Lake Oroville Operations Update -- January 30, 2024

Ahead of forecasted winter storms this week, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) began increasing water releases to the Feather River today from the Oroville-Thermalito Complex. These releases provide flood control protection for downstream communities and are coordinated closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other water operators. Feather River recreation users are advised to remain alert as river flows are expected to be swift and cold and may change based on projected weather forecasts.

 

The information below reflects current reservoir level estimates. Forecasts can change quickly and may affect the estimates provided.

 

• Current Oroville Reservoir Level: 842 feet elevation
• Current Storage Capacity: 76 percent
• Total Releases to the Feather River: 6,000 cubic feet per second (cfs)
• Current Releases from the Oroville Main Spillway: None; spillway releases are scheduled to begin Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 8 a.m.

The Lake Oroville reservoir is the largest storage facility in the State Water Project, providing flood protection while supporting environmental and water delivery needs to 27 million Californians. In 2023, Oroville Dam’s main spillway passed over 2,370,000 acre-feet of water, 67 percent of Lake Oroville’s capacity, with flows as high as 36,000 cfs. The main spillway continues to perform well and operate as designed. DWR continues to monitor lake levels, weather forecasts, and mountain snow levels to optimize water storage while allowing for carryover storage into next year.