HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.14.26 Board Correspondence - FW_ Lake Oroville Community Update - August 14, 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; 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 - August 14, 2026
Date:Monday, August 17, 2026 8:29:54 AM
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: Department of Water Resources <DWRMedia@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Friday, August 14, 2026 2:35 PM
To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.ca.gov>
Subject: Lake Oroville Community Update - August 14, 2026
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Lake Oroville Community Update
August 14, 2026
Biking Around Lake Oroville
With more than 70 miles of biking-designated trails throughout the Lake Oroville
Recreation and Oroville Wildlife Areas, cyclists have a variety of trails and experiences to
choose from. The Brad Freeman Trail loops throughout both recreation areas offering a
41-mile trek from the Oroville Dam Spillway area, past the Thermalito Diversion Pool,
around the Thermalito Forebay and Afterbay, and through the remote Oroville Wildlife
Area. Along the west side of Lake Oroville, the Potter’s Ravine system is a 15-mile trail
with intermittent views of Lake Oroville. Cyclists can also bike another 8 miles from
Potter’s Ravine along the North Fork Trail to the Bloomer Cove area showcasing the north
fork arm of Lake Oroville. Those seeking a shorter trip may also bike from the Lake
Oroville Visitor Center down to the Bidwell Canyon Saddle Dam, offering spectacular
views of Lake Oroville during the ride.
Oroville-Area School Tours
Back to school season is here with young minds ready to grow in their knowledge of local
history and ecosystems. Fortunately, DWR offers free tours and educational programs for
students throughout the region.
Lake Oroville Visitor Center guides are currently booking free school tours of the Feather
River Fish Hatchery for the fall spawning season. View salmon spawning activities in
action, feed fish in the rearing raceways, and learn about the Chinook salmon lifecycle
and the importance of the Hatchery in supporting salmon populations in the Feather River
and ocean. School tours of the Hatchery are available by reservation. Contact the Lake
Oroville Visitor Center at (530) 538-2219 or (530) 534-2306.
Also tour the Lake Oroville Visitor Center featuring 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. The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open daily from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free parking and admission.
Enterprise Boat Ramp Closed
The California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) has closed
the Enterprise boat ramp due to lowering lake levels. As a multi-benefit reservoir, water
levels at Lake Oroville fluctuate throughout the year to meet water delivery contracts and
support Delta and Central Valley River habitats.
Alternate locations for trailered launching at Lake Oroville include the Spillway, Loafer
Creek/Loafer Point, Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle. Check the status of Lake Oroville
boat and cartop ramps on the State Parks website.
Feather River Fish Monitoring Station
DWR resumed operations of the Feather River fish monitoring station on March 4,
suspended at the end of December 2025 due to anticipated high flows in the Feather
River. Upstream migrating fish totals between March 4 and August 8, 2026, are:
Spring-run Chinook salmon (March 4 through June 30): 8,512
Fall-run Chinook salmon (July 1 through present): 2,224
Steelhead: -5 (most likely kelts moving downstream)
To see previous year data, visit CalFish.org.
Current Lake Operations
Lake Oroville is at 814 feet elevation and storage is approximately 2.27 million acre-feet
(MAF), which is 66 percent of its total capacity and 102 percent of the historical average.
Feather River flows are at 850 cubic feet per second (cfs) through the City of Oroville
with releases from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet at 7,150 cfs for a total Feather
River release of 8,000 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 11:59 p.m. on 8/13/2026.
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
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