foot distance from others. Information on LOSRA facility status can be obtained on the “State Parks Covid-19 Resource Center” website. Information on local health requirements can be found at http://www.buttecounty.net/publichealth/buttereopens. Siren Testing at Oroville Dam Sirens at Oroville Dam will be tested on Tuesday, June 9. This test begins monthly soundings at noon every second Tuesday of the month lasting for three minutes. The 121-decibel level sounding will be audible to neighboring residents, to motorists on Oro Dam Boulevard East, and to visitors of recreation areas around Oroville Dam – including the Diversion Pool, Spillway Boat Ramp area and Oroville Dam Crest Road. The sirens are in place to notify persons near Oroville Dam’s main spillway when water releases are about to begin. Monthly testing allows DWR to confirm the sirens' operational status. Algal Blooms in Lake Oroville’s North and Middle Forks 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. DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for blue-green algae and their toxins. Algal blooms have been found in the upper reaches of Lake Oroville’s North and Middle Forks. Recent water samples sent for analysis tested negative. There are currently no Harmful Algal Bloom 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 harmful algal blooms (HABs), visit the Water Board’s website. Online Water Education Program Goes Live on DWR YouTube Channel Join us for Water Wednesdays at 1 p.m. on DWR’s YouTube channel. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The first five topics feature Delta wildlife including fish, plankton, birds, reptiles, and invasive species. Interested participants can pre-register through Zoom which will allow posting of questions to that week’s speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). Previous episodes of Water Wednesdays are available on DWR’s YouTube channel. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 817.9 feet and storage is about 2.40 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 2,312 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 2,814 cfs over the past week. Temperatures are forecasted to cool this weekend with a chance of rain in the Feather River Basin. During the week of June 8, temperatures are expected to warm with dry conditions. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal, and snowpack is significantly below average, measuring 5 percent of normal for this time of year. On Monday June 1, the total releases to Feather River were increased from 2,500 cfs to 3,000 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. In addition, on June 2, DWR increased flow through the City of Oroville to 950 cfs for fisheries purposes. Flows from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) are about 2,050 to achieve 3,000 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet. All data as of midnight 6/4/20 For more information on local recreation, head to LakeOroville.net May 29, 2020
Lake Oroville State Recreation Area Resumes Summer Hours Lake Oroville boat ramp areas are open for summer hours 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. along with all Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) facility parking lots and day use areas. The Bidwell Canyon and Lake Oroville (Lime Saddle) Marinas are currently providing shuttle service, restrooms, and fuel. The Thermalito Diversion Pool and the North Forebay Recreation Area are also open to the public. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay facility is scheduled to open June 5, 2020 for boat and kayak rentals. LOSRA campgrounds, including floating campsites, and the Lake Oroville Visitors Center remain closed to protect public health. California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) encourages visitors to maintain a physical distance of six feet or more, to keep moving, and to be mindful of congestion on one-way trails. Gatherings, picnics, and parties are not allowed if social distancing cannot be maintained. The Butte County Health Officer recommends face coverings, especially when you cannot maintain a safe 6-foot distance from others. Information on LOSRA facility status can be obtained on the CA Parks “Flatten the Curve at State Parks” website. Information on local health requirements can be found at http://www.buttecounty.net/publichealth/buttereopens. ‘New’ Trails Around Thermalito Diversion Pool Partnering with CA Parks, Department of Water Resources (DWR) trails on the north side of the Thermalito Diversion Pool, previously closed for the Oroville Dam Spillways Reconstruction Project, are now open to the public, allowing continuity for hikers and bikers from Burma Road to the Spillway Boat Ramp area and North Fork Trails. Sections of the area’s Brad Freeman Trail northwest of the Thermalito Diversion Dam have been re-aligned, regaining continuity from Cherokee Road to the Diversion Pool. Continuing along this reconstructed trail, visitors will ‘switchback’ up a new hill made from rock and dirt left over from the spillways project, providing beautiful views of the