Lake Oroville Update - October 11, 2024

Published: October 11, 2024

Brad Freeman Trail Improvements

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is making progress on a project to improve a 1.5-mile section of the Brad Freeman Trail between Cherokee Road and the Highway 70 Garden Drive overpass. Starting Tuesday, October 15, DWR crews will begin paving work to construct an 8-foot-wide asphalt path. Paving activities are expected to last for two weeks with the work schedule subject to change based on material and crew availability. The Brad Freeman Trail between Cherokee Road and Garden Drive will remain closed during paving work.

Additional planned trail upgrades include a 4-foot-wide decomposed granite path for pedestrians and the replacement of existing entrance bollards with wider, accessible box gates. The improvement project is supported by a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant through the National Park Service, with remaining funding for the $700,000 project provided by DWR. Project work is being constructed in phases with completion possible this year depending on weather conditions.

Oroville Wildlife Area

The 11,800-acre Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA) is a forested upland and riparian habitat along the Feather River and around the Thermalito Afterbay. Managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in partnership with DWR, the OWA allows for additional outdoor recreation activities such as hunting, river- and pond-oriented fishing and boating, and wildlife observation and photography.

Several trails cross throughout the OWA, providing opportunities for hiking and biking. Other trails within the OWA are not officially designated and none are ADA accessible. The Feather River runs through the center of the OWA and several locations provide unpaved boat ramp access. Both car-top and trailer launching occur at many of these ramps. A restroom is available at the day use/camping area adjacent to the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet area.

The OWA is a "Type C" wildlife area (hunting pass not required) and is open for hunting seven days a week with entry hours limited from 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset. No rifles or pistols may be used or possessed on the wildlife area except at the designated shooting range (Rabe Rd. Shooting Range off Larkin Rd.; open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset). Lead ammunition cannot be used while hunting in California.

Water Control Manual Update Informational Meeting

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Sacramento District will host a public meeting on October 15 to share information regarding water control manual updates for New Bullards Bar and Oroville Dams. The meeting will be held from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Sutter County Veterans Memorial Building at 1425 Veterans Memorial Circle in Yuba City.

USACE will present information on its water control manual update process, purpose and need, key issues, and the process timeline. Following the presentation, audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions regarding the update process. Comment cards will also be available to submit questions or comments.

Water Control Manuals are the operational procedures that guide storm-season operations to ensure dam owners comply with federal rules related to flood management for the protection of downstream communities. Updates to the Water Control Manuals for Oroville and New Bullards Bar are being considered to reflect recent improvements to forecasting and coordinated operations between the two reservoirs.

Oroville Recreation

Lake Oroville is one of the State Water Project's premier recreational destinations and one of California's best fishing spots. The lake provides both warm-water and cold-water fisheries. Below the Oroville Dam, the Thermalito Forebay, Thermalito Afterbay, and the Feather River offer additional excellent fishing opportunities for Chinook salmon and steelhead. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and provide a variety of services including a convenience store, gas, boat rentals, and more.

DWR, the California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks), and CDFW maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. An interactive map of recreation facilities, including open trails and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi), is available on DWR's Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. A paper trail map is available at various locations, including most entrance kiosks, the Lake Oroville Visitor Center, and the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center.

Staffed by knowledgeable guides, the Lake Oroville 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.

Upstream migrating fish totals through the Feather River Fish Monitoring Station between Jan. 1 and Sept. 28 are:

• Spring-run Chinook salmon (March 1 through June 30): 7,150
• Fall-run Chinook salmon (July 1 through present): 14,080
• Steelhead: 1,157

Current Lake Operations

Lake Oroville is at 772 feet elevation and storage is approximately 1.81 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 53 percent of its total capacity and 97 percent of the historical average.

Feather River flows are at 800 cubic feet per second (cfs) through the City of Oroville with 2,200 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total Feather River release of 3,000 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 10/10/2024.