HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.28.25 Board Correspondence - FW_ Lake Oroville Community Update - January 31, 2025.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening
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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:Mutony, Heather
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Lake Oroville Community Update - January 31, 2025
Date:Monday, February 3, 2025 8:09:47 AM
Please see Board Correspondence -
From: California Natural Resources Agency <CNRA@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Friday, January 31, 2025 3:27 PM
To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net>
Subject: Lake Oroville Community Update - January 31, 2025
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Lake Oroville Community Update
January 31, 2025
DWR Begins Required Flood Control Releases from Lake
Oroville
Ahead of forecasted storms arriving this weekend, the Department of Water Resources
(DWR) has increased water releases to the Feather River from the Oroville-Thermalito
Complex to maintain flood protection for downstream communities. With runoff into Lake
Oroville projected to range between 50,000 to 120,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) by early
next week, DWR is currently planning to start using Oroville Dam’s main spillway on
Monday for additional flood control releases.
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 must
increase releases from Lake Oroville.
While weather conditions have largely remained dry in the southern part of California this
water year, northern California received a series of atmospheric river-driven storms in late
November and December to boost reservoir storage at Lake Oroville. Between Nov. 19
and Dec. 31, Lake Oroville’s elevation rose approximately 64 feet.
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: 840 feet elevation
Current Storage Capacity: 75 percent
Total Releases to the Feather River: 6,000 cfs; increasing to 12,000 cfs on
Saturday; potentially increasing to 35,000 cfs on Monday
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. DWR continues to monitor lake levels, weather forecasts, and
mountain snow levels to optimize water storage while allowing for carryover storage into
next year. An update on planned Feather River releases will be provided Monday,
Feb. 3.
Brad Freeman Trail Improvements
DWR is nearing completion on a project to improve a 1.5-mile section of the Brad
Freeman Trail between Cherokee Road and the Highway 70 Garden Drive overpass.
DWR crews are currently installing a 4-foot-wide decomposed granite path alongside an
8-foot-wide asphalt path, which offers an improved recreation experience for trail users.
The Brad Freeman Trail between Cherokee Road and Garden Drive may be closed
intermittently during work, which is weather dependent and subject to change.
DWR also previously installed accessible gates at trail entrance points, which restrict
vehicles while still providing access for equestrians, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Project
improvements were supported by a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant through the
National Park Service, with remaining funding for the $700,000 project provided by DWR.
Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee
The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee (ORAC) will hold a meeting on Friday, Feb. 7
at 10 a.m. at the Southside Oroville Community Center located at 2959 Lower Wyandotte
Road, Oroville, CA, 95966.
ORAC was established by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review
13-member committee is made up of representatives from state and local government,
recreation groups, and business and community organizations.
Vegetation Management Activities
DWR has entered the final phase of its fuel load reduction efforts at Loafer Creek under a
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). Over the next several months, hand crews and
heavy equipment operators will be 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 now 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 conducting 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.
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.
Oroville Recreation
DWR, State Parks, and 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 Lake Oroville 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, with excellent bass fishing opportunities during the fall and winter months. Be
sure to check CDFW fishing regulations before fishing. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon
and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services including a convenience
store, gas, boat rentals, and more.
Upstream migrating fish totals through the Feather River Fish Monitoring Station between
Jan. 1 and Jan. 20, 2025 are:
Fall-run Chinook salmon: 19
Steelhead: 32
To see previous year data, visit CalFish.org.
Current Lake Operations
Lake Oroville is at 840 feet elevation and storage is approximately 2.58 million acre-feet
(MAF), which is 75 percent of its total capacity and 126 percent of the historical average.
Feather River flows are at 1,050 cubic feet per second (cfs) through the City of Oroville
with 4,950 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total
Feather River release of 6,000 cfs downstream. Total Feather River releases will increase
to 12,000 cfs on Saturday with flows increased to 2,000 cfs through the City of Oroville
and Outlet releases at 10,000 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 1/30/2025.
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
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