Lake Oroville Update - July 18, 2025

Caution Advisory Remains for Lake Oroville’s Middle Fork

 

A caution advisory remains in effect in Lake Oroville’s Middle Fork due to a visible algal bloom. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) first issued the caution advisory on Friday, July 3 after the bloom was observed by DWR staff. DWR staff collected a sample for laboratory analysis and there were no toxins detected. DWR will continue to monitor the bloom and collect additional samples if conditions change. The caution advisory will remain in place until the bloom dissipates. There is no sure way to tell if an algal bloom is toxic just by looking at it, but there are indicators that a bloom may be harmful.

 

What are signs of harmful 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) is 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.

 

Take these precautions in affected Middle Fork areas for your safety:

• Swimming is allowed but stay away from algae and scum in the water and on the shore.
• Do not drink lake water or use it for cooking.
• Do not let pets and other animals go into or drink the water or eat scum on the shore.
• For fish caught here, throw away guts and clean fillets with tap water or bottled water before cooking.
• Do not eat shellfish from this water.

DWR’s environmental scientists routinely monitor for blue-green algae and their toxins within the Oroville-Thermalito Complex. Monitoring occurs during the summer months with water samples taken at various locations regularly, 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 HABs, or to report a HAB visit the Water Board’s website.

 

Craig Saddle Boat-in Campground Reopens

 

The California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) has reopened the Craig Saddle Boat-in Campground at the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA). Nearly five years ago, the deadly North Complex Fire burned more than 318,000 acres in Plumas and Butte Counties. Multiple communities sustained catastrophic damage, and the landscape across much of the east side of Lake Oroville, including the Craig Recreation Area of LOSRA, experienced high-severity wildfire. In 2022, State Parks developed the Craig Saddle Fuel Reduction and Restoration Project, and work began in Spring of 2023.

 

The project rehabilitated the landscape adjacent to Craig Access Road within the LOSRA boundaries and restored the boat-in campground area through removal of dead, burned trees and vegetation. Approximately 7.7 acres of the boat-in campground will continue to be treated for long-term restoration to re-establish native trees, shrubs, and grasses to enhance habitat and improve watershed function.

 

Though the landscape looks different, this campground still offers serene views and beautiful wildlife, cool breezes, and amazing swimming. Please be aware that restoration efforts are still ongoing and State Parks asks that everyone respects the healing of the natural space that the campground occupies.

 

Lake Oroville SRA offers several options for adventurous campers seeking a more rustic experience at boat-in only campgrounds. In addition to the 18 sites at Craig Saddle, visitors may instead choose to enjoy Foreman Creek, Bloomer Point, or Bloomer Knoll boat-in campgrounds which accommodate up to eight guests per campsite, and Bloomer Group Campground which accommodates larger parties of up to 75 people. Boat-in campgrounds are ONLY accessible by boat and are open year-round.  

 

Guests can register for boat-in camping at the Loafer Creek, Bidwell Canyon, Spillway, and Lime Saddle entrance stations. These sites are available on a first come, first served basis and are not on the online camping reservations system. Each campsite has a picnic table and a fire ring, with vault style toilets nearby. Please be advised that during low water levels, campsites may be a significant distance from the shoreline. Visit www.parks.ca.gov/lakeoroville for more information and local updates.

 

Golden Mussel Inspection Program

 

DWR is reminding watercraft owners to bring their vessel’s keys with them for the invasive mussel inspection at the North Thermalito Forebay. Vessels must also have a working battery and be operational to complete and pass required inspections.

 

More details about DWR’s mussel inspection program are available at water.ca.gov/mussels.

    

Watercraft Inspection Location/Decontamination Services

North Thermalito Forebay at Garden Drive and HWY 70 in Oroville 

Hours of operation: Daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

 

Sealed Vessel Launching 

Lake Oroville

Ramp hours: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.  

• Spillway  
• Bidwell Canyon

Extended Ramp hours: Daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.  

• Lime Saddle
• Loafer Creek

Thermalito Afterbay 

Ramp hours: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to one hour after sunset

• Monument Hill

Thermalito Forebay

Ramp Hours: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• North Forebay (Non-motorized vessels only)

Oroville Recreation

 

Between Jan. 30 and April 20, high flows in the Feather River required the temporary removal of fish monitoring equipment resulting in lower spring-run estimates. Upstream migrating fish totals through the Feather River Fish Monitoring Station between Jan. 1 and July 15, 2025 are:  

• Spring-run Chinook salmon (April 16 through June 30): 17,664
• Fall-run Chinook salmon (July 1 through present): 193
• Steelhead: 185
• To see previous year data, visit CalFish.org.

Current Lake Operations

Lake Oroville is at 867 feet elevation and storage is approximately 2.94 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 86 percent of its total capacity and 117 percent of the historical average.

 

Feather River flows are at 1,200 cfs through the City of Oroville with 6,300 cfs being released from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet (Outlet) for a total Feather River release of 7,500 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 7/17/2025.