HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.15.26 Board Correspondence - FW_ Lake Oroville Community Update - May 15, 2026.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; Cannon, Jamie
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Lake Oroville Community Update - May 15, 2026
Date:Friday, May 15, 2026 5:00:56 PM
Attachments:image001.png
Please see Board Correspondence -
Lewis LeeAdministrative Technician - ConfidentialButte County Administration25 County Center Drive, Suite 200 • Oroville, CA 95965T: 530.552.3326www.buttecounty.ca.gov | lelee@buttecounty.ca.gov
From: California Natural Resources Agency <CNRA@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Friday, May 15, 2026 2:06 PM
To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.ca.gov>
Subject: Lake Oroville Community Update - May 15, 2026
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Lake Oroville Community Update
May 15, 2026
Lake Oroville Near Full Capacity
Lake Oroville is near full capacity thanks to average precipitation this fall and winter. The
Department of Water Resources (DWR) is conserving as much water in the reservoir as
possible, while still meeting water delivery and environmental requirements.
With the reservoir near capacity, windy periods are likely to cause water to splash onto
and over the crest of the emergency spillway. This may cause minor surface wetting of the
downstream side of the emergency spillway crest and the very upper sections of
the concrete pad. Visitors to Oroville Dam may also notice minor amounts of water flowing
from drains built into the emergency spillway. Both conditions are normal and
expected in the emergency spillway design. The dam and emergency spillway continue
to operate as intended.
Current reservoir levels are as follows, though estimates may change quickly:
Current Oroville Reservoir Level: 897 feet elevation
Current Storage: 99 percent of capacity
Total Releases to the Feather River: 1,050 cubic feet per second
Lake Oroville is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project (SWP), providing
flood protection while supporting environmental and water delivery needs for 27 million
Californians. Some water released from Oroville for flood control is captured downstream
for beneficial uses by local landowners, communities, and the State Water Project.
Releases from Oroville Dam also support Feather River habitat for salmon, steelhead,
sturgeon, and other river species. DWR continues to monitor lake levels, weather
forecasts, and mountain snow levels to optimize water storage and allow for carryover
storage into the following year.
Water Safety Month
SWP reservoirs located throughout California will welcome the upcoming summer months
with robust water levels. When recreating at SWP facilities, visitors should always keep
water safety a top priority and stay alert for cold, fast, and fluctuating water conditions.
During Water Safety Month, keep these water safety tips in mind to have a fun and safe
summer:
Wear a life jacket
Swim in safe or designated areas only and near a lifeguard
Swim with a buddy
Be aware of drop-offs into deep water
Watch for hidden debris and slippery rocks
Look before you leap or dive
Check for algal bloom updates
Know your GPS location
Lake Oroville, the SWP’s largest reservoir, has more than 167 miles of shoreline and is a
perfect location for boating, fishing, skiing, wakeboarding, swimming and paddleboarding.
Those seeking to spend more than a day relaxing on the lake can stay at one of three
campgrounds at the lake, or reserve floating campsites through the California Department
of Parks and Recreation (State Parks).
Oroville Recreation
The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staffed by
knowledgeable guides, the 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.
Blue-Green Algae Monitoring
DWR’s environmental scientists began monitoring for blue-green algae and their
toxins last week 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. There are currently no harmful algal bloom (HAB) advisories for Lake
Oroville, the Thermalito Forebay, or the Thermalito Afterbay.
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. Algal blooms can make the water appear green, blue, or brown in
color. Seeing colors, mats, foam, scum, or paint-like streaks in the water may indicate a
bloom is present. Keep animals and children away from the water when a suspected
bloom is present and report blooms immediately to the California Water Resources
Control Board.
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 HABs, or
to report a HAB visit the Water Board’s website.
Feather River Fish Monitoring Station
DWR resumed operations of the Feather River fish monitoring station on March 4, 2026 to
capture the return of spring-run Chinook salmon. Monitoring was temporarily
suspended at the end of December 2025 due to anticipated high flows in the Feather
River. Upstream migrating fish totals between March 4 and May 11, 2026 are:
Spring-run Chinook salmon: 5,153
Steelhead: -27 (most likely kelts moving downstream)
To see previous year data, visit CalFish.org.
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
Current Lake Operations
Lake Oroville is at 897 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3.38 million acre-feet
(MAF), which is 99 percent of its total capacity and 122 percent of the historical average.
Feather River flows are at 650 cubic feet per second (cfs) through the City of Oroville
with releases from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet at 400 cfs for a total Feather River
release of 1,050 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 5/14/2026.
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
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