Update on Lake Oroville Operations - March 12, 2023
The California Department of Water Resources releases water from the Lake Oroville flood control gates down the main spillway from 4,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 8,000 cfs for the first time since April of 2019 in Butte County, California.
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to release water from Oroville Dam to the Feather River for flood control protection to downstream communities. Yesterday evening, release totals from the spillway were slightly increased from 8,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 8,500 cfs. As runoff inflows increase to Lake Oroville, DWR may adjust releases based on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers guidelines for flood control storage at Lake Oroville.
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 Total Releases to the Feather River: 15,000 cfs
- Current Releases from the Oroville Main Spillway: 8,500 cfs
The Lake Oroville reservoir is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project and supports environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million Californians and reduces flood risks to downstream communities. DWR continues to monitor lake levels, weather forecasts, and mountain snow levels to optimize operations for flood control, water storage and environmental protection while allowing for carryover storage into next year.