Update on Lake Oroville Operations - March 28, 2023
DWR is maintaining releases from Lake Oroville to the Feather River at 15,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). 
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is maintaining releases from Lake Oroville to the Feather River at 15,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). Due to maintenance work on a buoy line near the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet, flows through the low-flow channel in the City of Oroville were temporarily increased today to a peak of 9,000 cfs. On Thursday, DWR will reduce low-flow channel releases to 4,000 cfs by 11 a.m., with 11,000 cfs released from the Afterbay.
Ongoing releases ensure continued storage space in Lake Oroville for spring runoff from rain and snowmelt and are closely coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and downstream water operators for flood protection. DWR continues to closely monitor lake inflow levels and will adjust releases accordingly.
The information below reflects current reservoir level estimates. Forecasts can change quickly and may affect the estimates provided.
- Current Oroville Reservoir Level: 856 feet elevation
- Current Storage Capacity: 82 percent
- Total Releases to the Feather River: 15,000 cfs
The Lake Oroville reservoir is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project and supports environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million Californians and reduces flood risks to downstream communities. DWR continues to monitor lake levels, weather forecasts, and mountain snow levels to optimize operations for flood control, water storage and environmental protection while allowing for carryover storage into next year.
Future updates will be provided based on operational changes to Lake Oroville releases.