Valley, Table Mountain, and the Diversion Pool. On the south side of the Diversion Pool, hikers and bikers will enjoy a new alignment of the Brad Freeman Trail. DWR also constructed a new trail access parking lot near the south side of the Diversion Pool, west of the Kelly Ridge Power Plant. The graveled parking lot is accessible from Oro Powerhouse Road (off Oro Dam Boulevard East) and provides access to hiking, biking, and fishing opportunities. Boating is not allowed in this upstream area of the Diversion Pool, but boating is allowed on the Diversion Pool further downstream, with access from the Burma Road car-top boat launch off of Cherokee Road. Boating is limited to kayaks, canoes, and other non-gas-powered boats. Visitors are encouraged to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by maintaining a 6-foot distance from others, wearing face coverings, and bringing your own soap for hand washing as well as alcohol-based hand sanitizers when water is not available. Anglers Finding Success at Oroville Fishing Spots As access to area waterbodies is restored, fishing enthusiasts are returning to favorite fishing locations around Lake Oroville as well as the Thermalito Diversion Pool, Forebay and Afterbay. While most practice ‘catch and release’, a local angler saved his catch in order to officially confirm the weight of the 25.25-pound rainbow trout he landed at his favorite fishing hole. Anglers are reminded to comply with all CA Fish and Wildlife requirements, including possession of a current fishing license. Information about sport fishing licenses can be found here. Algal Blooms in Lake Oroville’s North and Middle Forks 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. DWR environmental scientists regularly monitor Lake Oroville, the Thermalito North Forebay, and the Thermalito Afterbay for blue-green algae and their toxins. Algal blooms have been found in the upper reaches of Lake Oroville’s North and Middle Forks. Recent water samples sent for analysis tested negative. There are currently no Harmful Algal Bloom 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 harmful algal blooms (HABs), visit the Water Board’s website. Online Water Education Program Goes Live on DWR YouTube Channel Join us for Water Wednesdays at 1 p.m. on DWR’s YouTube channel. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The first five topics feature Delta wildlife including fish, plankton, birds, reptiles, and invasive species. Interested participants can pre-register through Zoom which will allow posting of questions to that week’s speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). The previous May episodes of Water Wednesdays are available on DWR’s YouTube channel. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 820.9 feet and storage is about 2.43 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 2,934 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 3,235 cfs over the past week. Temperatures are forecasted to cool, and up to 0.5 inches of precipitation are expected this weekend in the Feather River Basin. During the week of June 1, there is a slight chance of precipitation and warmer temperatures. The Northern Sierra Basin rainfall totals remains below average for the year, at 63 percent of normal, and snowpack is also below average, measuring 14 percent of normal for this time of year. Feather River flows were increased 450 cfs from 2, 050 cfs to 2,500 cfs on Friday, May 29, to meet downstream water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville remain about 650 cfs and flows from the Thermalito River Outlet are about 1,850 cfs. All data as of midnight 5/29/20 For more information on local recreation, head to LakeOroville.net May 15, 2020
Oroville Field Division Work Continues Oroville Field Division (OFD) staff continue to carry out essential duties including operations of Oroville Dam and affiliated power plants, facility maintenance, and monitoring activities. Following guidance from Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health, OFD has made several changes in response to the dynamic public health emergency including social distancing, telework, and increased sanitary precautions for staff. Please remember that California's water treatment process removes and kills viruses, including COVID-19. Additionally, tap water is cheaper, easily accessible, and doesn't contribute to plastics pollution. Lake Oroville State Recreation Area Opens Select Recreation Facilities Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s direction on moving the state into Stage 2 of the COVID-19 Re-Opening Plan, the California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) has opened portions of the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) to the public. Beginning May 15, Lake Oroville boat launch areas will be open during normal hours along with all LOSRA facility parking lots and day use areas. The Bidwell Canyon and Lake Oroville (Lime Saddle) Marinas are anticipated to open Monday, May 18. The Thermalito Diversion Pool and the North Forebay Recreation Area are also open to the public. The