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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; Krater, Sharleen; Lee, Lewis; Little, Melissa; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.;
Sweeney, Kathleen; Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth
Cc:Nuzum, Danielle; Loeser, Kamie
Subject:Board Correspondence: FW: Lake Oroville Community Update - June 27, 2025
Date:Friday, June 27, 2025 2:53:23 PM
Please see Board Correspondence
From: California Natural Resources Agency <CNRA@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2025 2:12 PM
To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net>
Subject: Lake Oroville Community Update - June 27, 2025
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Lake Oroville Community Update
June 27, 2025
Explore the Lime Saddle Recreation Area
Just a short drive from the town of Paradise, the Lime Saddle Recreation Area is located
along the western shoreline of the North Fork arm of Lake Oroville and accessible from
Pentz Road. The boat ramp and day use area features picnic tables, sun shelters, ADA
accessible flush toilets, and trash receptacles. A five-lane boat ramp provides access to
Lake Oroville with two lanes extending down to 702 feet for lower water access. At the top
of the boat ramp, a parking lot provides ample vehicle and trailer parking with ADA
designated spots. In addition, the Lime Saddle Marina offers supplies, gas for boats, and
boat rentals so you can enjoy a day on the lake.
Nearby campgrounds also offer close access to the lake and are perfect for quick dips to
combat the heat. The Lime Saddle Campground Area features 50 total campsites with 44
individual campsites (28 car/tent sites and 16 RV sites with full hookups). Each campsite
features a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Bathroom facilities offer flush toilets and
showers for visitors. Near the entrance, the Lime Saddle Group Campground features two
group campsites (six individual sites) with shade structures, multiple picnic tables, trash
receptacles, a large barbecue, and a water fountain with spigot. Three of the sites at this
facility are ADA accessible with the central restroom/shower building also offering ADA
accommodation.
With Lake Oroville near full capacity, it’s also the perfect time for a hiking or biking trip
along the Lime Saddle Trail offering scenic views of the full reservoir. The 1.73-mile trail is
accessible from Lime Saddle Recreation Road (marina access road) and routes visitors
north before ending at the Lime Saddle Group Campground.
The Department of Water Resources (DWR), the California Department of Parks and
Recreation (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.
Fourth of July in Oroville
Celebrate our nation’s independence on July 4 with a spectacular fireworks show at the
Table Mountain Golf Course located at 2700 Oro Dam Blvd. W in Oroville. Gates open at
7 p.m. with the Fourth of July fireworks show beginning 30 minutes after sunset.
DWR provides resources and support for this City of Oroville/Oroville Chamber of
Commerce event. The Oroville Chamber of Commerce’s website has a map highlighting
prime locations for fireworks viewing so you can plan ahead.
Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee
The Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee (ORAC) will hold a meeting on Wednesday,
July 9 at 10 a.m. to provide an update on the invasive mussel inspection program for
DWR’s Oroville facilities. The meeting will be held 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
and provide recreation plan recommendations for Oroville Facilities owned by the
Department of Water Resources (DWR). The 13-member committee is made up of
representatives from state and local government, recreation groups, and business and
community organizations.
Golden Mussel Inspection Program
More details about DWR’s mussel inspection program are available at
water.ca.gov/mussels.
Watercraft Inspection Location/Decontamination Services
North Thermalito Forebay at Garden Drive and HWY 70 in Oroville
Hours of operation: Daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Sealed Vessel Launching
Lake Oroville
Ramp hours: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Spillway
Bidwell Canyon
Extended Ramp hours: Daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Lime Saddle
Loafer Creek
Thermalito Afterbay
Ramp hours: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to one hour after sunset
Monument Hill
Thermalito Forebay
Ramp Hours: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
North Forebay (Non-motorized vessels only)
Oroville Recreation
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.
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.
Between Jan. 30 and April 20, high flows in the Feather River required the temporary
removal of fish monitoring equipment resulting in lower spring-run estimates. Upstream
migrating fish totals through the Feather River Fish Monitoring Station between Jan. 1 and
June 23, 2025 are:
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
Spring-run Chinook salmon: 17,462
Steelhead: 174
To see previous year data, visit CalFish.org.
Current Lake Operations
Lake Oroville is at 890 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3.28 million acre-feet
(MAF), which is 96 percent of its total capacity and 121 percent of the historical average.
Feather River flows are at 1,200 cfs through the City of Oroville with 3,300 cfs being
released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total Feather River
release of 4,500 cfs downstream. 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 11:59 p.m. on 6/26/2025.
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
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