HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.03.25 Board Correspondence - FW_ Lake Oroville Community Update - February 3, 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 - February 3, 2025
Date:Monday, February 3, 2025 4:28:53 PM
Please see Board Correspondence -
From: California Natural Resources Agency <CNRA@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Monday, February 3, 2025 4:12 PM
To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net>
Subject: Lake Oroville Community Update - February 3, 2025
View as a webpage / Share
Lake Oroville Community Update
February 3, 2025
Flood Control Releases from Lake Oroville Ongoing
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues federally required flood control
releases from Lake Oroville to maintain flood protection for downstream communities.
Flood releases using Oroville Dam’s main spillway began this morning at 10 a.m. with
water also being released through the Hyatt Powerplant for energy production. Total
Feather River flood control releases are currently at 35,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).
Between October and April, DWR is required to operate Lake Oroville for flood control
under federal Water Control Manual Guidelines set by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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 coordinated releases. To maintain this storage space, DWR has
increased releases from Lake Oroville.
Over the weekend, storm impacts and runoff into Lake Oroville were less than initially
projected on forecasts and weather models. DWR currently plans to maintain flood
releases this week at 35,000 cfs with releases subject to change with ongoing wet
weather.
Releases to the Feather River are coordinated closely with the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers and other downstream water operators. Feather River recreation users are
advised to remain alert as river flows are expected to be swift and cold and may change
based on projected weather forecasts.
The information below reflects current reservoir level estimates. Forecasts can change
quickly and may affect the estimates provided.
Current Oroville Reservoir Level: 846 feet elevation
Current Storage Capacity: 78 percent
Total Releases to the Feather River: 35,000 cfs
The Lake Oroville reservoir 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.
All data as of midnight 2/2/2025.
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
This email was sent to clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net from the California Natural Resources Agency
utilizing govDelivery. California Natural Resources Agency, 715 P Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
Manage Subscriptions | Help