Forebay Aquatic Center at the North Forebay facility will open in early June for boat and kayak rentals. LOSRA trails continue to be open for hikers and bikers, including the newly reconstructed Brad Freeman trail from the Thermalito Diversion Pool to the Spillway Boat Ramp area. Equestrian and multi-use trails are also open. LOSRA campgrounds, including floating campsites, and the Lake Oroville Visitors Center remain closed. CA Parks encourages visitors to maintain a physical distance of six feet or more, to keep moving, and to be mindful of congestion on one-way trails. Gatherings, picnics, and parties are not allowed. The Butte County Health Officer recommends face coverings when indoors or when you cannot maintain a safe 6-foot distance from others. Information on LOSRA facility status can be obtained on the CA Parks “Flatten the Curve at State Parks” website. Information on local health requirements can be found at http://www.buttecounty.net/publichealth/buttereopens. USFS Opens Boat Ramps at Upper Feather River Lakes As the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) begins their gradual opening of facilities, the boat launch ramps at the State Water Project facilities of Frenchman Lake, Lake Davis, and Antelope Lake in Plumas County are now open, however, campgrounds remain closed. For information on Forest Service facilities, find your national forest at https://www.fs.usda.gov/. CAL FIRE to Reduce Fire Fuels in the Oroville Wildlife Area CAL FIRE/Butte County Fire Department, in cooperation with California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California Department of Water Resources will burn 30 acres of grassland at the Rabe Road Shooting Range south of the Oroville Airport on Wednesday, May 20. This important vegetation management project (VMP) burn will clear the area around the shooting range of thick grass that could easily ignite if left to grow. The project also offers valuable training for firefighters in preparation for what could be a busy fire season. The shooting range will be closed to the public all day Wednesday and smoke from this control burn will be highly visible during the morning hours near the Oroville Airport and the Thermalito Afterbay. Online Water Education Program Goes Live on DWR YouTube Channel Join us for Water Wednesdays at 1 p.m. on DWR’s YouTube channel. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10 to 14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The first five topics feature Delta wildlife including fish, plankton, birds, reptiles, and invasive species. Interested participants can pre-register through Zoom which will allow posting of questions to that week’s speaker. Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join next Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook). The May 13 episode of Water Wednesdays is available on DWR’s YouTube channel. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 820 feet and storage is about 2.43 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 2,784 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 10,023 cfs over the past week. Continued rainfall is expected this weekend into the week of May 18. There is about 1 to 2 inches of rainfall forecasted in the Feather River watershed. Currently in the Northern Sierra Basin rainfall is below average, at 58 percent of normal, and snowpack is also below average, measuring 15 percent of normal for this time of year. On Monday, May 11, total releases to the Feather River were increased from 1,550 cfs to 2,050 cfs to meet downstream Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards. Flows through the City of Oroville are about 650 cfs and the flows are about 1,400 cfs below the Thermalito River Outlet. All data as of midnight 5/14/20 For more information on local recreation, head to LakeOroville.net  The following is an update from California State Parks.
UPDATE (May 15, 2020) - As California State Parks begins its phased reopening of parks and beaches in compliance with state and local public health ordinances, it is important for visitors to continue to practice physical distancing and avoid congregating with people outside their immediate household. Everyone has the responsibility to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Here are some guidelines for people visiting Lake Oroville SRA. What is open now? Lake Oroville State Recreation Area is now open for day-use vehicular access which includes parking lots, boat launches and trails. Bidwell Canyon and Lake Oroville Marinas are preparing to reopen on Monday, May 18. Until then, vessel fueling, pump-out, and shuttle services will not be available. Due to ongoing concerns for the spread of COVID-19, some services will continue to be restricted or suspended for an undetermined time. Please contact the appropriate Marina for the most current information and please plan your visit accordingly. Bidwell Canyon Marina (530) 589-9175 www.bidwellcanyonmarina.com Lake Oroville Marina (530) 877-2883 www.lakeorovillemarina.com What is currently closed at this park and throughout the State Park System?
