Lake Oroville Update - April 4, 2025

Flood Control Releases from Lake Oroville Ongoing

As snowmelt season begins, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to perform flood protection releases from Lake Oroville using the main spillway and Hyatt Powerplant. Releases from Lake Oroville during the spring months help maintain storage capacity in the reservoir to capture runoff from mountain snowmelt, while optimizing storage for the benefit of water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhancement. DWR continues 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: 875 feet elevation
• Current Storage Capacity: 89 percent
• Total Releases to the Feather River: 11,000 cubic feet per second

 

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 Wildflower & Nature Festival

The Feather River Recreation & Park District (FRRPD) is hosting its annual Wildflower & Nature Festival at Riverbend Park in Oroville on Saturday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free to the festival with activities highlighting the area’s natural resources and booths showcasing handmade Butte County products. Activities and entertainment will be available for all ages including children’s crafts, river kayak tours, live music, food trucks, and a beer and wine garden. 

 

Make sure to stop by DWR’s booth for information about native plants that inhabit local vernal pools and a craft activity for kids – making felt California poppies and tissue paper Butte County meadowfoam. More information about the Wildflower & Nature Festival is available on FRRPD’s website.

 

Explore Table Mountain

Formed from ancient lava flows, the 3,300-acre North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve is a flat-topped mesa providing spectacular views of the valley below. Following winter rains, fissures along the vast lava caps form natural streams, vernal pools, and waterfalls that cascade off the plateau to the valley below.

 

Spring is a spectacular time to enjoy miles of hiking trails through the reserve to view an array of wildflowers in bloom and an expansive carpet of green grasses. Cattle grazing on the reserve is used as a management tool to reduce thatch and non-native grass species to benefit native plants. More information about visiting the ecological reserve may be found on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's (CDFW) website.

 

Feather River Forks Open

DWR’s Civil Maintenance staff have removed log booms from the south, middle, west, and north forks of the Feather River that feed into Lake Oroville, permitting access to recreation sites further upstream. During the winter months, crews use log booms to collect woody debris during high water inflow periods and prevent it from reaching the larger body of the lake.

 

Crews will continue woody vegetation collection as water levels rise this spring at Lake Oroville. Floating debris removal ensures continued infrastructure operations and the safety of the recreating public on Lake Oroville. However, boaters and other water recreationists should take precautions when operating watercraft on Lake Oroville and should remain alert for floating debris.

 

Feather Falls

A popular excursion at Lake Oroville during high-water level periods is to take a boat trip to the upper end of the Middle Fork Arm to view Feather Falls, a Yosemite-style waterfall of exquisite beauty. Along the way, there are many smaller waterfalls to see including some that tumble directly into Lake Oroville such as Bean Creek and Frey Creek. Bring a picnic lunch, a camera, and don’t forget your fishing pole. There are unlimited bass fishing opportunities along the route and trout fishing can also be good where the cold mountain streams enter the lake.

 

Oroville Recreation

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 and the Lake Oroville 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.

 

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, with excellent bass fishing opportunities during the fall and winter months. Be sure to check CDFW fishing regulations before fishing. 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.

 

Current Lake Operations

Lake Oroville is at 875 feet elevation and storage is approximately 3.06 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 89 percent of its total capacity and 121 percent of the historical average.

 

Feather River flows are at 2,500 cfs through the City of Oroville with 8,500 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total Feather River release of 11,000 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 4/3/2025.

 

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