HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.17.25 Board Correspondence - FW_ Lake Oroville Community Update - October 17, 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 17, 2025
Date:Friday, October 17, 2025 4:40:49 PM
Please see Board Correspondence -
From: California Natural Resources Agency <CNRA@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Friday, October 17, 2025 2:31 PM
To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net>
Subject: Lake Oroville Community Update - October 17, 2025
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Lake Oroville Community Update
October 17, 2025
North Fork Algal Bloom Cleared
An algal bloom in the upper reaches of Lake Oroville in the North Fork arm between Stony
Creek and the train tunnel below French Creek has cleared after several weeks. Water
testing did not detect toxins.
What are signs of algal blooms?
Small blue-green, green, white, or brown particles in the water
Streaks in the water that look like spilled paint
Mats, scum, or foam at the surface or along the shoreline
Can have an odor described as gasoline, septic, or fishy
Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) are a natural component of ecosystems. Under certain
conditions, including warmer temperatures and increased nutrient loads, algae can grow
rapidly causing “blooms.” Algal blooms sometimes produce toxins that can be harmful to
people and animals.
Department of Water Resources (DWR) environmental scientists routinely monitor for
blue-green algae and their toxins within the Oroville-Thermalito Complex. Monitoring
occurs during the summer with water samples taken at various locations regularly, which
are sent to a lab for toxin analysis. If testing reveals elevated levels of cyanobacteria
toxins, DWR staff will work with California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board and
recreation area managers to notify the public and post advisory signs at affected
waterbodies. To learn more about harmful algal blooms (HAB), or to report a HAB visit the
Water Board’s website.
Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission
The California Natural Resources Agency is hosting its 21st Oroville Dam Citizens
Advisory Commission (OCAC) meeting on Friday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to noon. The
public meeting will be held in-person in Oroville at the Southside Oroville Community
Center (2959 Lower Wyandotte Rd., Multipurpose Room). The agenda includes
presentations and an opportunity for public comment. Presentations will include annual
Oroville facility updates on the budget, prioritization of future dam safety projects, and the
status of current dam safety projects and related studies. There will also be brief updates
on the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Water Control Manual Update process and the
Commission’s 2023-2025 Legislative Report.
The Citizens Advisory Commission is a forum for questions and feedback from
communities surrounding Oroville Dam. For more information, please visit the Oroville
Dam Citizens Advisory Commission website.
Loafer Creek Fuel Reduction Activities
As part of ongoing fuel reduction work within the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area
(LOSRA), 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 Oct. 21-22 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 continued 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.
Upcoming Road Closures for Guardrail Work
DWR is continuing work on a $1.9 million paving and sealing project to rehabilitate several
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 and roads:
Aug. 18 – Oct. 31: Afterbay Dam Crest Road/Brad Freeman Trail south of State
Route 162 to the East Hamilton Road Trail Access
Oct. 27 – Oct. 29: Canyon Drive from the intersection of Oroville Dam Blvd.
E./Royal Oaks Drive heading north to the dam and upper overlook will be closed to
vehicles daily from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 30 – Oct. 31: Oroville Dam Boulevard East between Oro Powerhouse Road
and the intersection at Canyon Drive/Royal Oaks Drive will be closed to vehicles
daily from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Additional locations for future paving and sealing work include:
Thermalito Diversion Dam Powerplant
Oroville Field Division Operations and Maintenance Center at Glen Drive
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.
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.
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 6:30 p.m.
Ramp hours: 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: 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 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)
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. 11, 2025 are:
Spring-run Chinook salmon (April 16 through June 30): 17,713
Fall-run Chinook salmon (July 1 through present): 15,301
Steelhead: 673
To see previous year data, visit CalFish.org.
Current Lake Operations
Lake Oroville is at 780 feet elevation and storage is approximately 1.89 million acre-feet
(MAF), which is 55 percent of its total capacity and 102 percent of the historical average.
Feather River flows are at 650 cubic feet per second (cfs) through the City of Oroville with
1,800 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total
Feather River release of 2,450 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.”
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
All data as of 11:59 p.m. on 10/16/2025.
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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