Improvements to the Brad Freeman Trail

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. DWR crews are removing old asphalt and nearby vegetation and installing bedrock along the trail in preparation for future paving work. Trail paving is scheduled to occur in September, although the work schedule is subject to change based on availability of materials and crews.

General improvements to the trail include upgrading the existing gravel/dirt path to an 8-foot-wide asphalt path for bicyclists and a 4-foot-wide weathered granite path for pedestrians. Existing entrance bollards will also be replaced with wider, accessible box gates. The improvement project is supported by a grant from the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund, with the remaining funds for the $700,000 project provided by the DWR. During construction, portions of the Brad Freeman Trail may be closed at times for paving and grading work. Trail improvements will be completed in phases, and work may be suspended during the winter months depending on weather conditions. The project is expected to be completed in June 2025.

Improving river flow measurement

DWR faces the opportunity for a new partnership to support the state’s ability to measure stream and river flow through the California Stream Gage Improvement Program (CalSIP) as climate extremes continue to impact the state’s water supply.

As part of the approximately $7 million program, DWR is seeking partnerships with public entities to install, upgrade and/or reactivate existing gauging stations. A gauging station is a series of instruments installed along a river or stream that measure, record and transmit data on flow, water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels. Water agencies and the public rely on the important information these gauging stations provide for a variety of purposes, including:

• Planning, forecasting and warning of floods and droughts
• Management and information of reservoir operations
• Monitoring environmental conditions to protect aquatic habitats
• Planning safe and enjoyable leisure activities
• Assessment of the interaction between groundwater and surface water
• Monitoring the impact of long-term weather changes on water flow

Further information about the new program can be found in the DWR press release.

DWR conducts emergency preparedness exercise

DWR’s Oroville Field Division hosted an emergency response exercise on August 7 for staff and partners from local emergency management agencies, including the Butte County Sheriff’s Office and Cal OES. The exercise included a review of the Oroville-Thermalito Complex dams, flood maps, and an overview of DWR’s incident command structure, which follows Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Incident Management System (NIMS) guidelines.

Public safety is DWR’s highest priority as an operator of critical infrastructure. The exercise underscores DWR’s commitment to improving emergency preparedness and maintaining relationships and collaboration with local emergency partners. A second, more extensive emergency drill is planned later this month, where DWR staff and local emergency management partners will respond to a simulated emergency scenario. DWR conducts emergency preparedness training annually to ensure Oroville Field Division staff are ready to respond to any type of emergency or incident.

Relaxation in Oroville

The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is staffed by knowledgeable guides and offers interpretive exhibits on the Oroville Dam, area geology, wildlife and habitat, hydroelectric power, and cultural and historical artifacts. Watch videos about the construction of the Oroville Dam in the theater, walk or hike nearby trails, and visit the 47-foot observation tower for unmatched panoramic views of the surrounding areas. Free tours for school and community groups are available by reservation. Parking and admission to the visitor center are free.

DWR, State Parks, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. An interactive map of recreational facilities, including open trails and their permitted uses (hiking, biking, horseback riding, multi), is available on DWR’s Lake Oroville Recreation webpage. A printed trail map is available at several locations, including most entrance kiosks and the Lake Oroville Visitor Center.

Lake Oroville is also one of California’s best fishing spots. The lake offers both warm and cold water fishing and is a popular destination for bass tournaments. The marinas at Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle are open daily and offer a variety of services including a grocery store, gas stations, boat rentals and more.

The total number of fish migrating upstream through the Feather River Fish Monitoring Station between 1 January and 10 August is:

• Spring King Salmon (March 1 to June 30): 7,121
• Chinook salmon in fall (July 1 to present): 2,567
• Steelhead: 904

Current sea operations

Lake Oroville sits at an elevation of 836 feet and has a storage capacity of approximately 2.52 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 74 percent of its total capacity and 114 percent of the historical average.

The flow of the Feather River is 1,300 cubic feet per second (cfs) through the City of Oroville, with 6,700 cfs discharged from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet), for a total discharge of 8,000 cfs downstream of the Feather River. DWR continues to assess Feather River releases on a daily basis.

The Oroville Dam’s main spillway was suspended earlier this summer, but water is still being released through the Hyatt Generating Station for power generation, water delivery, and environmental protection purposes. When the main spillway is not in operation, water may still be seen at the main spillway outlet because the seals on the eight radial gates are not watertight. The gate seals are not important to the structural integrity of the gates. Visitors to Oroville Dam may also notice small amounts of water flowing from the drains built into the emergency spillway. This is normal and expected given the design of the emergency spillway. The dam and emergency spillway continue to operate as designed.

The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels and more at the California Data Exchange Center. The gauging station at Lake Oroville is labeled “ORO.”

All data as of August 15, 2024, midnight.

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