HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.11.25 Board Correspondence - FW_ Lake Oroville Community Update - April 11, 2025.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening
attachments, clicking on links, or replying..
From:Clerk of the Board
To:Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan; Kimmelshue, Tod;
Kitts, Melissa; Lee, Lewis; Little, Melissa; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen;
Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth; Loeser, Kamie
Cc:Nuzum, Danielle
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Lake Oroville Community Update - April 11, 2025
Date:Monday, April 14, 2025 9:38:27 AM
Please see Board Correspondence -
From: California Natural Resources Agency <CNRA@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2025 2:18 PM
To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net>
Subject: Lake Oroville Community Update - April 11, 2025
View as a webpage / Share
Lake Oroville Community Update
April 11, 2025
Flood Control Releases from Lake Oroville Ongoing
As snowmelt season begins, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to
perform flood protection releases from Lake Oroville using the main spillway and Hyatt
Powerplant. Releases from Lake Oroville during the spring months help maintain storage
capacity in the reservoir to capture runoff from mountain snowmelt, while optimizing
storage for the benefit of water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhancement.
DWR continues to conserve as much water supply as possible in coordination with the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Releases are subject to change based on
ongoing weather conditions.
Between October and June, DWR is required to operate Lake Oroville for flood control
under federal Water Control Manual guidelines set by USACE. These federal regulations
establish a set storage space that is reserved to capture inflows from rain and future
snowmelt, while protecting downstream communities from damaging flood events through
water releases. Releases to the Feather River are coordinated closely with USACE and
other downstream water operators.
Current reservoir levels are as follows, though estimates may change quickly:
Current Oroville Reservoir Level: 878 feet elevation
Current Storage Capacity: 90 percent
Total Releases to the Feather River: 12,500 cubic feet per second; decreasing to
11,000 cfs on Sunday
Lake Oroville is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project, providing flood
protection while supporting environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million
Californians. Some water released from Lake Oroville is distributed locally for agriculture
benefits, while the remaining Feather River releases flow south through the State Water
Project system to reduce salinity effects in the Delta, provide irrigation for crops in the
Central Valley, and eventually make their way to Southern California. DWR continues to
monitor lake levels, weather forecasts, and mountain snow levels to optimize water
storage while allowing for carryover storage into next year.
Visitor Center Art Show
Celebrate Earth Day this month with DWR and the Lake Oroville Visitor Center. The
Visitor Center is currently accepting wildflower-inspired artwork from Butte County
residents of all ages. Submissions can range from photography and painting to digital art,
drawing, or textiles. Submit your work by 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23. Artwork will be
displayed in the Visitor Center’s front lobby from Saturday, April 26 through Sunday, May
11.
In addition, DWR is hosting an Earth Day event at the Lake Oroville Visitor Center on
Saturday, April 26 from noon to 4 p.m. Join our guides in creating beautiful chalk art and
craft projects showcasing your love for our planet and its precious resources.
Located at 917 Kelly Ridge Rd. in Oroville, the Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. Staffed by knowledgeable guides, the Visitor Center features interpretive displays on
Oroville Dam, area geology, wildlife and habitat, hydroelectric power, and cultural and
historical artifacts. View videos in the theater about the construction of Oroville Dam, walk
or hike along nearby trails, and visit the 47-foot-tall observation tower that provides
unsurpassed panoramic views of surrounding areas. Free guided tours for school and
community groups are available by reservation. Parking and admission to the Visitor
Center are free.
Vegetation Management Activities
DWR continues the final phase of fuel load reduction efforts at Loafer Creek under a
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). Throughout the spring, hand crews and heavy
equipment operators have been working in the area to complete this critical wildfire
prevention project. Phases I and II of the project, covering DWR property along Oro Dam
Blvd. East and the Bidwell Canyon/Kelly Ridge area near the Lake Oroville Visitor Center,
are complete. In 2023, DWR secured $900,000 in HMGP funds from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support hazardous fuels reduction across
220 acres in the Lake Oroville area.
Additionally, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office crew is continuing post-burn cleanup efforts
in the Loafer Creek area following CAL FIRE’s prescribed burn in October 2024. CAL
FIRE hand crews and heavy equipment operators are also assisting as resources allow.
These efforts focus on reducing wildfire risk by thinning vegetation through hand and
mechanical methods, accompanied by chipping and pile burning. Smoke will be visible
throughout the Oroville area.
As vegetation management continues, some trails within the Lake Oroville State
Recreation Area may be intermittently closed. Trail users should use caution in active
work areas and follow all posted signage.
DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan is dedicated to reducing wildfire risk, enhancing
public safety, and improving forest health around Lake Oroville. Vegetation management
in this critical area remains a top priority for DWR and its partners, including CAL FIRE,
the Butte County Fire Department, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, the CA Conservation
Corps (CCC), CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), CA State Parks, local tribes, and the
Butte County Fire Safe Council.
Explore Table Mountain
Formed from ancient lava flows, the 3,300-acre North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve
is a flat-topped mesa providing spectacular views of the valley below. Following winter
rains, fissures along the vast lava caps form natural streams, vernal pools, and waterfalls
that cascade off the plateau to the valley below.
Spring is a spectacular time to enjoy miles of hiking trails through the reserve to view an
array of wildflowers in bloom and an expansive carpet of green grasses. Cattle grazing on
the reserve is used as a management tool to reduce thatch and non-native grass species
to benefit native plants. More information about visiting the ecological reserve may be
found on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's (CDFW) website.
Current Lake Operations
Lake Oroville is at 878 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3.09 million acre-feet
(MAF), which is 90 percent of its total capacity and 120 percent of the historical average.
Feather River flows are at 2,500 cfs through the City of Oroville with 10,000 cfs being
released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total Feather River
release of 12,500 cfs downstream. Total Feather River releases will be decreased to
11,000 cfs on Sunday, April 13 with flows through the City of Oroville reduced to 2,200 cfs
and flows from the Outlet reduced to 8,800 cfs. DWR continues to assess Feather River
releases daily.
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels and more at the California Data
Exchange Center. The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO.”
All data as of midnight 4/10/2025.
This email was sent to clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net from the California Natural Resources Agencyutilizing govDelivery. California Natural Resources Agency, 715 P Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
California Department of Water Resources
715 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Call our general information line at 916-820-8142
or email us at oroville@water.ca.gov
Contact Us
Stay Connected with the California Department of Water Resources
SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
Manage Subscriptions | Help