Lake Oroville Update - March 7, 2025

Flood Control Releases from Lake Oroville Continue

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues federally required flood control releases from Lake Oroville to maintain flood protection for downstream communities. Water is being released through the Hyatt Powerplant for energy production and from Oroville Dam’s main spillway. With drier watershed conditions returning, DWR has reduced releases from Lake Oroville to conserve as much water supply as possible in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Releases are subject to change based on ongoing weather conditions.

 

Between October and June, DWR is required to operate Lake Oroville for flood control under federal Water Control Manual guidelines set by USACE. These federal regulations establish a set storage space that is reserved to capture inflows from rain and future snowmelt, while protecting downstream communities from damaging flood events through water releases. Releases to the Feather River are coordinated closely with USACE and other downstream water operators.

 

Current reservoir levels are as follows, though estimates may change quickly:

• Current Oroville Reservoir Level: 862 feet elevation
• Current Storage Capacity: 84 percent
• Total Releases to the Feather River: 7,600 cubic feet per second (cfs)

 

Lake Oroville is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project, providing flood protection while supporting environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million Californians. Some water released from Lake Oroville is distributed locally for agriculture benefits, while the remaining Feather River releases flow south through the State Water Project system to reduce salinity effects in the Delta, provide irrigation for crops in the Central Valley, and eventually make their way to Southern California. DWR continues to monitor lake levels, weather forecasts, and mountain snow levels to optimize water storage while allowing for carryover storage into next year.

 

Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission

The California Natural Resources Agency hosted its 19th Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission meeting on March 7. In addition to public comment, the Commission received presentations from the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency and the City of Oroville on the status of the City of Oroville’s levee, an explanation of the typical components of Water Control Manuals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and an update on the Commission’s 2025 Legislative Report.

 

The Citizens Advisory Commission is a forum for questions and feedback from the communities surrounding Oroville Dam. For information on the meeting, please visit the Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission website. A transcript of the virtual meeting will be available on the webpage in the coming weeks.

 

Road Closure for Tree Removal

DWR and its partners at the California Conservation Corps (CCC) and Butte County Sheriff’s Office are closing a portion of Oro Dam Blvd. E. between Canyon Drive and Oro Powerhouse Road for tree and debris removal. A full road closure will be in effect Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. March 10-14 and March 17-21. DWR is taking advantage of the closure to drop and clear large hazard trees that were damaged by the July 2024 Thompson Fire, in addition to performing routine fuel load reduction activities to minimize fire risk in areas surrounding Lake Oroville.

 

DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan is dedicated to reducing wildfire risk, enhancing public safety, and improving forest health around Lake Oroville. During vegetation management activities some trails within the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area may be intermittently closed. Trail users should use caution in active work areas and follow all posted signage.

 

Vegetation management remains a top priority for DWR and its partners, including CAL FIRE, the Butte County Fire Department, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, the CCC, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), State Parks, local tribes, and the Butte County Fire Safe Council.

 

Stop the Spread of Golden Mussels

Boaters and recreationists can help combat the spread of a new invasive species recently discovered in California waterways – the golden mussel. Despite its flashy name, this species poses a significant threat to infrastructure and the ecological health of all state waterways.

 

Golden mussels range from ¾ inches to 2 inches in size and have a light to dark yellowish-brown to brown-colored shell. When golden mussel populations are established, they are difficult to control since they can become very abundant and are easily spread to new waterbodies. If left unchecked, they can alter aquatic ecosystems by filter-feeding on planktonic algae and changing the habitat structure, impact water delivery systems by clogging small-diameter pipelines, screens, and filters, and impact recreation by fouling boat hulls and motors and clogging intakes and cooling lines.

 

To prevent the spread of invasive mussels, DWR routinely monitors for these species and acts to prevent their spread to non-infested waters. When recreating on California’s waterways, always remember to:

• Clean off aquatic plants and animal material from your boat, trailer, and equipment before leaving the ramp or parking lot.
• Drain ballast, bilge, live-wells, and other water-containing devices, and never drain back into the waterway.
• Dry equipment before launching into another body of water. As waiting periods vary, check with the waterbody owner on their watercraft inspection criteria.

 

Partial Thermalito Afterbay Closure

Speed boat time trials are returning to the Thermalito Afterbay March 8-9. The event requires the closure of the southern portion of the Afterbay (south of Highway 162), the Monument Hill boat ramp, and the Larkin Road cartop boat launch. The Wilbur Road boat ramp and areas north of Hwy 162 will remain open for public use during the boating event.

 

The event is hosted by the Northern California Outboard Association and East Bay Boat Club and features a mile-long course. Time trial events are expected Saturday and Sunday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. depending on weather and water conditions. More information about the event can be found on the American Power Boat Association webpage.

 

Current Lake Operations

Lake Oroville is at 862 feet elevation and storage is approximately 2.88 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 84 percent of its total capacity and 126 percent of the historical average.

 

Feather River flows are at 900 cfs through the City of Oroville with 6,700 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total Feather River release of 7,600 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 midnight 3/6/2025.

 

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Know someone who would like to receive Community Updates? They can email their request to oroville@water.ca.gov.