Are there any new visitor guidelines? Yes, please see below:
Thank you for your patience and continued support of California State Parks as we work to limit your risk for exposure to COVID-19 in the outdoors. For more information, please visit parks.ca.gov/FlattenTheCurve.  COVID-19 Exposure Reduction Recommendations for Oroville Businesses
The City of Oroville supports a strong, vibrant and healthy business community. In order to reduce virus exposure, businesses and every resident are crucial partners who can voluntarily implement appropriate exposure reduction measures within the community. Implementing does not exempt a non-essential business from having to comply with the Governor’s orders. The Centers for Disease Control provides guidance for businesses at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html to plan and respond to the virus. The City desires to partner with businesses and encourage prudent protective behaviors, with the goal of avoiding further restrictions having to be leveled from government authorities. Thus, for Oroville businesses and individuals, it is recommended that the following measures be implemented.
May 1, 2020
Oroville Field Division Work Continues Oroville Field Division (OFD) staff continue to carry out essential duties including operations of Oroville Dam and affiliated power plants, facility maintenance, and monitoring activities. Following guidance from Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health, OFD has made several changes in response to the dynamic public health emergency including social distancing, telework, and increased sanitary precautions for staff. Please remember that California's water treatment process removes and kills viruses, including COVID-19. Additionally, tap water is cheaper, easily accessible, and doesn't contribute to plastics pollution. Oroville and Upper Feather River Lakes Closures Update As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the recreation facilities associated with the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area have been closed, as well as the Lake Oroville Visitors Center and public access to the Feather River Fish Hatchery. The U.S. Forest Service closed all developed recreation sites indefinitely including boat launch facilities and campgrounds at the State Water Project facilities of Frenchman Lake, Lake Davis, and Antelope Lake in Plumas County. For information on Forest Service facilities, find your national forest at https://www.fs.usda.gov/. Information regarding the status of California Department of Parks and Recreation facilities can be found at “Flatten the Curve at State Parks”. Information regarding the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, can be found at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Oroville-WA or by calling (916) 358-2900. Video Allows Students to Experience Juvenile Steelhead Trout Release The Classroom Aquarium Education Program (CAEP) provides aquarium tanks and Steelhead eggs from Oroville Dam’s Feather River Fish Hatchery to local classrooms to educate students about the fish life-cycle, their importance to the ecology of the Feather River, and the importance of protecting habitats for native fish. Students raise the fish from eggs and observe their development into juvenile fish (fry) able to swim and survive on their own. The students’ much-anticipated spring field trips to release the fry into the river had to be canceled because of COVID-19 pandemic school closures. Department of Water Resources (DWR) staff and Pacific States Marine Fisheries contractor Jada Simone-Wright arranged for the collection of the growing fry from participating, but closed, classrooms. The group also arranged for DWR public affairs staff to film the release of the fish into Feather River at Oroville’s Riverbend Park. Students can now virtually experience the Program’s success. The video is available for viewing at https://youtu.be/9zoBn38OTSg. The CAEP – formerly called “Eggs in the Classroom” – educational outreach tool is a decades-long collaboration between DWR, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and local schools and non-profits in the Butte County area to support greater awareness of the unique population management challenges for the Feather River’s Steelhead trout and Spring-run Chinook salmon. View the CAEP webpage for more information. View DWR’s article for more details about the trout release. California Conservation Corps Erecting Fish Habitat Structures at Loafer Creek Trees removed for construction of a new boat launch ramp at Loafer Point will be used to create fish and wildlife habitat structures near the Loafer Point recreation area. These structures, when submerged, will provide a refuge for many fish species in Lake Oroville including largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, bluegill, and green sunfish. When dewatered by lower lake levels, the structures also provide habitat for terrestrial species (land animals and birds). DWR contracted with the California Conservation Corps to anchor the brush and trees