HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.24.2024 Board Correspondence - FW_ Lake Oroville Community Update - May 24, 2024.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening
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From:Clerk of the Board
To:Bennett, Robin; Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan;
Kimmelshue, Tod; Kitts, Melissa; Lee, Lewis; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen;
Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth; Loeser, Kamie
Cc:Nevers, Dawn
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Lake Oroville Community Update - May 24, 2024
Date:Tuesday, May 28, 2024 2:00:53 PM
Please see Board correspondence -
From: California Natural Resources Agency <CNRA@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Friday, May 24, 2024 1:40 PM
To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net>
Subject: Lake Oroville Community Update - May 24, 2024
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Lake Oroville Community Update
May 24, 2024
DWR Maintaining Storage Capacity at Lake Oroville
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to maintain Lake Oroville at its
peak storage capacity while adjusting water releases as needed to account for increasing
or decreasing inflows into the reservoir and maintaining flood protection for downstream
communities. Releases are closely coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
and other water operators and adjusted as needed to maintain balance throughout the
water system. DWR continues to monitor Lake Oroville levels to optimize water storage
while meeting environmental requirements and allowing for carryover storage into next
year.
With Lake Oroville at full capacity, windy periods are likely to cause water to splash onto
and over the crest of the emergency spillway. This will result in minor surface wetting of
the downstream side of the emergency spillway crest and the very upper sections of the
splash pad. Visitors to Oroville Dam may also notice minor amounts of water flowing from
drains built into the emergency spillway. Both conditions are normal and expected given
the emergency spillway design. The dam and emergency spillway continue to operate as
intended.
The information below reflects current reservoir level estimates. Forecasts can change
quickly and may affect the estimates provided.
Current Oroville Reservoir Level: 898 feet elevation
Current Storage Capacity: 99 percent
Total Releases to the Feather River: 2,300 cubic feet per second (cfs)
Total releases to the Feather River amount to 2,300 cfs with 650 cfs being routed down
the Low Flow Channel through the City of Oroville. An additional 1,650 cfs is being
released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet, located 5 miles downstream from
Oroville. Total Feather River releases may be further reduced over the weekend. DWR
continues to assess Feather River releases daily.
As the largest storage facility in the State Water Project, Lake Oroville helps provide water
to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland, while providing flood protection
to downstream communities along with environmental and recreation benefits. Spring is
an important time for water project operators to fill reservoirs like Lake Oroville ahead of
dry months. It also is an important migration window for many native fish species. DWR is
using the best available science to protect fish species. However, SWP operations have
faced significant restrictions in the Delta this year that have impacted the ability to capture
and store the water needed if California sees a return to drought conditions.
Swim Beaches
Temperatures are warming up in Northern California and summer is just around the
corner. While Lake Oroville offers ample water opportunities for boating, kayaking or
wakeboarding, the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) and Oroville Wildlife
Area (OWA) also offer several family-friendly swim beaches that are excellent locations to
recreate.
Swim beaches within the LOSRA and OWA provide shallow wading and swimming
opportunities for visitors of all ages with nearby restroom facilities. Some locations also
include picnic benches and barbecue facilities that are perfect for hosting a fun family
gathering. Beat the heat and relax at one of our swim beaches – Loafer Creek at Lake
Oroville, Monument Hill or Larkin Road at the Thermalito Afterbay, or the South or North
Thermalito Forebay.
When recreating at SWP facilities, you should always keep water safety a top priority.
Keep these water safety tips in mind to have a fun and safe summer:
Wear a life jacket
Swim in safe or designated areas only
Swim with a buddy
Be aware of drop-offs into deep water
Watch for hidden debris and slippery rocks
Look before you leap or dive
Check for algal bloom updates
Know your GPS location
Driftwood Abatement Ongoing at Lake Oroville
For the second year in a row, Lake Oroville has filled to capacity following a wet winter.
But high water levels also bring driftwood and other floating debris as water flows into
Lake Oroville from tributaries. Since the end of April, DWR civil maintenance staff have
been collecting, containing, and pulling pieces of wood out of the lake and away from
shoreline areas using boom lines. So far DWR civil maintenance crews have collected
over an acre of driftwood with abatement activities expected to continue for the next
several weeks. Crews are seeing much less floating debris this season due to lower
inflows from tributaries coupled with extensive debris removal efforts in 2023. Floating
debris removal ensures continued infrastructure operations and the safety of the
recreating public on Lake Oroville. However, boaters, water skiers, and other water
recreationists should take precautions when operating boats on Lake Oroville and should
remain alert for floating debris.
Oroville Recreation
DWR, State Parks, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) maintain
over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. An interactive map of recreation facilities,
including open trails and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi), is available on
DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. A paper trail map is available at various
locations, including most entrance kiosks and the Lake Oroville Visitor Center.
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.
Lake Oroville is one of the State Water Project’s premier recreational destinations and one
of California’s best fishing spots. The lake provides both warm-water and cold-water
fisheries and is a popular destination for bass tournaments. Below the Oroville Dam, the
Thermalito Afterbay and the Feather River offer additional excellent fishing opportunities.
The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of
services including a convenience store, gas, and boat rentals.
Upstream migrating fish totals through the Feather River Fish Monitoring Station between
Jan. 1 and May 19 are:
Spring-run Chinook salmon: 3,167
Fall-run Chinook salmon: 42
Steelhead: 830
Due to higher flows in the low-flow channel of the Feather River between Feb. 26
and March 18, some fish swam over the monitoring station and were not counted in
upstream migration totals.
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
Current Lake Operations
Lake Oroville is at 898 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3.52 million acre-feet
(MAF), which is 99 percent of its total capacity and 126 percent of the historical average.
Feather River flows are at 650 cfs through the City of Oroville with 1,650 cfs being
released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total Feather River
release of 2,300 cfs downstream. Total Feather River releases may be further reduced
over the weekend. 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 5/23/2024.
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
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