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Home My WebLink About10.16.26 Board Correspondence - FW_ Lake Oroville Community Update - October 16, 2026.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, clicking on links, or replying.. From:Clerk of the Board To:Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Dubose, Teri; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan; Kimmelshue, Tod; Kitts, Melissa; Krater, Sharleen; Lee, Lewis; Ritter, Tami; Simmons, Katie; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen; Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth Cc:Loeser, Kamie; Cannon, Jamie Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Lake Oroville Community Update - October 16, 2026 Date:Monday, October 19, 2026 8:15:17 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, October 16, 2026 2:41 PM To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.ca.gov> Subject: Lake Oroville Community Update - October 16, 2026 View as a webpage / Share Lake Oroville Community Update October 16, 2026 Middle Fork Algal Bloom Cleared An algal bloom in Lake Oroville’s Middle Fork between Bean Creek Bar and the inlet near Bald Rock Canyon has cleared after several weeks, prompting a lift of the caution advisory. Water testing did not detect toxins. What are signs of algal blooms? Small blue-green, green, white, or brown particles in the water Streaks in the water that look like spilled paint Mats, scum, or foam at the surface or along the shoreline Can have an odor described as gasoline, septic, or fishy Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) are a natural component of ecosystems. Under certain conditions, including warmer temperatures and increased nutrient loads, algae can grow rapidly causing “blooms.” Algal blooms sometimes produce toxins that can be harmful to people and animals. DWR’s environmental scientists routinely monitor for blue-green algae and their toxins within the Oroville-Thermalito Complex. Regular monitoring occurs during the summer months with water samples taken at various locations, which are sent to a lab for toxin analysis. If elevated levels of cyanobacteria toxins are found while testing, DWR staff will work with California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board and recreation area managers to notify the public and post advisory signs at affected waterbodies. To learn more about Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB), or to report a HAB visit the Water Board’s website. Prescribed Burn Scheduled at Loafer Creek As part of ongoing fuel reduction work within the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA), DWR and the California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) are coordinating with the CAL FIRE Butte Unit on a prescribed burn at Loafer Creek Oct. 19- 21. A total of 86 acres are scheduled to be burned, removing ground fuels and dead vegetation to create a more fire-resilient landscape. To ensure public safety, some trails within the Loafer Creek area may be intermittently closed. Trail users should be cautious when recreating near work areas, obey all posted signage, and avoid active work areas. Oroville-area residents should expect to see smoke from prescribed fires. The schedule is subject to change based on weather conditions and CAL FIRE crew availability. Over the past few weeks, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) and CAL FIRE have been preparing the recreation area by trimming lower branches on trees and shrubs, creating small burn piles, and installing control lines. These efforts help reduce fuel loads and promote a lower-intensity fire, which supports safety and the health of the woodland ecosystem. Following the prescribed burn, crews will remain on-site to monitor conditions, extinguish hot spots, and continue creating small burn piles. DWR appreciates the public’s cooperation and understanding as we work to reduce wildfire risk, increase public safety, and support long-term land management goals. Vegetation management remains a top priority for DWR and its partners, including CAL FIRE, the Butte County Fire Department, BCSO, State Parks, the California Conservation Corps (CCC), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), local tribes, and the Butte County Fire Safe Council. Project Improving Campground and Boat Ramp The Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency continues to make progress on a project to improve the Oroville Wildlife Area (OWA) Thermalito Afterbay Outlet campground and boat ramp facilities. The $8.1 million project is expanding and enhancing public access and outdoor facilities along the Feather River near Oroville. Improvements will include a new concrete two-lane boat ramp, an improved gravel ramp for non-trailered boats, a 25- unit primitive campground, a day-use picnic area, new recreational trails, and paved parking with 47 trailered spaces and 31 single spaces. The project is a collaboration with DWR and CDFW. Since construction began at the end of June, crews have made progress — removing vegetation and performing major earthwork to expand the campground’s footprint, partially constructed the two-lane concrete boat ramp, completed grading work on the car-top gravel ramp, and started paving the facility. R&R Horn of Chico is the contractor for the project with completion anticipated in spring or early summer of 2027. The Thermalito Afterbay Outlet is a popular spot to launch and retrieve trailered and car- top boats and for Feather River access for shoreline fishing. River users are advised that access at this location is closed during construction. Nearby alternate trailered boat ramps on the Feather River include Riverbend Park, Vance Avenue Boat Ramp, and Gridley. Car-top boat launches are available at the Feather River Fish Hatchery, Bedrock Park, Vance Avenue Outlet, and the Pacific Heights Weir Ramp. Feather River recreators are advised to use caution and plan a path of travel when floating past the Afterbay Outlet as river flows may vary. PHOTO COLLECTION: Oroville Wildlife Area Thermalito Afterbay Campground & Boat Launch Project California Department of Water Resources, 9/28/26: Construction progress on a Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency project to improve the Oroville Wildlife Area Thermalito Afterbay Outlet Campground and Boat Launch facilities. On this day, contractors were installing part of a new two-lane, concrete boat ramp to improve access to the Feather River in Butte County. View the photo gallery on Pixel. Feather River Fish Monitoring Station DWR resumed operations of the Feather River fish monitoring station on March 4, 2026, to capture the return of spring-run Chinook salmon. Monitoring was temporarily suspended at the end of December 2025 due to anticipated high flows in the Feather River. Upstream migrating fish totals between March 4 and October 8, 2026, are: Spring-run Chinook salmon (March 4 through June 30): 8,519 Fall-run Chinook salmon (July 1 through present): 41,976 Steelhead: 337 To see previous year data, visit CalFish.org. Current Lake Operations Lake Oroville is at 742 feet elevation and storage is approximately 1.53 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 45 percent of its total capacity and 82 percent of the historical average. Feather River flows are at 650 cubic feet per second (cfs) through the City of Oroville with releases from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet at 1,750 cfs for a total Feather River release of 2,400 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.” This email was sent to clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net from the California Natural Resources Agency utilizing Granicus Communications Cloud. California Natural Resources Agency, 715 P Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 All data as of 11:59 p.m. on 10/15/2026. 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 Contact Us Stay Connected with the California Department of Water Resources SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions | Help