into the barren slopes of Lake Oroville beginning May 4. Work is anticipated to last for approximately two weeks. Similar to the Department’s ‘Recycled Christmas Tree Fish Habitat Project’, this work is part of DWR’s commitment to innovative methods of improving fish habitat and promoting fish survival at Lake Oroville, the Thermalito Afterbay, and the Feather River. DWR Continues Brush Clearing Work DWR continues to implement the Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP), which aims to reduce wildfire risk, improve public safety, and enhance forest health around Lake Oroville. Crews continues to remove hazardous fuels, including overstocked trees and underbrush, from approximately 9.5 acres at project sites near the Nelson Bar Car-top Boat Launch and along Oroville Dam Boulevard East near the Hyatt Powerplant. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 825 feet and storage is about 2.49 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 4,845 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 5,548 cfs over the past week. A slight chance of rain in the upper Feather River watershed may occur this weekend and dry conditions are expected during the week of May 4. Currently in the Northern Sierra Basin rainfall is below average, at 57 percent of normal, and snowpack is also below average, measuring 25 percent of normal for this time of year. Flows through the City of Oroville are about 650 cfs and about 900 cfs below the Thermalito River Outlet. Total releases to the Feather River are at 1,550 cfs. All data as of midnight 4/30/2020 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov. For more information on local recreation, head to LakeOroville.net April 24, 2020
Oroville Field Division Work Continues Oroville Field Division (OFD) staff continue to carry out essential duties including operations of Oroville Dam and affiliated power plants, facility maintenance, and monitoring activities. Following guidance from Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health, OFD has made several changes in response to the dynamic public health emergency including social distancing, telework, and increased sanitary precautions for staff. Please remember that California's water treatment process removes and kills viruses, including COVID-19. Additionally, tap water is cheaper, easily accessible, and doesn't contribute to plastics pollution. Oroville and Upper Feather River Lakes Closures Update As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the recreation facilities associated with the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area have been closed, as well as the Lake Oroville Visitors Center and public access to the Feather River Fish Hatchery. The U.S. Forest Service closed all developed recreation sites indefinitely including boat launch facilities and campgrounds at the State Water Project facilities of Frenchman Lake, Lake Davis, and Antelope Lake in Plumas County. For information on Forest Service facilities, find your national forest at https://www.fs.usda.gov/. Information regarding the status of California Department of Parks and Recreation facilities can be found at “Flatten the Curve at State Parks”. Information regarding the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, can be found at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Oroville-WA or by calling (916) 358-2900. DWR Continues Brush Clearing Work DWR continues to implement the Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP), which aims to reduce wildfire risk, improve public safety, and enhance forest health around Lake Oroville. Crews continues to remove hazardous fuels, including overstocked trees and underbrush, from approximately 9.5 acres at project sites near the Nelson Bar Car-top Boat Launch and along Oroville Dam Boulevard East near the Hyatt Powerplant. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 822 feet and storage is about 2.46 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 4,869 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 5,400 cfs over the past week. Dry and warming conditions are forecasted through the weekend and into the week of April 27. Currently in the Northern Sierra Basin rainfall is below average, at 58 percent of normal, and snowpack is also below average, measuring 48 percent of normal for this time of year. Flows through the City of Oroville are about 650 cfs and about 900 cfs below the Thermalito River Outlet. Total releases to the Feather River are at 1,550 cfs. All data as of midnight 4/23/20 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov. For more information on local recreation, head to LakeOroville.net April 17, 2020
