HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.10.25 Board Correspondence - FW_ Lake Oroville Community Update - October 10, 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; Krater, Sharleen; Lee, Lewis; Little, Melissa; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.;
Sweeney, Kathleen; Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth
Cc:Loeser, Kamie; Nuzum, Danielle
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Lake Oroville Community Update - October 10, 2025
Date:Friday, October 10, 2025 4:34:48 PM
Please see Board Correspondence -
From: California Natural Resources Agency <CNRA@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Friday, October 10, 2025 2:46 PM
To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net>
Subject: Lake Oroville Community Update - October 10, 2025
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Lake Oroville Community Update
October 10, 2025
Exercising at Oroville Dam
While Oroville Dam plays a critical role in providing flood protection to downstream
communities, it is also a prime location for physical fitness. A 1.3-mile paved road and
separated two-lane multi-use path runs the length of the dam’s crest, offering an
opportunity for exercise while enjoying scenic views of both Lake Oroville and the valley.
Free parking is available on either side of the dam’s crest with restroom facilities located
at the intersection of Canyon Drive and Oroville Dam Crest Road. Additional nearby
parking is available at the Oroville Dam Crest Overlook, with a short path connecting to
the dam crest road. For early birds or late-night fitness enthusiasts, the dam crest path is
fully lit, making it a great location for free outdoor recreation during the shorter daylight
Those looking for additional hiking or biking opportunities may use the Oroville Dam Crest
trail to connect to an additional 92 miles of trails throughout the Oroville area. An
interactive map of recreation facilities, including open trails and their permitted uses (hike,
bike, horse, multi), is available on the Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. A paper trail
map is available at various locations, including most entrance kiosks and the Lake Oroville
Visitor Center.
Loafer Creek Fuel Reduction Activities
As part of ongoing fuel reduction work within the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area
(LOSRA), the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is coordinating with the Butte
County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), the California Conservation Corps (CCC), and CAL FIRE
to remove hazardous fuels in the Loafer Creek area. Crews are continuing to prepare
areas along State Route 162 and near the Loafer Creek campgrounds and boat launch.
Prescribed burning is tentatively scheduled for the week of Oct. 20, depending on weather
conditions and CAL FIRE crew availability.
In addition, a CAL FIRE grant-funded project supported by DWR, the Department of Parks
and Recreation (State Parks), the Butte County Fire Safe Council (BCFSC), and the
Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians began additional fuel reduction work this week in
the Loafer Creek area near State Route 162. Approximately 140 acres will be treated by
hand crews and heavy equipment over the next several months.
During vegetation management activities some trails within the Loafer Creek area may be
intermittently closed. Trail users should use caution in active work areas and follow all
posted signage. Oroville-area residents should expect to see smoke from prescribed fires
in the coming weeks.
DWR appreciates the public’s cooperation and understanding as it works to reduce
wildfire risk, increase public safety, and support long-term land management goals.
Vegetation management remains a top priority for DWR and its partners.
Golden Mussel Inspection Program
DWR is alerting water recreators to upcoming changes to boat ramp hours that will take
effect as of Monday, Oct. 13. 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.
Starting Nov. 3: Daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sealed Vessel Launching
Lake Oroville
Ramp hours: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Starting Oct. 13: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Spillway
Ramp hours: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Starting Oct. 13: Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Friday-Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 8
p.m.
Bidwell Canyon
Ramp hours: Daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Starting Oct. 13: Monday-Thursday 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Friday-Sunday 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Lime Saddle
Ramp hours: Daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Starting Oct. 13: Daily from 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Loafer Creek/Loafer Point
Thermalito Afterbay
Ramp hours: Daily from 1.5 hours before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset
Monument Hill
Thermalito Forebay
Ramp Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. to sunset
North Forebay (Non-motorized vessels only)
Paving and Sealing Work Ongoing
DWR is continuing work on a $1.9 million paving and sealing project to rehabilitate seven
locations owned and maintained by the department that are heavily used by maintenance
staff and members of the public. Project work is expected to continue through November
2025. Vintage Paving Company, Inc. of Winters, Calif. is the contractor for the project.
Upcoming construction work will require closures to the following public areas:
Sept. 18 – Oct. 31: Afterbay Dam Crest Road/Brad Freeman Trail south of State
Route 162 to the East Hamilton Road Trail Access
Additional locations for future paving, sealing, and guardrail work include:
Thermalito Powerplant Access Roads
Thermalito Diversion Dam Powerplant
Oroville Field Division Operations and Maintenance Center at Glen Drive
Canyon Drive from the intersection of Oroville Dam Blvd. E./Royal Oaks Drive
heading north to the dam and upper overlook
Oroville Dam Boulevard East near Oro Powerhouse Road
DWR will provide more details about scheduled work and potential public access impacts
in future newsletters. Work schedules are subject to change based on weather and the
availability of equipment and materials.
Feather River Fish Monitoring Station
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
Oct. 4, 2025 are:
Spring-run Chinook salmon (April 16 through June 30): 17,733
Fall-run Chinook salmon (July 1 through present): 8,609
Steelhead: 508
To see previous year data, visit CalFish.org.
Current Lake Operations
Lake Oroville is at 785 feet elevation and storage is approximately 1.94 million acre-feet
(MAF), which is 57 percent of its total capacity and 103 percent of the historical average.
Feather River flows are at 650 cubic feet per second (cfs) through the City of Oroville with
4,350 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total
Feather River release of 5,000 cfs downstream. DWR continues to assess Feather River
releases daily with flow changes anticipated to decrease through early next week to a total
Feather River release of 2,450 cfs.
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 10/9/2025.
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
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
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