Oroville Field Division Work Continues Oroville Field Division (OFD) staff continue to carry out essential duties including operations of Oroville Dam and affiliated power plants, facility maintenance, and monitoring activities. Following guidance from Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health, OFD has made several changes in response to the dynamic public health emergency including social distancing, telework, and increased sanitary precautions for staff. Please remember that California's water treatment process removes and kills viruses, including COVID-19. Additionally, tap water is cheaper, easily accessible, and doesn't contribute to plastics pollution. Fire Suppression System Work to Impact Oroville Dam Waterline A project to install fire suppression systems at the Oroville Project Headquarters office trailers at Oroville Dam’s Upper Overlook is anticipated to require a temporary shut-off of the waterline across Oroville Dam for an approximately 12-hour period during the week of April 20. Restrooms at the entrance to Oroville Dam will be closed during this time. The shut-off will also temporarily decrease the water pressure inflating the rubber seals around the spillway gates allowing additional seepage to be visible on the main spillway. Installation of Piezometers at Oroville Dam Completed DWR contractors have completed installation of eight new piezometers at the base of the dam. These moisture-sensing devices will further DWR’s efforts to monitor seepage and will be used to confirm the seepage measurements DWR already collects. Seepage is normal and expected, especially in large, earthen dams like Oroville. Seepage is measured and collected through a drainage system. If seepage were to change dramatically, it would indicate an issue that would need further investigation. This work is part of the early implementation of the Oroville Dam Safety Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA), which is focused on identifying priorities and appropriate solutions to bolster the integrity and resiliency of the Oroville Dam complex to ensure public safety. There were 56 piezometers initially installed in the dam fifty years ago which, as anticipated, have since stopped functioning. DWR plans to install additional piezometers throughout the facility in the coming years. Oroville and Upper Feather River Lakes Closures Update As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the recreation facilities associated with the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area have been closed, as well as the Lake Oroville Visitors Center and public access to the Feather River Fish Hatchery. The U.S. Forest Service closed all developed recreation sites indefinitely including boat launch facilities and campgrounds at the State Water Project facilities of Frenchman Lake, Lake Davis, and Antelope Lake in Plumas County. For information on Forest Service facilities, find your national forest at https://www.fs.usda.gov/. Information regarding the status of California Department of Parks and Recreation facilities can be found at “Flatten the Curve at State Parks”. Information regarding the Oroville Wildlife Area, including the Thermalito Afterbay, can be found at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Oroville-WA or by calling (916) 358-2900. Feather River Fiesta Days Community Event Postponed The Oroville Feather Fiesta Days Planning Committee has postponed the May 9, 2020 Feather River Fiesta Days event due to the ongoing public health emergency. The Committee is considering holding the event this summer if community gatherings are permitted at that time. Information can be found on the Feather Fiesta Days Facebook page @FeatherFiestaDays. DWR Continues Brush Clearing Work DWR continues to implement the Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP) which aims to reduce wildfire risk, improve public safety, and enhance forest health around Lake Oroville. Crews continues to remove hazardous fuels, including overstocked trees and underbrush, from approximately 9.5 acres at project sites near the Nelson Bar Car-top Boat Launch and along Oroville Dam Boulevard East near the Hyatt Powerplant. Current Lake Operations The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 819 feet and storage is about 2.41 million acre-feet. Daily average inflows to the lake have ranged between 5,374 cfs (cubic feet per second) to 6,471 cfs over the past week. There is a slight chance of rain early in the week of April 20. Currently, in the Northern Sierra Basin, rainfall is below average, at 59 percent of normal, and snowpack is also below average, measuring 61percent of normal for this time of year. On Friday April 17, flows through the City of Oroville will start ramping down from 1300 cubic feet per second (cfs) and will gradually reach 650 cfs by Wednesday, April 22. This is the culmination of a 2-week temporary “flow pulse” that DWR provided for the benefit of juvenile salmon and steelhead in the Feather River. Releases from the Thermalito Afterbay were adjusted during this time period so that the total flow to the Feather River below the Thermalito Afterbay remained constant at 1,550 cfs. This total release of 1,550 cfs to the Feather River below the Thermalito Afterbay will continue. All data as of midnight 4/16/20 ### Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov. For more information on local recreation, head to LakeOroville.net |
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